What are the pros and cons of being a chiropractor?

• The ability to help patients. Chiropractors have the knowledge and skill to help people in significant and sometimes life-changing ways. Their work can relieve patients of chronic pain concerning the back, neck, or other regions of the body.

  The profession is a great one for those who enjoy improving the physical and mental health of others. A chiropractor's work can be fulfilling.

• The opportunity to use a variety of tools. Chiropractors use many strategies and tools to improve the physical lives of their patients.

  Some choose to specialize in certain methods and equipment, but all can learn many different professional tools. Here are some of the most widely used tools for a chiropractor:

  • Traction table for decompression and the drop table for extra gravity force used in adjustments.

  • The activator adjustment tool is a hand-held, spring-loaded device. The chiropractor can realign vertebrae by sending a low force into the back or neck at high speed.

  • Digital X-ray machines

  • Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation device or TENS. Electrodes are placed within a belt-like item around a patient's back.

  • Chiropractors also make use of cold lasers. These reduce inflammation and are an alternative to a patient taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medication.

  • Ultrasound is yet another tool. Though these tools are best known for their diagnostic abilities, a chiropractor can use them to perform ultrasound therapy on patients.

  Learning these extremely helpful tools and equipment makes the chiropractic field appealing.

• Strong salaries. Many chiropractors earn a very good living. The average chiropractor in the United States earns $81,709 per year. Some can earn a lot more than this, depending on their location and whether or not they work for a company or have their own private practice.

• Good job outlook. The United States Bureau of Labor and Statistics has stated that the job outlook of chiropractors is strong, with an estimated 10% in the next ten years. This is a faster job growth than the average job growth for all occupations.

Cons:

• Lengthy education path. Becoming a chiropractor can take a long time and can also be expensive. This profession requires extensive education and training. It can take as long as eight years to become a licensed chiropractor.

• Overtime work. Many chiropractors work more than the traditional 40-hour work week, with some working as much as 50 or 60 hours per week. This overtime is due to the necessity of seeing patients and researching the field.

• Performing procedures that are high-risk. Most chiropractors perform high-risk procedures that, if done incorrectly, can negatively affect a patient's nervous system and spinal cord. Chiropractors must be extremely careful when performing all procedures to maintain a good reputation.