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Licensed acupuncturist vs chiropractor

The differences between licensed acupuncturists and chiropractors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 2-4 years to become a licensed acupuncturist, becoming a chiropractor takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, a licensed acupuncturist has an average salary of $75,892, which is higher than the $53,608 average annual salary of a chiropractor.

The top three skills for a licensed acupuncturist include patients, pain management and treatment options. The most important skills for a chiropractor are patients, medical histories, and spine.

Licensed acupuncturist vs chiropractor overview

Licensed AcupuncturistChiropractor
Yearly salary$75,892$53,608
Hourly rate$36.49$25.77
Growth rate14%10%
Number of jobs11,51017,584
Job satisfaction55
Most common degreeMaster's Degree, 46%Doctoral Degree, 45%
Average age4945
Years of experience42

Licensed acupuncturist vs chiropractor salary

Licensed acupuncturists and chiropractors have different pay scales, as shown below.

Licensed AcupuncturistChiropractor
Average salary$75,892$53,608
Salary rangeBetween $46,000 And $123,000Between $34,000 And $82,000
Highest paying CityEnglewood Cliffs, NJNew York, NY
Highest paying stateNew JerseyVermont
Best paying companyParkland HospitalHess
Best paying industryNon ProfitsProfessional

Differences between licensed acupuncturist and chiropractor education

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

Licensed AcupuncturistChiropractor
Most common degreeMaster's Degree, 46%Doctoral Degree, 45%
Most common majorAlternative And Complementary Medicine And Medical SystemsChiropractic
Most common collegeMCPHS UniversityUniversity of Bridgeport

Licensed acupuncturist vs chiropractor demographics

Here are the differences between licensed acupuncturists' and chiropractors' demographics:

Licensed AcupuncturistChiropractor
Average age4945
Gender ratioMale, 34.9% Female, 65.1%Male, 49.5% Female, 50.5%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 3.5% Unknown, 6.8% Hispanic or Latino, 10.7% Asian, 20.5% White, 58.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2%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 Percentage12%9%

Differences between licensed acupuncturist and chiropractor duties and responsibilities

Licensed acupuncturist example responsibilities.

  • Perform historical, physical and behavioral status assessments of patients using appropriate TCM.
  • Instruct patients on post-treatment procedures, including breathing techniques, exercise and dietary modifications.
  • Collaborate with an integrative team offering chiropractic, acupuncture, osteopathic, and functional medicine.
  • Use acupuncture to treat the emaciation, emesis after chemotherapy, and asialia after radiotherapy of cancer patient.
  • Develop and implement treatment program in clinical acupuncture targeting African and Caribbean immigrants with HIV

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.
  • Show more

Licensed acupuncturist vs chiropractor skills

Common licensed acupuncturist skills
  • Patients, 39%
  • Pain Management, 9%
  • Treatment Options, 6%
  • Mental Health, 4%
  • Private Practice, 4%
  • Integrative Medicine, 3%
Common chiropractor skills
  • Patients, 46%
  • Medical Histories, 23%
  • Spine, 12%
  • Manual Adjustments, 4%
  • Musculoskeletal System, 4%
  • Patient Care, 3%

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