What is an Acupuncturist?
Job Description & Duties Provide treatment of symptoms and disorders using needles and small electrical currents. May provide massage treatment. May also provide preventive treatments.
Daily Life Of an Acupuncturist
- Analyze physical findings and medical histories to make diagnoses according to Oriental medicine traditions.
- Insert needles to provide acupuncture treatment.
- Educate patients on topics such as meditation, ergonomics, stretching, exercise, nutrition, the healing process, breathing, or relaxation techniques.
- Treat patients using tools such as needles, cups, ear balls, seeds, pellets, or nutritional supplements.
- Formulate herbal preparations to treat conditions considering herbal properties such as taste, toxicity, effects of preparation, contraindications, and incompatibilities.
- Dispense herbal formulas and inform patients of dosages and frequencies, treatment duration, possible side effects and drug interactions.
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What Every Acupuncturist Should Know
These are the skills Acupuncturists say are the most useful in their careers:
Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Service Orientation: Actively looking for ways to help people.
Social Perceptiveness: Being aware of others’ reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Judgment and Decision Making: Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Related Job Titles
- Herbalist
- Acupuncturist
- Auricular Detoxification Specialist
- Acupuncture Doctor
- Auricular Acupuncturist
Job Outlook for Acupuncturists
There were about 56,400 jobs for Acupuncturist in 2016 (in the United States). New jobs are being produced at a rate of 13.3% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 7,500 new jobs for Acupuncturist by 2026. There will be an estimated 3,800 positions for Acupuncturist per year.

The states with the most job growth for Acupuncturist are Colorado, Oregon, and Nevada. Watch out if you plan on working in Wyoming, South Dakota, or Mississippi. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
What is the Average Salary of an Acupuncturist
The salary for Acupuncturists ranges between about $40,910 and $141,330 a year.

Acupuncturists who work in Maryland, District of Columbia, or Georgia, make the highest salaries.
Below is a list of the median annual salaries for Acupuncturists in different U.S. states.
State | Annual Mean Salary |
---|---|
Alabama | $75,360 |
Alaska | $74,750 |
Arizona | $70,780 |
California | $74,080 |
Colorado | $61,630 |
Connecticut | $79,750 |
Delaware | $87,300 |
District of Columbia | $122,830 |
Florida | $66,660 |
Georgia | $107,530 |
Hawaii | $76,650 |
Idaho | $59,640 |
Illinois | $67,600 |
Indiana | $61,420 |
Kansas | $72,840 |
Kentucky | $60,670 |
Louisiana | $104,930 |
Maine | $79,090 |
Maryland | $126,550 |
Massachusetts | $88,290 |
Michigan | $78,210 |
Minnesota | $86,010 |
Mississippi | $67,310 |
Missouri | $68,600 |
Montana | $73,070 |
Nebraska | $51,310 |
Nevada | $52,800 |
New Hampshire | $72,400 |
New Jersey | $89,220 |
New Mexico | $70,490 |
New York | $77,400 |
North Carolina | $92,950 |
North Dakota | $48,300 |
Ohio | $84,760 |
Oklahoma | $72,510 |
Oregon | $83,430 |
Pennsylvania | $77,950 |
Rhode Island | $79,950 |
South Carolina | $72,050 |
South Dakota | $63,640 |
Tennessee | $59,990 |
Texas | $70,270 |
Utah | $74,310 |
Vermont | $83,520 |
Virginia | $86,250 |
Washington | $89,590 |
West Virginia | $64,840 |
Wisconsin | $75,260 |
Tools & Technologies Used by Acupuncturists
Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Acupuncturists may use on a daily basis:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Office
- Microsoft Outlook
- Word processing software
- Microsoft Windows
- Electronic health record EHR software
How do I Become an Acupuncturist?
What education is needed to be an Acupuncturist?

How many years of work experience do I need?

Where Acupuncturists Work

The table below shows the approximate number of Acupuncturists employed by various industries.

Similar Careers
Career changers with experience as an Acupuncturist sometimes find work in one of the following fields:
References:
Image Credit: Aphiwat chuangchoem via Creative Commons Zero (CC0)
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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