Acupuncturists salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $38,830 | $18.67 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $76,040 | $36.56 |
| Mean (average) | $87,020 | $41.84 |
| 90th percentile | $161,470 | $77.63 |
These wages describe everyone employed in the occupation, from new entrants to experienced workers. They are not starting salaries and not earnings of graduates from any particular program. Verified data
Acupuncturists pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 24 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arizona | $85,300 | $35,350 | $114,980 | 70 | 0.44 |
| California | $75,530 | $37,810 | $186,300 | 2,520 | 2.75 |
| Colorado | $56,950 | $43,310 | $101,180 | ||
| Florida | $69,990 | $36,570 | $198,010 | 900 | 1.8 |
| Georgia | $73,980 | $23,800 | $99,360 | 140 | 0.56 |
| Hawaii | $64,570 | $64,560 | $102,740 | ||
| Indiana | $120,490 | $62,050 | $127,300 | 30 | 0.21 |
| Kentucky | $85,130 | $85,130 | $101,880 | 60 | 0.63 |
| Maine | $83,040 | $45,070 | $134,570 | ||
| Maryland | $101,650 | $52,020 | $115,500 | ||
| Massachusetts | $93,360 | $52,970 | $149,080 | ||
| Michigan | $65,490 | $37,130 | $181,240 | ||
| Minnesota | $69,690 | $39,990 | $134,570 | 210 | 1.42 |
| Missouri | $89,000 | $45,330 | $144,840 | ||
| New Hampshire | $77,470 | $50,120 | $107,880 | ||
| New Jersey | $125,260 | $73,110 | $187,360 | 240 | 1.11 |
| New York | $86,120 | $55,380 | $142,240 | 1,160 | 2.38 |
| North Carolina | $76,500 | $41,390 | $94,230 | 320 | 1.29 |
| Oregon | $64,870 | $51,740 | $104,000 | 360 | 3.64 |
| Tennessee | $141,430 | $59,990 | $251,420 | ||
| Texas | $66,530 | $31,470 | $90,420 | ||
| Utah | $58,620 | $58,480 | $88,270 | ||
| Washington | $83,200 | $75,350 | $139,930 | ||
| Wisconsin | $84,820 | $63,240 | $107,240 | 170 | 1.14 |
A location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in that state than in the nation overall.
Metro areas with the most jobs
Highest paying metro areas
Job outlook for acupuncturists
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 800. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
- Share of workers who are self-employed (2025): 46.2%.
These are official BLS projections. ConnectPrep does not alter them or present its own forecasts as official statistics.
Education and training for acupuncturists
- Typical entry education
- Master's degree
- Related work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- None
- O*NET Job Zone
- Job Zone Five: Extensive Preparation Needed
Highest education of people working in this occupation
O*NET describes this preparation level as: Most of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree).
Degrees and programs that lead to this career
Programs officially mapped to this occupation in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. A mapping means the program commonly prepares students for the occupation, not that every graduate works in it. Official crosswalk
- Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine CIP 51.3301
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
Typical tasks
- 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.
Technology skills
- Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Microsoft Windows (hot technology)
- Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- AcuPartner Professional
- Electronic health record EHR software
- Miridia Technology AcuGraph
- QPuncture II
- Qchart
- Qpalm Acupuncture
- Trigram Software AcuBase Pro
Transferable skills for career changers: Social Perceptiveness, Service Orientation, Judgment and Decision Making, Complex Problem Solving, Coordination, Time Management.
Common job titles: Acupuncture Doctor, Acupuncture Physician, Acupuncture Provider, Acupuncturist, Chinese Medical Doctor (Chinese MD), Chinese Medicine Doctor, Herbalist, Licensed Acupuncturist (LAC), Oriental Medicine Provider, Traditional Chinese Medicine Doctor.
Is it worth it? Model the cost of getting there
Use the ROI calculator to compare the cost of the education this career usually requires against staying on your current path. It starts from the official wage distribution above, and you can change every assumption.
Frequently asked questions
How much do acupuncturists make?
The national median annual wage for acupuncturists was $76,040 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $38,830 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $161,470. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do acupuncturists need?
BLS lists master's degree as the typical education needed to enter this occupation, with none of related work experience and none on-the-job training typically needed to become competent.
Is acupuncturists a growing career?
BLS projects employment of acupuncturists to change +8.6% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 800 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay acupuncturists the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were Tennessee ($141,430), New Jersey ($125,260), Indiana ($120,490). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.