Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, aged to 2026 using compounded market movement. State selections show BLS state-level figures where published. Actual pay varies with experience, industry, and organization size.
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.
Top skills:Active ListeningSocial PerceptivenessService OrientationCritical ThinkingSpeakingJudgment and Decision Making
Includes information from O*NET OnLine by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (CC BY 4.0).
Acupuncturist pay by experience level
Entry level$40,000
Typical starting pay (about the 10th percentile)
Early career$57,500
A few years in (about the 25th percentile)
Experienced$78,500
Mid-career median pay
Senior$106,000
Seasoned professionals (about the 75th percentile)
Top earners$167,000
Highest earners (about the 90th percentile)
Experience tiers are derived from the BLS wage percentile distribution for this occupation, aged to 2026. Actual pay varies by employer, location, and specialization.
Job outlook
+6.8%
projected change in jobs, 2024–2034
900
projected openings per year
Growing about as fast as average
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program (2024–2034). Openings include growth and replacement needs.
Acupuncturist salary by industry
Ambulatory Health Care Services
6,800 workers
$87,000
Offices of Other Health Practitioners
5,850 workers
$79,000
Educational Services
300 workers
$60,500
Educational Services, Privately Owned
280 workers
$56,000
Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools
270 workers
$61,500
Outpatient Care Centers
230 workers
$119,000
Hospitals
200 workers
$119,000
Hospitals, Privately Owned
170 workers
$120,500
General Medical and Surgical Hospitals
170 workers
$118,500
Administrative and Support Services
50 workers
$80,500
National sector-level figures, BLS OEWS May 2025, aged to 2026.
Related occupations from O*NET OnLine, U.S. Department of Labor.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Acupuncturist make?
The average base salary for a Acupuncturist in the United States is $90,000 per year, or about $43.27 per hour.
What is the typical salary range?
Pay typically falls between $57,500 and $106,000 per year (25th to 75th percentile) depending on experience, location, industry, and organization size.
How does this compare with other Healthcare Practitioners and Technical roles?
The Healthcare Practitioners and Technical job family averages $162,000 across 91 roles tracked by WePayFairly.
Need a defensible market price for this role? WePayFairly data is compiled from published survey sources and maintained by compensation professionals.
