SalariesWhat the occupation covers
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. Excludes “Chiropractors” (29-1011).
Official definition from the Standard Occupational Classification, code 29-1291.
The pay range
Pay differs a lot inside one occupation, with experience, employer and place. The table shows where the lines fall.
| Share of workers | A year | A month* | A week* | An hour |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% earn less than | $38,830 | $3,236 | $747 | $18.67 |
| Lowest 25% earn less than | $55,380 | $4,615 | $1,065 | $26.63 |
| Median (half earn less, half more) | $76,040 | $6,337 | $1,462 | $36.56 |
| Top 25% earn more than | $102,280 | $8,523 | $1,967 | $49.17 |
| Top 10% earn more than | $161,470 | $13,456 | $3,105 | $77.63 |
* Month and week are the yearly figure divided by 12 and by 52, worked out here for convenience. BLS publishes the yearly and hourly figures.
How it compares
The median for all occupations in the United States was $50,980 a year. The median for Acupuncturists is $76,040, which is 49% higher. Among the 71 occupations of the field Healthcare Practitioners and Technical, it ranks number 50 by median pay. With 7,830 jobs, it makes up about 0.5 of every 10,000 jobs in the country. The average ($87,020) is well above the median, a sign that a smaller group of high earners pulls the average up.
Acupuncturists pay by state
The highest median pay was in Tennessee ($141,430), New Jersey ($125,260) and Indiana ($120,490). The lowest was in Colorado ($56,950), Utah ($58,620) and Hawaii ($64,570). The most jobs were in California (2,520), New York (1,160) and Florida (900). The occupation is most concentrated in Oregon, where its share of all jobs is 3.6 times the national share.
No state matches.
| State | Jobs | Median a year | Average a year | Median an hour |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tennessee | not published | $141,430 | $158,380 | $68.00 |
| New Jersey | 240 | $125,260 | $129,250 | $60.22 |
| Indiana | 30 | $120,490 | $107,060 | $57.93 |
| Maryland | not published | $101,650 | $91,490 | $48.87 |
| Massachusetts | not published | $93,360 | $102,460 | $44.88 |
| Missouri | not published | $89,000 | $89,710 | $42.79 |
| New York | 1,160 | $86,120 | $88,300 | $41.40 |
| Arizona | 70 | $85,300 | $72,510 | $41.01 |
| Kentucky | 60 | $85,130 | $87,560 | $40.93 |
| Wisconsin | 170 | $84,820 | $82,680 | $40.78 |
| Washington | not published | $83,200 | $93,860 | $40.00 |
| Maine | not published | $83,040 | $87,140 | $39.92 |
| New Hampshire | not published | $77,470 | $76,720 | $37.24 |
| North Carolina | 320 | $76,500 | $68,760 | $36.78 |
| California | 2,520 | $75,530 | $89,810 | $36.31 |
| Georgia | 140 | $73,980 | $67,930 | $35.57 |
| Florida | 900 | $69,990 | $82,750 | $33.65 |
| Minnesota | 210 | $69,690 | $78,840 | $33.51 |
| Texas | not published | $66,530 | $64,190 | $31.98 |
| Michigan | not published | $65,490 | $99,720 | $31.49 |
| Oregon | 360 | $64,870 | $77,220 | $31.19 |
| Hawaii | not published | $64,570 | $78,370 | $31.04 |
| Utah | not published | $58,620 | $67,550 | $28.18 |
| Colorado | not published | $56,950 | $70,710 | $27.38 |
Sorted by median pay, highest first. "Not published" means BLS did not release that figure for the state, usually because too few employers were surveyed. "$239,200 or more" is the highest value BLS reports in the state tables.
Similar occupations by pay
- Chiropractors$79,200 a year
- Therapists, All Other$77,930 a year
- Dietitians and Nutritionists$76,400 a year
- Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians$74,310 a year
- Health Information Technologists and Medical Registrars$68,020 a year
- Surgical Assistants$66,800 a year
Common questions
How much do Acupuncturists earn in the United States?
The median pay was $76,040 a year in May 2025, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $38,830 and the highest-paid 10% more than $161,470.
How many people work as Acupuncturists?
About 7,830 jobs in the United States in May 2025, not counting the self-employed.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Checked in November 2026. Figures are for employees, before tax, and leave out overtime pay and benefits. They are official statistics, not advice or a pay offer; see bls.gov/oes for the original tables.
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