Chiropractors

Chiropractors assess, treat, and care for patients by manipulating the spine and musculoskeletal system. They may provide spinal adjustment or address sacral or pelvic misalignment.

Duties

Chiropractors typically do the following:

• Review a patient's medical history and listen to their concerns
• Perform a physical examination to analyze the patient's posture, spine, and reflexes
• Provide neuromusculoskeletal therapy, which involves adjusting a patient’s spinal column and other joints
• Give additional treatments, such as applying heat or cold to a patient’s injured areas
• Advise patients on health and lifestyle issues, such as exercise and nutrition
• Refer patients to other healthcare professionals if needed

Chiropractors treat a variety of problems related to the neuromusculoskeletal system. They focus on pain in the back, neck, and joints and how relieving this pain can improve patients’ overall health. The goal is to improve the body’s motion and function.

In diagnosing a patient's condition, chiropractors often use both external and internal assessments. For example, a chiropractor may observe the patient's range of motion related to shoulder pain and then follow up with x rays to provide more detailed information.

Some chiropractors treat patients using procedures such as massage therapy, rehabilitative exercise, and electrical muscle stimulation in addition to spinal adjustments and manipulation. They also may apply supports, such as braces or tape, to treat patients and relieve pain.

In addition to operating a general chiropractic practice, chiropractors may specialize in areas such as sports, neurology, or nutrition. Chiropractors who are self-employed or work in private practice may have additional responsibilities that include marketing their business, hiring staff, and keeping records.

Chiropractors held about 57,200 jobs in 2024. The largest employers of chiropractors were as follows:

Chiropractors typically work in office settings. They may need to stand for long periods and lift or turn patients.

Work Schedules

Most chiropractors work full time, but part-time work is common. Work schedules may vary and include evenings or weekends to accommodate patients. Self-employed chiropractors may have the flexibility to set their own hours.

Chiropractors typically need a Doctor of Chiropractic (D.C.) degree. Completing a D.C. program typically takes about 4 years, in addition to at least 3 years of undergraduate study. Every state requires chiropractors to be licensed.

The median annual wage for chiropractors was $79,000 in May 2024.

Employment of chiropractors is projected to grow 10 percent from 2024 to 2034, much faster than the average for all occupations.

About 2,800 openings for chiropractors are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.