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Chiropractor vs doctor

The differences between chiropractors and doctors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a doctor has an average salary of $208,582, which is higher than the $53,608 average annual salary of a chiropractor.

The top three skills for a chiropractor include patients, medical histories and spine. The most important skills for a doctor are patients, customer service, and emergency medicine.

Chiropractor vs doctor overview

ChiropractorDoctor
Yearly salary$53,608$208,582
Hourly rate$25.77$100.28
Growth rate10%7%
Number of jobs17,58414,571
Job satisfaction5-
Most common degreeDoctoral Degree, 45%Bachelor's Degree, 35%
Average age4548
Years of experience2-

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.

What does a doctor do?

A doctor is a medical expert who diagnoses and treats illnesses and injuries, often specializing in particular areas. Their responsibilities revolve around conducting initial interviews and examinations, studying a patient's medical history and laboratory results, providing consultations and care advice, prescribing medication, and referring patients to specialists when necessary. They must also coordinate and maintain an active communication line with nurses, administrators, and technicians for a smooth workflow. Moreover, a doctor must educate patients about their health conditions, helping them understand their situation better.

Chiropractor vs doctor salary

Chiropractors and doctors have different pay scales, as shown below.

ChiropractorDoctor
Average salary$53,608$208,582
Salary rangeBetween $34,000 And $82,000Between $106,000 And $408,000
Highest paying CityNew York, NYGreen Bay, WI
Highest paying stateVermontOhio
Best paying companyHessSaint Luke's Health System
Best paying industryProfessionalHealth Care

Differences between chiropractor and doctor education

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

ChiropractorDoctor
Most common degreeDoctoral Degree, 45%Bachelor's Degree, 35%
Most common majorChiropracticMedicine
Most common collegeUniversity of BridgeportDuke University

Chiropractor vs doctor demographics

Here are the differences between chiropractors' and doctors' demographics:

ChiropractorDoctor
Average age4548
Gender ratioMale, 49.5% Female, 50.5%Male, 45.8% Female, 54.2%
Race ratioBlack 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%Black or African American, 5.1% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 9.5% Asian, 18.6% White, 62.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2%
LGBT Percentage9%13%

Differences between chiropractor and doctor duties and responsibilities

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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Doctor example responsibilities.

  • Manage conditions including diabetes mellitus, hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, hypothyroidism, asthma, and GERD.
  • Develop personalize treatment plans, rehabilitation plans, exercise plans, report of findings, nutritional plans and narrative reports.
  • Perform patient x-rays, provide MRI consultations.
  • Perform x-rays of the cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spine.
  • Hire, train, educate and monitor staff in HIPPA policies and procedures.
  • Create, update, and maintain confidential patient EHRs in compliance with all HIPAA laws and regulations.
  • Show more

Chiropractor vs doctor skills

Common chiropractor skills
  • Patients, 46%
  • Medical Histories, 23%
  • Spine, 12%
  • Manual Adjustments, 4%
  • Musculoskeletal System, 4%
  • Patient Care, 3%
Common doctor skills
  • Patients, 33%
  • Customer Service, 12%
  • Emergency Medicine, 5%
  • Surgery, 5%
  • DR, 4%
  • Cleanliness, 3%

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