What Do Acupuncturist Do?
Occupation Description Provide treatment of symptoms and disorders using needles and small electrical currents. May provide massage treatment. May also provide preventive treatments.
Life As an Acupuncturist: What Do They Do?
- Treat medical conditions using techniques such as acupressure, shiatsu, or tuina.
- Maintain detailed and complete records of health care plans and prognoses.
- Apply heat or cold therapy to patients using materials such as heat pads, hydrocollator packs, warm compresses, cold compresses, heat lamps, or vapor coolants.
- Insert needles to provide acupuncture treatment.
- Adhere to local, state and federal laws, regulations and statutes.
- Collect medical histories and general health and life style information from patients.
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What Skills Do You Need to Work as an Acupuncturist?
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 for this Occupation:
- Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioner
- Auricular Therapist
- Clinic Supervisor
- Acupuncture Physician
- Naturopathic Physician
Job Outlook for Acupuncturists
In 2016, there was an estimated number of 56,400 jobs in the United States for Acupuncturist. 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.
Acupuncturist Salary
Acupuncturists make between $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 & Technology do Acupuncturists Use?
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?
Individuals working as an Acupuncturist have obtained the following education levels:

How Long Does it Take to Become an Acupuncturist?

Who Employs Acupuncturists?

The table below shows some of the most common industries where those employed in this career field work.

Other Jobs You May be Interested In
Those who work as an Acupuncturist sometimes switch careers to one of these choices:
References:
Image Credit: Aphiwat chuangchoem via Creative Commons Zero (CC0)
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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