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Chiropractor assistant vs chiropractor

The differences between chiropractor assistants and chiropractors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a chiropractor assistant and a chiropractor. Additionally, a chiropractor has an average salary of $53,608, which is higher than the $32,726 average annual salary of a chiropractor assistant.

The top three skills for a chiropractor assistant include patients, physical therapy and front desk. The most important skills for a chiropractor are patients, medical histories, and spine.

Chiropractor assistant vs chiropractor overview

Chiropractor AssistantChiropractor
Yearly salary$32,726$53,608
Hourly rate$15.73$25.77
Growth rate10%10%
Number of jobs57,01917,584
Job satisfaction-5
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 35%Doctoral Degree, 45%
Average age4545
Years of experience22

What does a chiropractor assistant do?

A chiropractic assistant is an employee who works directly under a senior chiropractor by providing administrative support and clinical assistance. Chiropractic assistants maintain order in the clinic's waiting room by greeting their patients and checking them in for appointments. They are often specially trained to assist patients with x-rays and take their vital signs. Since chiropractic assistants usually deal with patients, they must able to communicate well and have the ability to stay calm under pressure.

What does a chiropractor do?

A chiropractor is a healthcare professional who provides care and relief to patients with neuromusculoskeletal problems by re-aligning the spine and adjusting other joints. Your duties typically include working with patients on their lifestyle, guiding them on nutrition, exercise, and sleeping habits, and evaluating patients' condition based on their medical history and symptoms. Additionally, you will be responsible for examining the spine and posture, running tests and taking X-rays, and using massage, heat, and cold therapy to treat patients.

Chiropractor assistant vs chiropractor salary

Chiropractor assistants and chiropractors have different pay scales, as shown below.

Chiropractor AssistantChiropractor
Average salary$32,726$53,608
Salary rangeBetween $25,000 And $41,000Between $34,000 And $82,000
Highest paying CityCommack, NYNew York, NY
Highest paying stateConnecticutVermont
Best paying companyPhysicians Group ManagementHess
Best paying industryHospitalityProfessional

Differences between chiropractor assistant and chiropractor education

There are a few differences between a chiropractor assistant and a chiropractor in terms of educational background:

Chiropractor AssistantChiropractor
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 35%Doctoral Degree, 45%
Most common majorBusinessChiropractic
Most common collegeNew York UniversityUniversity of Bridgeport

Chiropractor assistant vs chiropractor demographics

Here are the differences between chiropractor assistants' and chiropractors' demographics:

Chiropractor AssistantChiropractor
Average age4545
Gender ratioMale, 11.1% Female, 88.9%Male, 49.5% Female, 50.5%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 2.3% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 6.8% Asian, 6.2% White, 80.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3%Black or African American, 2.2% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 6.3% Asian, 7.1% White, 80.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2%
LGBT Percentage9%9%

Differences between chiropractor assistant and chiropractor duties and responsibilities

Chiropractor assistant example responsibilities.

  • Manage front of office staff; including scheduling, payroll, inventory and proper implementation of office compliance manual.
  • Provide customer service to patients by scheduling appointments and acting as a liaison on insurance coverage availability.
  • Handle administrative office duties essentially answering phones, scheduling appointments, registering new patients and maintaining insurance benefits.
  • Communicate with insurance companies, pain clinics, orthopedic groups, MRI facilities, and surgeons.
  • Process and submit payroll timely and accurately.
  • Perform physiotherapy and therapeutic ultrasound, as needed.
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Chiropractor example responsibilities.

  • Manage AR and EOB's from insurance companies.
  • Perform cervical whiplash protocols to manage pain and increase function.
  • Set patients up for MRI's.
  • Treat patients with chiropractic, physical therapy, exercise, and acupuncture
  • Used techniques including diversify, activator, drop piece, Graston and acupuncture.
  • Treat patients in all aspects of chiropractic care as well as acupuncture care.
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Chiropractor assistant vs chiropractor skills

Common chiropractor assistant skills
  • Patients, 39%
  • Physical Therapy, 12%
  • Front Desk, 5%
  • Scheduling Patient Appointments, 4%
  • Patient Care, 4%
  • Traction, 3%
Common chiropractor skills
  • Patients, 46%
  • Medical Histories, 23%
  • Spine, 12%
  • Manual Adjustments, 4%
  • Musculoskeletal System, 4%
  • Patient Care, 3%

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