Salary, Job Description, How To Become One, and Quiz
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Chiropractors
Chiropractors assess, treat, and care for patients by manipulation of spine and musculoskeletal system. May provide spinal adjustment or address sacral or pelvic misalignment.
Table of contents
What they do
Chiropractors assess, treat, and care for patients by manipulation of spine and musculoskeletal system. May provide spinal adjustment or address sacral or pelvic misalignment.
- Evaluate the functioning of the neuromusculoskeletal system and the spine using systems of chiropractic diagnosis.
- Diagnose health problems by reviewing patients’ health and medical histories, questioning, observing, and examining patients, and interpreting x-rays.
- Perform a series of manual adjustments to the spine or other articulations of the body to correct the musculoskeletal system.
- Obtain and record patients’ medical histories.
Typical day
On a daily basis, Chiropractors perform a series of manual adjustments to the spine or other articulations of the body to correct the musculoskeletal system. They evaluate the functioning of the neuromusculoskeletal system and the spine using systems of chiropractic diagnosis.
A typical day for a Chiropractor will also include:
- Maintain accurate case histories of patients.
- Advise patients about recommended courses of treatment.
- Diagnose health problems by reviewing patients’ health and medical histories, questioning, observing, and examining patients, and interpreting x-rays.
- Obtain and record patients’ medical histories.
- Counsel patients about nutrition, exercise, sleeping habits, stress management, or other matters.
Other responsibilities
Besides their typical day, Chiropractors also suggest and apply the use of supports such as straps, tapes, bandages, or braces if necessary. They may also recommend and arrange for diagnostic procedures, such as blood chemistry tests, saliva tests, x-rays, or other imaging procedures.
On a weekly to monthly basis, Chiropractors consult with or refer patients to appropriate health practitioners when necessary. They might also analyze x-rays to locate the sources of patients’ difficulties and to rule out fractures or diseases as sources of problems.
In addition, they counsel patients about nutrition, exercise, sleeping habits, stress management, or other matters.
Although specific duties may vary, many of them obtain and record patients’ medical histories.
To some Chiropractors, it is also their responsibility to diagnose health problems by reviewing patients’ health and medical histories, questioning, observing, and examining patients, and interpreting x-rays.
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What is the job like
Job satisfaction
Is this job meaningful
70% said they were satisfied with their job and 92% said they found their job meaningful.
Most mornings, I will arrive at the office before 9:30 am to prepare the office for our daily client appointments.
Throughout a typical workday, I’ll meet with a series of clients for a variety of chiropractic services, from standard spinal adjustments and acupuncture appointments to e-stim therapies and cupping therapy sessions. During these appointments, I’ll chat with my clients about their symptoms, pain relief remedies, and their overall health. I’ll help my patients find pain relief during their appointments and provide them with a few at-home exercises to help keep their pain at bay. Between each appointment, I’ll sanitize the office space for the next appointment and fill out paperwork for progress purposes and general business administration purposes.
In general, I try to wrap up most appointments by 5:00 pm, but I may schedule appointments after-hours to accommodate close friends.
Pros
I love every single part of my job! I’ve been practicing chiropractic care for over 15 years and there’s nothing else I’d rather do. In my job, I get to help others on a daily basis and build strong relationships with all of my clients. In fact, many of my long-time clients have turned into great friends of mine. I also have great flexibility with my work hours and I enjoy being my own boss too.
Cons
That said, the chiropractic industry is very competitive, which means new client appointments aren’t always rolling in consistently. I have to focus heavily on my marketing and maintaining my reputation in the local market in order to stay ahead of the competition. In my line of work, I am also on my feet constantly throughout the day, which can get exhausting on busier days. And since I am my only employee, the bureaucratic responsibilities of my business (e.g., bookkeeping, taxes, insurance, etc.) always fall to me, and those aren’t my favorite things to do.
Pros
Suitable for people who like to help and teach others.
Suitable for people who value relationships between co-workers and customers and want to work in a friendly non-competitive environment.
This career is perfect for people who love to work indoors.
Normal working hours (40 hours per week).
Cons
Not suitable for people who like to follow routines.
It is very hard to get into this career. Extensive skills, knowledge, and experience are required for this career.
How much do they make
Average salary
Average hourly wage
Entry-level Chiropractors with little to no experience can expect to make anywhere between $35,390 to $53,070 per year or $17 to $26 per hour.
| Salary by experience | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Highest (Top 10%) | $137,950 | $66 |
| Senior (Top 25%) | $98,050 | $47 |
| Median | $70,720 | $34 |
| Junior (Bottom 25%) | $53,070 | $26 |
| No experience (Bottom 10%) | $35,390 | $17 |
This table shows the top 10 highest paying industries for Chiropractors based on their average annual salary.
| Salary by industry | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services | $100340 | $48.24 |
| Outpatient Care Centers | $99640 | $47.91 |
| Other Ambulatory Health Care Services | $96680 | $46.48 |
| Offices of Physicians | $95470 | $45.90 |
| General Medical and Surgical Hospitals | $89990 | $43.26 |
| Offices of Other Health Practitioners | $83010 | $39.91 |
View more salary by industries here.
Where can they work
Where can Chiropractors work? Here is a table showing the top 10 largest employers of Chiropractors including the average salary in that industry.
| Employers | Total Employed | Annual Salary | Hourly Wages |
|---|---|---|---|
| Offices of Other Health Practitioners | 32390 | $83010 | $39.91 |
| Offices of Physicians | 1160 | $95470 | $45.90 |
| Outpatient Care Centers | 270 | $99640 | $47.91 |
| General Medical and Surgical Hospitals | 120 | $89990 | $43.26 |
| Other Ambulatory Health Care Services | 50 | $96680 | $46.48 |
| Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services | $100340 | $48.24 |
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What is the work day like
Working hours
Working schedule
How often do you use email in this job?
Telephone
How often do you have telephone conversations in this job?
Group discussions
How often do you have group discussions in this job?
Public speaking
How often does this job require you to do public speaking?
Level of competition
How much competitive pressure is in this job?
What is the work environment like
Office-style environment
Indoors in an environmentally controlled condition
Warehouse-style environment
Indoors in a non-controlled environmental condition such as a warehouse
Outdoors
Outdoors exposed to all weather conditions
Outdoors – Under Cover
Outdoors but under cover (e.g. structure with roof but no walls)
How to become one
Difficulty to become one
Required level of education
What level of education do you need to perform the job?
Relevant majors
Chiropractic
Relevant work experience
How much related work experience do you need to get hired for the job?
On The Job Training
How much on the job training do you need to perform the job?
Should you become one
Best personality type for this career
People with this personality type likes to work with people and in teams. They prefer work that allows them to build relationships with others.
People with The Builder personality type likes practical and hands-on work. They prefer working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery.
People with The Thinker personality likes to work with ideas that require an extensive amount of thinking. They prefer work that requires them to solve problems mentally.
People with The Artist personality likes to work with designs and patterns. They prefer activities that require self-expression and prefer work that can be done without following a clear set of rules.
People with The Helper personality type likes to work with people and in teams. They prefer work that allows them to build relationships with others.
People with The Leader personality likes to start and work on projects. They also like leading people and making many decisions.
People with The Organizer personality type likes to follow set procedures and routines. They prefer working with data and details more than with ideas.
You can read more about these career personality types here.
People who are suitable for this job tend to like working with, communicating with, and teaching people. They like helping or providing service to others.
They also like working with ideas and require an extensive amount of thinking. They like searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.
Take this quiz to see if this is the right career for you.
Work Values
Which values are the most important to a person’s satisfaction for this job?
You are someone who is results oriented. You prefer work that allows you to utilize your skills and abilities while at the same time giving you a sense of accomplishment.
You are someone who values job security, steady employment, and good working conditions. You also prefer work that keeps you busy all the time with something different to do every day.
You are someone who values job advancement and leadership roles. You prefer work that receives recognition for the work you do and jobs that are looked up to by others in the company and your community.
You are someone who likes to provide a service to others. You prefer a work environment where you can work with your co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment.
You are someone who values a company that stands behind their employees. You prefer a work environment where everyone is treated fairly and is being supported by the company.
You are someone who likes to work on your own and make your own decisions. You prefer work that requires little supervision and are allowed to try out your own ideas.
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