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Acupuncturists in California

Acupuncturists in California

Thinking about a career as an Acupuncturists in California? Here’s what the data says. Diagnose, treat, and prevent disorders by stimulating specific acupuncture points within the body using acupuncture needles. May also use cups, nutritional supplements, therapeutic massage, acupressure, and other alternative health therapies. Excludes “Chiropractors” (29-1011).

What do Acupuncturists Make in California?

For a acupuncturists working in California, the typical annual salary is $77,640 per year (or about $37.33/hour).Annual wages span from $43,060 at the 10th percentile to $152,300 at the 90th percentile.

Wage Statistic Annual Hourly
10th percentile $43,060 $20.70
25th percentile $56,570 $27.20
Median (50th) $77,640 $37.33
75th percentile $120,760 $58.06
90th percentile $152,300 $73.22
Salary ranges for Acupuncturists in California

The location quotient — a measure of how concentrated this occupation is in California nationwide is 2.36, indicating that acupuncturists are more concentrated here than the national average.

National Wage Comparison

Nationally, acupuncturists earn a median of $102,425 per year ($49.24/hour), lower than the California median.

Acupuncturists earnings in California vs. the national average

Employment Outlook

Nationally, total employment in this occupation is 3,333,926 acupuncturists across the United States. In California alone, around 2,330 people work in this role. That’s higher than the typical state, which employs around 140 acupuncturists.

Acupuncturists in California vs. the average state Forecasted number of jobs for Acupuncturists

Top California Metros for Acupuncturists

The metro areas below employ the most acupuncturists in California.

Metro Area Number Employed Annual Median Salary
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA 350 $91,650
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA 340 $93,820
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA 210 $106,710
Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA 60 $67,410
Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA 40 $128,940

Top States for Acupuncturists Employment

The table below shows the states where the most acupuncturists work.

State Number Employed
California 2,330
Oregon 640
New Jersey 360
Washington 270
North Carolina 250
Minnesota 180
Missouri 140
Georgia 100
Wisconsin 90
Massachusetts 90
Idaho 90
Maine 60
Alaska 40

Highest-Paying States for Acupuncturists

The highest-paying states for acupuncturists.

State Annual Median Salary
Florida $183,530
Michigan $153,350
Massachusetts $135,250
Minnesota $124,640
District of Columbia $97,080
New York $93,610
Arizona $87,780
New Jersey $86,550
New Mexico $83,220
New Hampshire $83,110

Skills

Key acupuncturists skills, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:

Active Listening  3.9 / 5
0
5
Service Orientation  3.8 / 5
0
5
Critical Thinking  3.8 / 5
0
5
Social Perceptiveness  3.8 / 5
0
5
Speaking  3.6 / 5
0
5
Judgment and Decision Making  3.5 / 5
0
5

Knowledge Areas

Important knowledge areas for this occupation, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:

Customer and Personal Service  4.5 / 5
0
5
Medicine and Dentistry  4.1 / 5
0
5
Psychology  3.8 / 5
0
5
Biology  3.7 / 5
0
5
English Language  3.6 / 5
0
5
Administrative  3.5 / 5
0
5

Abilities

Key abilities for acupuncturists, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:

Oral Comprehension  3.9 / 5
0
5
Near Vision  3.9 / 5
0
5
Oral Expression  3.9 / 5
0
5
Problem Sensitivity  3.9 / 5
0
5
Deductive Reasoning  3.9 / 5
0
5
Written Comprehension  3.8 / 5
0
5

Daily Tasks

Day-to-day, acupuncturists typically:

  • Maintain and follow standard quality, safety, environmental, and infection control policies and procedures.
  • Treat patients using tools, such as needles, cups, ear balls, seeds, pellets, or nutritional supplements.
  • Adhere to local, state, and federal laws, regulations, and statutes.
  • Identify correct anatomical and proportional point locations based on patients' anatomy and positions, contraindications, and precautions related to treatments, such as intradermal needles, moxibustion, electricity, guasha, or bleeding.
  • Develop individual treatment plans and strategies.
  • Insert needles to provide acupuncture treatment.
  • Evaluate treatment outcomes and recommend new or altered treatments as necessary to further promote, restore, or maintain health.
  • Collect medical histories and general health and lifestyle information from patients.
  • Maintain detailed and complete records of health care plans and prognoses.
  • Educate patients on topics, such as meditation, ergonomics, stretching, exercise, nutrition, the healing process, breathing, or relaxation techniques.
  • Assess patients' general physical appearance to make diagnoses.
  • Analyze physical findings and medical histories to make diagnoses according to Oriental medicine traditions.

Work Activities

  • Assisting and Caring for Others
  • Documenting/Recording Information
  • Getting Information
  • Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge
  • Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships
  • Performing for or Working Directly with the Public
  • Making Decisions and Solving Problems
  • Performing Administrative Activities
  • Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work
  • Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
  • Thinking Creatively
  • Providing Consultation and Advice to Others

Tools & Technology

Common tools and software used in this occupation include: Hot technologies: Microsoft Excel

What Major Will Prepare You For This Career?

Several college majors map to this occupation:

  • Alternative Medicine & Systems

Related occupations to acupuncturists include:

Also Known As

Acupressure Therapist, Acupressurist, Acupuncture Doctor, Acupuncture Physician, Acupuncture Provider, Acupuncturist, Auricular Acupuncturist, Auricular Detoxification Specialist, Auricular Therapist, Chinese Medical Doctor (Chinese MD), Chinese Medicine Doctor, Herbalist, Licensed Acupuncturist (LAC), Oriental Medicine Provider, Traditional Chinese Medicine Doctor.

References

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