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.
Also called: Acupressure Therapist, Acupressurist, Acupuncture Doctor, Acupuncture Physician, Acupuncture Provider, Acupuncturist
Median pay
$76,040
per year, U.S.
Pay range (10th–90th)
$38,830 – $161,470
People employed
7,830
Holland code
SIR
Social · Investigative · Realistic
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
Is this career right for you?
These are the things that stand out in this job compared with other U.S. jobs (O*NET 31.0 work context). Answer honestly.
- 1.Do you prefer doing your own work rather than directing others?
- 2.Do you want to stay at 40 hours a week or less?
- 3.Do you want a lot of freedom to make your own decisions?
- 4.Do you prefer a steady pace without constant deadlines?
- 5.Do you prefer working indoors?
- 6.Do you want a job with little physical risk?
The hard parts
- Exposure to disease or infection
- Long hours on your feet
Acupuncturists pay by state
Highest-paying states
Annual median pay by state (24 states with published data). Source: BLS OEWS May 2025.
What acupuncturists do
- 01Maintain and follow standard quality, safety, environmental, and infection control policies and procedures.
- 02Treat patients using tools, such as needles, cups, ear balls, seeds, pellets, or nutritional supplements.
- 03Adhere to local, state, and federal laws, regulations, and statutes.
- 04Identify 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.
- 05Develop individual treatment plans and strategies.
- 06Insert needles to provide acupuncture treatment.
Skills that matter most
- Active Listening
- Critical Thinking
- Speaking
- Monitoring
- Reading Comprehension
- Writing
Knowledge
- Customer and Personal Service
- Medicine and Dentistry
- Psychology
- Biology
- English Language
Work styles that stand out
- Dependability
- Attention to Detail
- Integrity
- Cautiousness
- Cooperation
Education and first steps
Share of workers by required education, as reported to O*NET.
How people get started
- Usually needs a graduate degree (O*NET Job Zone 5).
- Related work experience: over 1 year, up to and including 2 years.
- On-the-job training: anything beyond short demonstration, up to and including 1 month.
- A professional certification is often expected.
Most common answers from O*NET 31.0 Education, Training and Experience.
Interest fit (Holland code)
O*NET occupational interest scores, scale 1–7. Take the Free Career Test to compare with your own.
Career changes
Change from acupuncturists
- Midwives79% · group pay
- Massage Therapists77% · −23%
- Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondary75% · +6%
- Athletic Trainers75% · −18%
- Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary74% · +41%
Majors that lead here
- Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine
From the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk.