Setting competitive and sustainable chiropractor salaries is one of the most important financial decisions you’ll make as a clinic owner. However, typical pay can vary significantly by state, experience, and specialty, making it challenging to get the numbers right for accurate staffing costs and profit projections. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average chiropractor salary in the U.S. is around $79,000 per year, with most earning between $60,000 and $90,000 annually, depending on location and experience. In this guide, you’ll see a breakdown of chiropractor salary ranges across the United States, factors influencing compensation, and proven strategies to attract, pay, and retain high-performing chiropractors. Let’s dive in.
As stated above, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates the median chiropractor salary to be $79,000 per year or $37.98 per hour. The lowest 10% of earners in this field make less than $44,780, and the highest 10% make more than $149,990. In practice, most chiropractors in the United States usually earn between $60,000 and $90,000 a year.
Chiropractors with fewer than two years of experience tend to earn less than the national average. Entry-level chiropractors often make between $45,000 and $55,000 per year. When budgeting for an associate, consider this range as your baseline salary level, then adjust based on experience, patient volume expectations, and regional cost of living. Salaries typically increase after three to five years in practice, especially once chiropractors establish loyal patient bases and develop referral networks.
For context, the median chiropractor salary is well above the median wage for all occupations, which is around $49,000. However, it’s less than the median for healthcare diagnosing or treating practitioners, at $101,370.
Before making an offer to a new associate chiropractor, consider what your competitors in the region are paying. Salaries vary widely depending on location, cost of living, demand for chiropractic care, and local insurance dynamics.
The table below breaks down the average annual salary of chiropractors in each state. Among all states, California, New Jersey, and North Carolina consistently rank at the top for chiropractic care. Costs of living, strong demand for alternative care, and broader insurance coverage contribute to these elevated costs.
On the other hand, Utah, Idaho, and Missouri offer some of the lowest average wages. However, chiropractors in lower-paying states often benefit from lower overhead costs and reduced competition.
| State | Average Annual Salary |
| Alabama | $80,630 |
| Alaska | $110,410 |
| Arizona | $87,520 |
| Arkansas | $104,330 |
| California | $125,040 |
| Colorado | N/A |
| Connecticut | $103,270 |
| Delaware | N/A |
| Florida | $86,450 |
| Georgia | $72,940 |
| Hawaii | $98,370 |
| Idaho | $72,600 |
| Illinois | $89,940 |
| Indiana | $90,130 |
| Iowa | $73,330 |
| Kansas | $84,350 |
| Kentucky | $75,970 |
| Louisiana | $94,270 |
| Maine | $102,310 |
| Maryland | $85,580 |
| Massachusetts | $94,210 |
| Michigan | $91,160 |
| Minnesota | $101,500 |
| Mississippi | $91,250 |
| Missouri | $72,240 |
| Montana | $80,250 |
| Nebraska | $87,620 |
| Nevada | $91,330 |
| New Hampshire | $75,380 |
| New Jersey | $114,450 |
| New Mexico | $95,360 |
| New York | $105,510 |
| North Carolina | $111,160 |
| North Dakota | $85,270 |
| Ohio | $90,330 |
| Oklahoma | $96,040 |
| Oregon | $96,950 |
| Pennsylvania | $80,550 |
| Rhode Island | $80,740 |
| South Carolina | $81,160 |
| South Dakota | $96,820 |
| Tennessee | $80,490 |
| Texas | $101,250 |
| Utah | $68,050 |
| Vermont | N/A |
| Virginia | $93,190 |
| Washington | $93,670 |
| West Virginia | $81,840 |
| Wisconsin | $88,870 |
| Wyoming | $80,350 |
When setting salaries for your staff, be aware that specialization impacts chiropractor salary expectations. Specializations allow chiropractors to narrow their focus and often charge more per session. While investing in a specialist may increase your salary costs up front, it can significantly boost your clinic’s visibility, attract niche patient groups, and open up new revenue streams.
Chiropractors may focus on sports, pediatrics, orthopedics, and other specialized areas. Many chiropractors pursue certifications from organizations such as the International Chiropractic Pediatric Association (ICPA) or the American Chiropractic Board of Sports Physicians (ACBSP) to boost credibility and justify higher pricing.
Here is the average salary of a chiropractor for each specialization:
| Specialization | Average Salary |
| Pediatric Chiropractor | $65,000–$75,000 |
| Orthopedic Chiropractor | $70,000–$80,000 |
| Prenatal Chiropractor | $70,000–$80,000 |
| Occupational Chiropractor | $75,000–$85,000 |
| Pain Management Chiropractor | $75,000–$85,000 |
| Sports Chiropractor | $80,000–$90,000 |
| Naturopathic Chiropractor | $80,000–$90,000 |
| Chiropractor Clinical Director | $90,000–$100,000 |
| Wellness Chiropractor | $95,000–$105,000 |
| Chiropractic Physician | $130,000–$140,000 |
If you own your chiropractic practice, your income potential goes well beyond an associate’s salary. Chiropractors who own their practice earn, on average, between $98,000 and $102,000 annually. However, this figure depends on how established the clinic is. If the clinic has been growing for several years, salaries tend to grow as well.
Here’s why chiropractic practice owners earn more. First, they capture a larger share of revenue compared to associates. They also benefit from additional revenue streams, such as ancillary services and retail product sales, including supplements and braces. Moreover, owners can scale operations by hiring associates, which helps them leverage multiple clinicians and increases clinic volume and profit.
Many successful practices employ the “rule of thirds” revenue model, which allocates one-third of revenue for associate salary, one-third for overhead, and one-third for profit. This model helps ensure you’re compensating fairly, covering expenses, and taking home a healthy profit — all without stretching your margins too thin.
Several factors influence the average chiropractor’s salary. It’s shaped by a dynamic interplay of personal choices, market forces, and strategic decisions. Let’s unpack the key drivers behind your chiropractor’s income so you can keep in mind the elements that matter.
If you’re looking to increase your own or your employees’ salaries, here are five strategies you can implement:
Yes, you must have a chiropractor license to practice legally in the United States. All states require obtaining a Doctor of Chiropractic degree and passing standardized exams. You won’t be able to legally work and earn a salary without the necessary licenses and certifications.
Starting a chiropractic business involves meticulous planning and preparation. It begins with a detailed business plan, which includes your business objectives, financial forecasts, pricing, and marketing strategies. Next, secure the necessary funding and select a suitable location for your chiropractic clinic. Effective marketing will help you gradually expand your customer base and establish a trusted local clinic.
Florida, West Virginia, and Louisiana are among the states with the lowest chiropractor wages. This is primarily due to the lower cost of living and reduced demand for chiropractic services in these states.
Oregon has the highest average chiropractor salary at about $98,843 per year. Other states at the top include Alaska and North Dakota. This is mainly because these states have a higher demand for chiropractic services, leading to higher paychecks.
Chiropractors who are just beginning their careers typically earn between $45,000 and $55,000 annually, especially during the first two years of practice. This range can vary based on the region, employer, and patient volume. Chiropractors may also start out earning less if they are building their own clinic from the ground up, but they tend to see their salaries increase as their patient base grows.
The highest-earning chiropractors in the United States can earn well over $150,000 per year, especially if they run a well-established clinic, hold advanced certifications, or practice in affluent metropolitan areas.
Chiropractic physicians, clinical directors, and those with established private practices in places like New York may even exceed $200,000 per year when combining income from patient care, product sales, and ancillary services.
In many private practices and group clinics, chiropractors often earn bonuses or commissions based on their performance, typically tied to the number of patients they treat or the revenue they help generate. For those who see a steady stream of patients or help grow the business through referrals or added services, these incentives can significantly boost their overall earnings.
While hands-on adjustments must be performed in person, chiropractors may do virtual consultations, telehealth follow-ups, or wellness coaching services remotely. Additionally, chiropractors with expertise in nutrition, injury prevention, or posture correction sometimes create online courses or host webinars to generate supplementary income from home.
According to state-level data, the average yearly pay for chiropractors in Texas is $77,002. The chiropractor hourly pay in Texas is approximately $37.02.
