2021 Acupuncturists

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.

Acupuncturists Salary

Search by Location

Salary

$75.6K

Growth

-0%

Bright Outlook

Below Average

Green

Acupuncturists Career Description

Also known as:

Acupuncture Physician, Acupuncture Provider, Acupuncturist, Chinese Medical Doctor, Herbalist, Licensed Acupuncturist (LAC), Oriental Medicine Provider, Traditional Chinese Medicine Doctor, Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioner

2021 Acupuncturists Salary

Percentile	10%	25%	50% (Median)	75%	90%
Annual Wage	$42,120	$56,840	$75,640	$115,010	$148,950
Hourly Wage	$20.25	$27.33	$36.37	$55.29	$71.61

2021 Acupuncturists Salary

Percentile

10%

25%

50% (Median)

75%

90%

Annual Wage

$42,120

$56,840

$75,640

$115,010

$148,950

Hourly Wage

$20.25

$27.33

$36.37

$55.29

$71.61

Acupuncturists Common Job Duties

Develop individual treatment plans and strategies.
Adhere to local, state, and federal laws, regulations, and statutes.
Insert needles to provide acupuncture treatment.
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.
Collect medical histories and general health and lifestyle information from patients.
Treat patients using tools, such as needles, cups, ear balls, seeds, pellets, or nutritional supplements.
Analyze physical findings and medical histories to make diagnoses according to Oriental medicine traditions.
Maintain and follow standard quality, safety, environmental, and infection control policies and procedures.
Educate patients on topics, such as meditation, ergonomics, stretching, exercise, nutrition, the healing process, breathing, or relaxation techniques.
Dispense herbal formulas and inform patients of dosages and frequencies, treatment duration, possible side effects, and drug interactions.
Maintain detailed and complete records of health care plans and prognoses.
Assess patients' general physical appearance to make diagnoses.
Formulate herbal preparations to treat conditions considering herbal properties, such as taste, toxicity, effects of preparation, contraindications, and incompatibilities.
Apply heat or cold therapy to patients using materials, such as heat pads, hydrocollator packs, warm compresses, cold compresses, heat lamps, or vapor coolants.
Consider Western medical procedures in health assessment, health care team communication, and care referrals.
Evaluate treatment outcomes and recommend new or altered treatments as necessary to further promote, restore, or maintain health.
Evaluate treatment outcomes and recommend new or altered treatments as necessary to further promote, restore, or maintain health.
Treat medical conditions, using techniques such as acupressure, shiatsu, or tuina.
Apply moxibustion directly or indirectly to patients using Chinese, non-scarring, stick, or pole moxa.

Acupuncturists Activities

Develop treatment plans that use non-medical therapies.
Follow protocols or regulations for healthcare activities.
Treat patients using alternative medical procedures.
Treat patients using alternative medical procedures.
Collect medical information from patients, family members, or other medical professionals.
Treat patients using alternative medical procedures.
Analyze test data or images to inform diagnosis or treatment.
Follow protocols or regulations for healthcare activities.
Train patients, family members, or caregivers in techniques for managing disabilities or illnesses.
Advise patients on effects of health conditions or treatments.
Record patient medical histories.
Examine patients to assess general physical condition.
Prepare medications or medical solutions.
Treat patients using physical therapy techniques.
Evaluate treatment options to guide medical decisions.
Evaluate patient outcomes to determine effectiveness of treatments.
Prescribe treatments or therapies.
Treat patients using alternative medical procedures.
Treat patients using alternative medical procedures.

Acupuncturists Required Knowledge

Medicine and Dentistry - Knowledge of the information and techniques needed to diagnose and treat human injuries, diseases, and deformities. This includes symptoms, treatment alternatives, drug properties and interactions, and preventive health-care measures.
Customer and Personal Service - Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
Therapy and Counseling - Knowledge of principles, methods, and procedures for diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of physical and mental dysfunctions, and for career counseling and guidance.
Psychology - Knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders.
Sales and Marketing - Knowledge of principles and methods for showing, promoting, and selling products or services. This includes marketing strategy and tactics, product demonstration, sales techniques, and sales control systems.
Education and Training - Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
English Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.

Common Acupuncturists Abilities Required

Oral Comprehension - Listening and understanding what people say.
Oral Expression - Communicating by speaking.
Problem Sensitivity - Noticing when problems happen.
Deductive Reasoning - Using rules to solve problems.
Inductive Reasoning - Making general rules or coming up with answers from lots of detailed information.
Near Vision - Seeing details up close.
Written Comprehension - Reading and understanding what is written.

Common Acupuncturists Skills

Active Listening - Listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions.
Critical Thinking - Thinking about the pros and cons of different ways to solve a problem.
Social Perceptiveness - Understanding people's reactions.
Service Orientation - Looking for ways to help people.
Judgment and Decision Making - Thinking about the pros and cons of different options and picking the best one.
Speaking - Talking to others.
Reading Comprehension - Reading work-related information.

Acupuncturists Interests

Social - Occupations with Social interests frequently involve working with, communicating with, and teaching people. Most involve helping or providing service to others.
Investigative - Occupations with Investigative interests frequently involve working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. They often involve research and figuring out problems mentally.
Realistic - Occupations with Realistic interests frequently involve practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.

Projected Employment For Acupuncturists

Location	2019 Employment	2029 Employment	Percent change	Annual projected job openings
United States	49,600	49,400	-0%	2,300

Projected Employment For Acupuncturists

Location

2019 Employment

2029 Employment

Percent change

Annual projected job openings

United States

49,600

49,400

-0%

2,300

Acupuncturists Education & Experience

Master's degree
No work experience
No on-the-job training

Acupuncturists Schools

School	Program Name	Location	Length / Graduates
Academy for Five Element Acupuncture	Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine	Gainesville, FL	More than 4 years: 14
Academy of Chinese Culture and Health Sciences	Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine	Oakland, CA	More than 4 years: 12
Acupuncture and Integrative Medicine College-Berkeley	Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine	Berkeley, CA	More than 4 years: 23
Acupuncture and Massage College	Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine	Miami, FL	4 years: 0 More than 4 years: 24
Alhambra Medical University	Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine	Alhambra, CA	More than 4 years: 25
American Academy of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine	Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine	Roseville, MN	More than 4 years: 3 More than 4 years: 7
American College of Acupuncture and Oriental Med	Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine	Houston, TX	More than 4 years: 13 More than 4 years: 23
American Institute of Alternative Medicine	Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine	Columbus, OH	At least two but less than four years: 13 More than 4 years: 0
AOMA Graduate School of Integrative Medicine	Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine	Austin, TX	More than 4 years: 4 More than 4 years: 44 More than 4 years: 9
Arizona School of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine	Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine	Tucson, AZ	More than 4 years: 0

Acupuncturists Schools

50 United States

School

Program Name

Location

Length / Graduates

Academy for Five Element Acupuncture