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Healthcare

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 salary (BLS)

$76,040

10th–90th percentile (BLS)

$39k – $161k

Job outlook

+7% (faster than average)

AI exposure

Early-career check: graduates of the matching programs below typically earn $93,000 ten years after starting college — an early-career figure, vs. the all-experience BLS median above. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard.

Plan a path to Acupuncturists

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Education

Typical entry: Master's degree

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How to qualify

EstimateLicense required

Cost to qualify

$64,200–$231,000

Time to qualify

6.2 yr

Renewal

$75/yr

  1. 1

    Bachelor's degree

    Degree

    Four years at public in-state rates — average published tuition & fees ≈ $11,610/yr, plus books. Private and out-of-state run higher; grant aid lowers most students' actual net price.

    $40,000–$150,000 · 4 years source

  2. 2

    Master's degree

    Degree

    Typically two years; average graduate tuition ≈ $20,000/yr at public universities (NCES).

    $24,000–$80,000 · 2 years source

  3. 3

    National & state licensure

    License

    A national board/registry exam plus a state license application (the NCLEX pattern). Exact exam and fees depend on the role and state.

    $200–$1,000 · 2 months · varies by state · renews every 2 yr source

Estimated typical U.S. route for "Acupuncturists" — built from BLS education requirements and College Board 2024–25 average published prices (public, in-state tuition + fees + books). Not yet verified against a specific state's licensing rules — confirm with your state licensing board or program.

Typical progression

  1. Junior Acupuncturists

    Entry / Junior

    $38,830

    ~2 yrs to advance

  2. Acupuncturists

    Established

    $76,040

    ~3 yrs to advance

  3. Senior Acupuncturists

    Senior

    $118,755

Key skills

A typical day

  • •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.

Fields of study

Any field

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Reputation-based selection; stats shown are outcome data per school.