Summary
| Quick Facts: Chiropractors | |
|---|---|
| $66,160 per year $31.81 per hour |
|
| Doctoral or professional degree | |
| None | |
| None | |
| 44,400 | |
| 15% (Faster than average) | |
| 6,500 | |
What Chiropractors Do
Chiropractors treat patients with health problems of the neuromusculoskeletal system, which includes nerves, bones, muscles, ligaments, and tendons. They use spinal adjustments, manipulation, and other techniques to manage patients’ health concerns, such as back and neck pain.
Work Environment
Most chiropractors work in a solo or group chiropractic practice. A large number are self-employed.
How to Become a Chiropractor
Chiropractors must get a Doctor of Chiropractic (D.C.) degree and a state license. Doctor of Chiropractic programs typically take 4 years to complete and require at least 3 years of undergraduate college education for admission.
Pay
The median annual wage for chiropractors was $66,160 in May 2012.
Job Outlook
Employment of chiropractors is projected to grow 15 percent from 2012 to 2022, faster than the average for all occupations. People across all age groups are increasingly becoming interested in chiropractic care, because chiropractors use nonsurgical methods of treatment and do not prescribe drugs.
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