HEALTH Zone 5: Extensive Preparation

Acupuncturists

Acupuncturists earn $76,040 nationally at the median. The middle 50% of workers fall between $55,380 and $102,280. Where you land depends on specialization, employer, and experience.

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About 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.

Median Wage: $76,040
Employed Nationally: 8K
Openings / Year: 900
Entry Education: Master's degree
Job Zone: Zone 5: Extensive Preparation

Also known as:

Acupressure Therapist Acupressurist Acupuncture Doctor Acupuncture Physician Acupuncture Provider

How Much Do Acupuncturists Make?

Acupuncturists earn $76,040 nationally, above the national median for college graduates. The middle 50% of earners fall between $55,380 and $102,280. Actual pay varies by employer, specialization, and location.

$76,040

National Median (Annual)

Above the national median for college graduates.

$55K–$102K

Middle 50% Range

25th to 75th percentile. Most workers earn within this band.

Earnings Range

$55,380 Entry-level

$76,040 Median

$102,280 Experienced

The mean wage for this occupation is $87,020, above the median. A concentration of very high earners pulls the average up. The median is the better gauge of typical pay.

What Do Acupuncturists Do?

O*NET data identifies 5 core activities and 5 measurable skills for Acupuncturists roles. Use this section to judge whether the day-to-day reality aligns with what you actually want to spend time doing.

What You'll Do

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.

Core Skills Employers Look For

Active Listening Critical Thinking Social Perceptiveness Service Orientation Speaking

Who Thrives Here

Social

Working closely with people, teaching, advising, or helping others navigate challenges is a defining feature of this career's daily work.

Investigative

This career demands analytical thinking: researching problems, interpreting data, and applying logical reasoning to find practical solutions.

Realistic

Hands-on tasks, physical activity, or working with tools and real materials are central parts of the daily work here.

Where Do Acupuncturists Work?

What the physical and mental conditions of this job actually look like day to day, based on O*NET Work Context data collected from people working in this occupation.

Work Setting

Mixed

Split between indoor and outdoor or field settings.

Physical Demands

Light

Mix of sitting and movement throughout the day.

Stress Level

Moderate

Moderate pressure. Regular deadlines exist but are generally manageable with experience.

What Is the Job Outlook for Acupuncturists?

The BLS projects +6.8% employment change for Acupuncturists through 2034, roughly in line with the national average of +5%. About 900 openings per year keep the field accessible to new entrants.

↗ +6.8%

10-Year Growth (2024–2034)

About as fast as average.

900

Annual Openings

New positions plus replacements for retirees and career-changers.

Currently Employed

Total US employment as of BLS May 2024.

Source: BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034 and Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2024.

Where the Jobs Are

The five states below employ the most Acupuncturists professionals nationwide. State-level wages can differ significantly from the $76,040 national median. Research your specific market before committing to a program.

#	State	Jobs	Median Wage	vs. National
1	California	2,330	$77,640	+2.1%
2	Oregon	640	$63,620	-16.3%
3	New Jersey	360	$86,550	+13.8%
4	Washington	270	$73,420	-3.4%
5	North Carolina	250	$73,100	-3.9%

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024. Employment figures rounded. Read our methodology →

How to Get Here

Most Acupuncturists positions require a master's degree to qualify. The program below is the most common academic pathways into this field, ranked by how many graduates they produce each year.

Typical Entry Education Master's degree

Job Zone

Zone 5: Extensive Preparation

Extensive education (usually a master's or doctoral degree) plus years of field experience is required to qualify for most positions.

Degree Programs That Lead Here

#	Program	Graduates/yr	4yr Median	Colleges
1	Alternative Medicine	3,431	$40,222	98

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Top Colleges for Aspiring Acupuncturists

Colleges offering the degree programs that lead to this career, ranked by UCD Score. A strong program plus solid outcomes is a good place to begin your search.

#	College	UCD Score	Net Price	Salary 10yr
1	Midwest College of Oriental Medicine-Skokie Skokie, IL	80	—	$44,136
2	American College of Healthcare Sciences Portland, OR	79	$23,782	—
3	Pacific College of Health and Science Chicago, IL	76	—	$26,209
4	Red Rocks Community College Lakewood, CO	75	$9,044	$46,288
5	Universidad Ana G. Mendez-Gurabo Campus Gurabo, PR	74	$7,051	$26,223
6	Saint Louis University Saint Louis, MO	73	$24,398	$70,783

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Plan Your Path

Once you've sized up Acupuncturists, these tools turn the numbers into a plan. Estimate the real cost of a degree that leads here, weigh the long-term payoff, compare specific colleges side-by-side, and find programs that match your profile.

College ROI Calculator

See if the degree that leads to Acupuncturists pays off. Weighs each college's cost against the earnings graduates see.

College Cost Calculator

Enter a budget and see the colleges whose net price fits, with the out-of-pocket cost and likely loan load for each.

Compare Colleges

Put any 2–4 colleges side-by-side. Admissions, cost, outcomes, and earnings, all on one screen, no tab-hopping.

College Match Quiz

Answer six quick questions and see your best-fit colleges ranked by budget, field of study, and what matters most to you.

Acupuncturists Pros & Cons

Strong earnings and growing demand make Acupuncturists a compelling path. The 3 strengths and 2 trade-offs below are drawn from BLS wage data and employment projections.

PROS

Above-average pay At $76,040 median annually, this career pays meaningfully more than most college-graduate roles. Financial return on education is typically strong.
Steady job outlook The BLS projects +6.8% growth through 2034, keeping pace with the national average. Demand is stable and annual openings remain consistent.
High earning ceiling Top earners (75th percentile) reach $102,280 annually. Strong performers, specialists, and those in high-cost markets have significant upside beyond the median.

CONS

High education requirement Most employers require a master's degree, typically 6 to 10+ years of higher education before earning full wages. Factor tuition costs into your ROI calculation.
Entry-level pay well below the national median The 25th percentile wage of $55,380 is considerably below the $76,040 median. Early-career workers typically spend 5 or more years building toward typical pay. Factor this into any program ROI calculation.

Acupuncturists Frequently Asked Questions

How much do Acupuncturists professionals earn?

The national median annual wage for Acupuncturists is $76,040, above the national median for full-time workers. The middle 50% of earners fall between $55,380 and $102,280. Pay varies by employer size, industry sector, specialization, and geography. National figures are a starting point, not a guarantee.

Is Acupuncturists a good career?

Yes, for the right person, but the commitment is significant. The $76,040 median wage reflects years of training most workers invest, and the path to a first career-level role typically spans 8 to 12 or more years. Job growth of +6.8% through 2034 means demand is real. The harder question is whether the education investment at your specific program will pay off. School selection matters enormously at this preparation level.

How long does it take to become a Acupuncturists?

Plan on 8 to 12 or more years of combined education and supervised training before qualifying for career-level roles. A master's degree is the typical minimum credential. Degree programs like Alternative Medicine are typical entry paths. Early-career pay during this ramp-up period will be meaningfully below the $76,040 national median. Factor that gap into any program ROI calculation.

Is a master's degree worth it to become a Acupuncturists?

It depends heavily on program cost. At $76,040 median, expensive graduate school debt can take 20 or more years to recover. In-state public schools, employer-sponsored programs, or income-driven repayment make the strongest case. School choice (specifically tuition cost and your expected local job market) matters as much as the credential itself.

What is the job outlook for Acupuncturists?

The BLS projects +6.8% employment change for Acupuncturists through 2034, about as fast as average compared to all occupations. About 900 job openings per year are projected, including new positions and replacements for workers who retire or change careers. 8K people currently work in this occupation nationwide (BLS May 2024).

What skills do Acupuncturists professionals need?

O*NET data identifies the core skills employers consistently prioritize for Acupuncturists roles: Active Listening, Critical Thinking, Social Perceptiveness, Service Orientation, and Speaking. These develop through formal education and hands-on work. Programs with internship or co-op requirements give you a meaningful head start on the ones that take time to build.