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Chiropractic Clinics and Franchises
The Joint Chiropractic, Chiro One Wellness Centers, 100% Chiropractic
Chiropractors
Chiropractors treat back, neck, and joint problems by examining patients, reviewing imaging when needed, and using hands-on adjustments to improve movement. The job stands out because it mixes physical treatment with careful screening and referral decisions: you need to know when a patient is a good fit for chiropractic care and when the problem belongs in a medical clinic instead.
Also known as Doctor of ChiropracticChiropractic PhysicianAssociate ChiropractorStaff ChiropractorClinic Chiropractor
Median Salary
$79,000
Mean $91,830
U.S. Workforce
~38K
2.8K openings per year
10-Year Growth
+9.5%
57.2K to 62.6K
Entry Education
Doctoral or professional degree
+ None experience
What This Role Looks Like in Practice
Chiropractors sits in the Healthcare category. In practical terms, this role combines day-to-day execution, cross-team coordination, and consistent decision-making under real business constraints.
U.S. employment is currently about ~38K workers, with a median annual pay of $79,000 and roughly 2.8K openings each year. Based on BLS projections, total employment is expected to grow from 57.2 K in 2024 to 62.6K in 2034.
Most hiring paths start with Doctoral or professional degree, and employers typically expect none of related experience. Many careers in this track begin around Chiropractic Assistant and can progress toward Senior Chiropractor / Practice Owner. High-value skills usually include Chiropractic Adjustments, Spinal Manipulation & Manual Therapy, Musculoskeletal Assessment & Neuromuscular Examination, and X-ray Review & Diagnostic Imaging Interpretation, paired with soft skills such as Active Listening, Critical Thinking, and Reading Comprehension.
Core Responsibilities
- Talk with patients about their pain, injuries, health history, and previous care, then record the details in their file.
- Check how a patient moves, stands, and reacts so you can narrow down what may be causing the problem.
- Review X-rays or other images to make sure the issue is not a fracture, disease, or something outside chiropractic care.
- Use hands-on adjustments to work on the spine or other joints and help improve mobility.
Keep exploring: more Healthcare careers or browse all job titles.
A Day in the Life
01 Talk with patients about their pain, injuries, health history, and previous care, then record the details in their file.
02 Check how a patient moves, stands, and reacts so you can narrow down what may be causing the problem.
03 Review X-rays or other images to make sure the issue is not a fracture, disease, or something outside chiropractic care.
04 Use hands-on adjustments to work on the spine or other joints and help improve mobility.
05 Explain treatment plans and give practical advice on exercise, sleep, stress, and nutrition.
06 Send patients to another health professional when their symptoms need medical testing or treatment beyond chiropractic care.
Industries That Hire
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Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation
Athletico Physical Therapy, HSS, UPMC Sports Medicine
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Integrative Health Systems
Mayo Clinic, Cleveland Clinic, Kaiser Permanente
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Occupational Health and Employer Clinics
Concentra, Premise Health, Medcor
Pros and Cons
Advantages
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The pay is solid for a hands-on health role, with a $79,000 median and $91,830 mean annual salary.
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Demand is projected to rise 9.5% from 2024 to 2034, which works out to about 5.4 thousand new jobs and 2.8 thousand openings a year.
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Once you are licensed, there is no required on-the-job training or prior experience, so the path is clear even if the schooling is long.
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The work is varied: a typical day can include assessment, imaging review, treatment, patient coaching, and documentation.
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There is room to earn more by building a loyal patient base, specializing, or moving into private practice ownership.
Challenges
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The education commitment is heavy: most workers need a doctoral or professional degree, so it can take years and a lot of money before the first paycheck.
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The median pay of $79,000 is decent, but it may feel modest after graduate tuition, licensing costs, and student debt.
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Remote work is rare because the core service is physical and has to happen in person.
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Income can be unstable in private practice if referrals, patient volume, or insurance reimbursements change.
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The field has a real ceiling for many people; without ownership or a strong niche, earnings may stay near the middle even though the work remains physically demanding.
Career Progression
Chiropractic Assistant
0-2 years
$30K-$42K
Learns clinic workflow, helps with intake and room setup, and supports basic patient care while building familiarity with musculoskeletal complaints.
Associate Chiropractor
1-4 years
$55K-$74K
Works in a clinic under an established practice model, handles routine patient visits, and builds speed and confidence with treatment planning and documentation.
Chiropractor THIS ROLE
3-8 years
$75K-$105K
Independently evaluates patients, orders or reviews imaging when needed, performs adjustments, and decides when a case should be referred out.
Senior Chiropractor / Practice Owner
8+ years
$110K-$180K
Runs a larger patient panel or an entire clinic, balancing hands-on care with hiring, billing, referrals, and business decisions.
Education Paths
Doctoral or professional degree
This is the standard route for the job, and it accounts for 82.14% of workers in the occupation.
First professional degree
A smaller share of workers, 7.53%, report this graduate-level pathway; it is still a formal post-bachelor route and does not replace licensure requirements.
Post-secondary certificate
About 6.75% of workers are listed here, but this is usually more relevant for related support roles than for full chiropractor licensure.
Key Skills
Technical
Chiropractic Adjustments, Spinal Manipulation & Manual Therapy 98%
Musculoskeletal Assessment & Neuromuscular Examination 92%
X-ray Review & Diagnostic Imaging Interpretation 88%
Electronic Health Records (EHR), Charting & Case Histories 84%
Treatment Planning & Referral Coordination 80%
Nutrition, Exercise & Lifestyle Counseling 76%
Soft Skills
Active ListeningCritical ThinkingReading ComprehensionSpeakingSocial PerceptivenessWriting Job Outlook and Trends
+9.5%
Projected growth (2024-2034)
2.8K
Annual job openings
Employment is projected to rise from 57.2K to 62.6 K over the next decade, representing 9.5% growth. Around 2.8 K openings per year include both newly created roles and replacement hiring from turnover.
Remote availability is currently Rare. Demand remains strongest where employers need practical domain knowledge plus modern workflow and data skills.