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The differences between chiropractors and physiatrists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 1-2 years to become a chiropractor, becoming a physiatrist takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a physiatrist has an average salary of $305,616, 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 physiatrist are patients, rehabilitation, and physical medicine.
| Chiropractor | Physiatrist | |
| Yearly salary | $53,608 | $305,616 |
| Hourly rate | $25.77 | $146.93 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 7% |
| Number of jobs | 17,584 | 10,190 |
| Job satisfaction | 5 | - |
| Most common degree | Doctoral Degree, 45% | Bachelor's Degree, 24% |
| Average age | 45 | 48 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 4 |
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.
Physiatrists must have a bachelor's degree in physical sciences or a related field, a M.D. or Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine, and 4 to 7 years' internship and residency training specializing in rehab and physical medicine. This position pays annual salaries of around $58K to $370K. It requires skills in empathy, compassion, emotional resilience, monitoring, and strong initiative to work in challenging environments. Physiatrists diagnose illnesses, design plans for treatment, and prescribe various medicines.
Chiropractors and physiatrists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Chiropractor | Physiatrist | |
| Average salary | $53,608 | $305,616 |
| Salary range | Between $34,000 And $82,000 | Between $147,000 And $635,000 |
| Highest paying City | New York, NY | Anchorage, AK |
| Highest paying state | Vermont | Alaska |
| Best paying company | Hess | Parkridge Health System |
| Best paying industry | Professional | Health Care |
There are a few differences between a chiropractor and a physiatrist in terms of educational background:
| Chiropractor | Physiatrist | |
| Most common degree | Doctoral Degree, 45% | Bachelor's Degree, 24% |
| Most common major | Chiropractic | Medicine |
| Most common college | University of Bridgeport | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between chiropractors' and physiatrists' demographics:
| Chiropractor | Physiatrist | |
| Average age | 45 | 48 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 49.5% Female, 50.5% | Male, 53.7% Female, 46.3% |
| Race ratio | 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% | Black or African American, 5.1% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 9.7% Asian, 18.6% White, 62.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 9% | 13% |