How to become a Chiropractor

Official title: Chiropractors

Also called: Chiropractic Doctor (DC), Chiropractic Neurologist, Chiropractic Physician

Assess, treat, and care for patients by manipulation of spine and musculoskeletal system. May provide spinal adjustment or address sacral or pelvic misalignment.

Main tasks

• Perform a series of manual adjustments to the spine or other articulations of the body to correct the musculoskeletal system.
• Obtain and record patients' medical histories.
• Diagnose health problems by reviewing patients' health and medical histories, questioning, observing, and examining patients and interpreting x-rays.
• Evaluate the functioning of the neuromuscularskeletal system and the spine using systems of chiropractic diagnosis.
• Maintain accurate case histories of patients.
• Consult with or refer patients to appropriate health practitioners when necessary.
• Advise patients about recommended courses of treatment.
• Counsel patients about nutrition, exercise, sleeping habits, stress management, or other matters.

How to become one

Chiropractors typically need a Doctor of Chiropractic (D.C.) degree. Completing a D.C. program typically takes about 4 years, in addition to at least 3 years of undergraduate study. Every state requires chiropractors to be licensed.

Typical education to start: Doctoral or professional degree

Read the full guide from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Ways in

• College: Allied Health degrees, Offered by 15 universities in the US
• Licence: A licence is required in 48 states.

Pay · Outlook · AI and this job

• Median pay: $79,200 a year The middle half earn $60,070 to $105,050.
• About 61,700 people work in this job now, and about 67,000 are projected by 2035. (+8.7%)
• People use generative AI for relatively little of this work so far. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as low.

Related jobs

• Dentists, General
• Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
• Orthodontists
• Prosthodontists
• Dentists, All Other Specialists
• Dietitians and Nutritionists

Not sure this is for you? Take the 2-minute career quiz

Questions people ask

How do I become a Chiropractor?

Chiropractors typically need a Doctor of Chiropractic (D.C.) degree. Completing a D.C. program typically takes about 4 years, in addition to at least 3 years of undergraduate study. Every state requires chiropractors to be licensed.

How much does a Chiropractor earn in the US?

Median full-time pay is $79,200 a year (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). The middle half earn $60,070 to $105,050.

Is a Chiropractor a growing career in the US?

Yes. Employment is projected to grow 9% by 2035, from about 61,700 to about 67,000 people (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).

Do you need a degree to become a Chiropractor?

Usually. 96% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Will AI change the work of a Chiropractor?

People use generative AI for relatively little of this work so far. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as low.

Sources

• Microsoft Research: Working with AI: AI applicability by occupation (2025-12-22 (built on O*NET 29.0)), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Employment Projections (2025-35 (released 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Outlook Handbook (2025-35 edition (published 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS); photographs excluded, retrieved 2026-10-03
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03

Updated 2026-10-03

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.