How to Become a Chiropractor
Treat musculoskeletal and spine conditions through hands-on adjustment and rehabilitation, typically in independent practice. It typically requires a doctoral degree (dc), with a median salary of $79,200 per year and much faster than average projected job growth.
Median pay
$79,200/yr
Middle half
$60,070 to $105,050
Job growth
Much faster than average
Openings / yr
2,800
Majors that lead here
Key skills
- Spinal Manipulation
- Patient Assessment
- Anatomy
- Communication
- Practice Management
Helpful certifications
- DC + NBCE boards (state chiropractic licensure)
Is this career a fit?
Remote-friendly
1/100
Work-life balance
80/100
Stress level
57/100
Related careers
- Psychiatrist$281,870 median
- Physician (Family Medicine)$244,180 median
- Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA)$236,590 median
- Dentist$170,950 median
- Pharmacist$140,910 median
- Optometrist$136,570 median
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Chiropractor make?
The median pay for a Chiropractor is $79,200 a year, and the middle half of workers earn between $60,070 and $105,050 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025). That covers everyone in the job, not only people starting out, so newer workers sit toward the lower end.
What degree do you need to become a Chiropractor?
The usual entry point is a doctoral degree (dc). Common majors are Biology, Kinesiology / Exercise Science, Pre-Med / Pre-Health, Kinesiology, and Exercise Science.
Is Chiropractor a growing field?
Projected job growth for this role from 2024 to 2034 is much faster than average (BLS projections via O*NET), with roughly 2,800 U.S. openings a year.
What skills does a Chiropractor use most?
Common skills for this role are Spinal Manipulation, Patient Assessment, Anatomy, Communication, and Practice Management.
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Take the major quizWhere these pay figures come from
Career pay is the annual wage of everyone working in that occupation, not only recent graduates, so it includes people who have done the job for decades. The middle half is the 25th to the 75th percentile. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET OnLine (median and percentile annual wages May 2025; employment projections 2024-2034).
All figures are national. What you earn depends on where you work, who you work for, and how far you take the degree.
Job-growth figures: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET OnLine (median and percentile annual wages May 2025; employment projections 2024-2034).