What You Need to Know About 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.
Acupuncturist Responsibilities
- Maintain and follow standard quality, safety, environmental and infection control policies and procedures.
- Dispense herbal formulas and inform patients of dosages and frequencies, treatment duration, possible side effects and drug interactions.
- Formulate herbal preparations to treat conditions considering herbal properties such as taste, toxicity, effects of preparation, contraindications, and incompatibilities.
- Assess patients' general physical appearance to make diagnoses.
- Apply moxibustion directly or indirectly to patients using Chinese, non-scarring, stick, or pole moxa.
- Consider Western medical procedures in health assessment, health care team communication, and care referrals.
Featured schools near , edit
What Every Acupuncturist Should Know
When polled, Acupuncturists say the following skills are most frequently used in their jobs:
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 for this Occupation:
- Acupuncturist
- Clinic Supervisor
- Acupressurist
- Herbalist
- Auricular Acupuncturist
Job Opportunities 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. Due to new job openings and attrition, there will be an average of 3,800 job openings in this field each 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.
Salary for 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 |
What Tools do Acupuncturists Use?
Although they’re not necessarily needed for all jobs, the following technologies are used by many Acupuncturists:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Office
- Microsoft Outlook
- Word processing software
- Microsoft Windows
- Electronic health record EHR software
How do I Become an Acupuncturist?
Are there Acupuncturists education requirements?

How many years of work experience do I need?

Where do Acupuncturists Work?

Acupuncturists work in the following industries:

Other Jobs You May be Interested In
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.
Featured Schools
![]() |
Southern New Hampshire University You have goals. Southern New Hampshire University can help you get there. Whether you need a bachelor's degree to get into a career or want a master's degree to move up in your current career, SNHU has an online program for you. Find your degree from over 200 online programs. Learn More > |