Acupuncturists
Acupuncturists (SOC 29-1291) earn a median $76,040 a year ($36.56 an hour) in the United States, with 7,830 employed as of May 2025; the highest-paying state is Tennessee.
What acupuncturists do
Acupuncturists treat pain and a variety of health complaints by placing very thin needles at specific points on the body. A visit starts with collecting medical history and general health and lifestyle information, followed by identifying the correct point locations for the patient's anatomy and position. The acupuncturist then picks points, inserts the needles, and sometimes adds cups, ear balls, seeds, pellets, nutritional supplements, moxibustion, electricity or other techniques. Practitioners develop individual treatment plans, evaluate outcomes and recommend new or altered treatments as necessary. The tasks also include adhering to local, state and federal laws and regulations. Most respondents report a master's degree. The code is separate from chiropractic, which centers on spinal manipulation, and from massage therapy. Acupuncturists follow standard quality, safety, environmental and infection control procedures.
Typical entry: O*NET respondents most often report a master's degree as the typical level of education for this occupation (68 percent).
Also called: Acupressure Therapist, Acupressurist, Acupuncture Doctor, Acupuncture Physician, Acupuncture Provider.
National wage percentiles, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||
| United States | Hourly | $18.67 | $26.63 | $36.56 | $49.17 | $77.63 | $41.84 | 7,830 |
| Annual | $38,830 | $55,380 | $76,040 | $102,280 | $161,470 | $87,020 | ||
Employment per 1,000 jobs and the location quotient are area measures; they appear in the state and metro tables below. To see what a wage in this range leaves after tax, use FastCalc's take-home pay calculator.
Where acupuncturists earn and work most
Five highest-paying states
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Tennessee | Hourly | $28.84 | $61.27 | $68.00 | $102.75 | $120.88 | $76.14 | ** | ** | ** |
| Annual | $59,990 | $127,450 | $141,430 | $213,710 | $251,420 | $158,380 | ||||
| New Jersey | Hourly | $35.15 | $52.10 | $60.22 | $67.57 | $90.08 | $62.14 | 240 | 0.06 | 1.11 |
| Annual | $73,110 | $108,370 | $125,260 | $140,540 | $187,360 | $129,250 | ||||
| Indiana | Hourly | $29.83 | $40.53 | $57.93 | $61.20 | $61.20 | $51.47 | 30 | 0.01 | 0.21 |
| Annual | $62,050 | $84,300 | $120,490 | $127,300 | $127,300 | $107,060 | ||||
| Maryland | Hourly | $25.01 | $31.85 | $48.87 | $51.57 | $55.53 | $43.99 | ** | ** | ** |
| Annual | $52,020 | $66,250 | $101,650 | $107,270 | $115,500 | $91,490 | ||||
| Massachusetts | Hourly | $25.47 | $29.73 | $44.88 | $66.85 | $71.68 | $49.26 | ** | ** | ** |
| Annual | $52,970 | $61,830 | $93,360 | $139,050 | $149,080 | $102,460 | ||||
Five states with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| California | Hourly | $18.18 | $23.07 | $36.31 | $56.51 | $89.57 | $43.18 | 2,520 | 0.14 | 2.75 |
| Annual | $37,810 | $47,990 | $75,530 | $117,540 | $186,300 | $89,810 | ||||
| New York | Hourly | $26.63 | $26.63 | $41.40 | $48.34 | $68.39 | $42.45 | 1,160 | 0.12 | 2.38 |
| Annual | $55,380 | $55,380 | $86,120 | $100,550 | $142,240 | $88,300 | ||||
| Florida | Hourly | $17.58 | $22.55 | $33.65 | $47.41 | $95.20 | $39.79 | 900 | 0.09 | 1.80 |
| Annual | $36,570 | $46,900 | $69,990 | $98,610 | $198,010 | $82,750 | ||||
| Oregon | Hourly | $24.88 | $29.08 | $31.19 | $40.00 | $50.00 | $37.13 | 360 | 0.18 | 3.64 |
| Annual | $51,740 | $60,490 | $64,870 | $83,200 | $104,000 | $77,220 | ||||
| North Carolina | Hourly | $19.90 | $22.57 | $36.78 | $43.26 | $45.30 | $33.06 | 320 | 0.07 | 1.29 |
| Annual | $41,390 | $46,940 | $76,500 | $89,990 | $94,230 | $68,760 | ||||
Five highest-paying metropolitan areas
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | Hourly | $37.24 | $41.09 | $51.87 | $67.46 | $72.29 | $55.35 | ** | ** | ** |
| Annual | $77,470 | $85,470 | $107,880 | $140,310 | $150,350 | $115,140 | ||||
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | Hourly | $27.71 | $38.93 | $50.89 | $51.57 | $51.58 | $44.37 | ** | ** | ** |
| Annual | $57,640 | $80,980 | $105,850 | $107,270 | $107,280 | $92,290 | ||||
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | Hourly | $35.82 | $35.82 | $48.75 | $53.86 | $60.17 | $47.42 | ** | ** | ** |
| Annual | $74,510 | $74,510 | $101,390 | $112,020 | $125,140 | $98,620 | ||||
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | Hourly | $17.03 | $26.43 | $48.52 | $55.53 | $55.53 | $41.77 | 160 | 0.05 | 1.00 |
| Annual | $35,410 | $54,970 | $100,920 | $115,500 | $115,510 | $86,880 | ||||
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | Hourly | $26.63 | $26.63 | $48.34 | $54.85 | $77.67 | $47.89 | 1,210 | 0.13 | 2.54 |
| Annual | $55,380 | $55,380 | $100,550 | $114,090 | $161,560 | $99,600 | ||||
Five metropolitan areas with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | Hourly | $26.63 | $26.63 | $48.34 | $54.85 | $77.67 | $47.89 | 1,210 | 0.13 | 2.54 |
| Annual | $55,380 | $55,380 | $100,550 | $114,090 | $161,560 | $99,600 | ||||
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | Hourly | $18.18 | $18.67 | $30.09 | $56.50 | $75.24 | $37.63 | 450 | 0.19 | 3.78 |
| Annual | $37,810 | $38,830 | $62,590 | $117,520 | $156,510 | $78,260 | ||||
| Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | Hourly | $22.55 | $22.55 | $26.67 | $47.41 | $47.63 | $32.71 | 380 | 0.27 | 5.39 |
| Annual | $46,900 | $46,900 | $55,470 | $98,610 | $99,060 | $68,040 | ||||
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | Hourly | $17.27 | $23.07 | $31.00 | $38.51 | $57.53 | $33.91 | 300 | 0.19 | 3.82 |
| Annual | $35,930 | $47,990 | $64,490 | $80,100 | $119,660 | $70,520 | ||||
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | Hourly | $29.08 | $29.71 | $32.31 | $40.00 | $54.54 | $38.65 | 270 | 0.22 | 4.36 |
| Annual | $60,490 | $61,810 | $67,210 | $83,200 | $113,440 | $80,390 | ||||
Top industries employing acupuncturists
Offices of Other Health Practitioners employ 74.7% of acupuncturists nationally (5,850 jobs) at a median $66,300 a year ($31.87 an hour), followed by Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (3.4%) and Outpatient Care Centers (2.9%).
| Industry | Employment | Share of occupation | Median annual | Median hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Offices of Other Health Practitioners NAICS 621300 | 5,850 | 74.7% | $66,300 | $31.87 |
| Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools NAICS 611300 | 270 | 3.4% | $61,210 | $29.43 |
| Outpatient Care Centers NAICS 621400 | 230 | 2.9% | $119,750 | $57.57 |
| General Medical and Surgical Hospitals NAICS 622100 | 170 | 2.2% | $108,070 | $51.96 |
| Employment Services NAICS 561300 | 50 | 0.6% | $100,920 | $48.52 |
Share is the industry's employment over the occupation's national employment (7,830). Industries whose employment BLS withheld are not ranked.
Published medians, May 2021 to May 2025
BLS published a median annual wage of $60,570 for acupuncturists in May 2021 and $76,040 in May 2025, with employment of 7,250 and 7,830.
| Release | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2021 | $60,570 | $29.12 | 7,250 |
| May 2022 | $72,220 | $34.72 | 7,800 |
| May 2023 | $78,220 | $37.60 | 9,370 |
| May 2024 | $78,140 | $37.57 | 8,440 |
| May 2025 | $76,040 | $36.56 | 7,830 |
BLS does not design OEWS as a time series: each release pools three years of samples, and occupational classifications, area definitions and estimation methods change between releases, so a difference between two releases is not a measure of change over time. The figures are shown as published, side by side, and nothing is computed from them. See how often OEWS is updated.
Every state, by median wage
24 states and DC publish a row for this occupation. A linked state has its own page with the within-state metro table and comparison; the others appear here only.
| Rank | State | Median hourly | Median annual | 10th pct (annual) | 90th pct (annual) | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tennessee profile | $68.00 | $141,430 | $59,990 | $251,420 | ** | ** | ** |
| 2 | New Jersey profile | $60.22 | $125,260 | $73,110 | $187,360 | 240 | 0.06 | 1.11 |
| 3 | Indiana profile | $57.93 | $120,490 | $62,050 | $127,300 | 30 | 0.01 | 0.21 |
| 4 | Maryland profile | $48.87 | $101,650 | $52,020 | $115,500 | ** | ** | ** |
| 5 | Massachusetts profile | $44.88 | $93,360 | $52,970 | $149,080 | ** | ** | ** |
| 6 | Missouri profile | $42.79 | $89,000 | $45,330 | $144,840 | ** | ** | ** |
| 7 | New York profile | $41.40 | $86,120 | $55,380 | $142,240 | 1,160 | 0.12 | 2.38 |
| 8 | Arizona profile | $41.01 | $85,300 | $35,350 | $114,980 | 70 | 0.02 | 0.44 |
| 9 | Kentucky profile | $40.93 | $85,130 | $85,130 | $101,880 | 60 | 0.03 | 0.63 |
| 10 | Wisconsin profile | $40.78 | $84,820 | $63,240 | $107,240 | 170 | 0.06 | 1.14 |
| 11 | Washington profile | $40.00 | $83,200 | $75,350 | $139,930 | ** | ** | ** |
| 12 | Maine profile | $39.92 | $83,040 | $45,070 | $134,570 | ** | ** | ** |
| 13 | New Hampshire profile | $37.24 | $77,470 | $50,120 | $107,880 | ** | ** | ** |
| 14 | North Carolina profile | $36.78 | $76,500 | $41,390 | $94,230 | 320 | 0.07 | 1.29 |
| 15 | California profile | $36.31 | $75,530 | $37,810 | $186,300 | 2,520 | 0.14 | 2.75 |
| 16 | Georgia profile | $35.57 | $73,980 | $23,800 | $99,360 | 140 | 0.03 | 0.56 |
| 17 | Florida profile | $33.65 | $69,990 | $36,570 | $198,010 | 900 | 0.09 | 1.80 |
| 18 | Minnesota profile | $33.51 | $69,690 | $39,990 | $134,570 | 210 | 0.07 | 1.42 |
| 19 | Texas profile | $31.98 | $66,530 | $31,470 | $90,420 | ** | ** | ** |
| 20 | Michigan profile | $31.49 | $65,490 | $37,130 | $181,240 | ** | ** | ** |
| 21 | Oregon profile | $31.19 | $64,870 | $51,740 | $104,000 | 360 | 0.18 | 3.64 |
| 22 | Hawaii profile | $31.04 | $64,570 | $64,560 | $102,740 | ** | ** | ** |
| 23 | Utah profile | $28.18 | $58,620 | $58,480 | $88,270 | ** | ** | ** |
| 24 | Colorado profile | $27.38 | $56,950 | $43,310 | $101,180 | ** | ** | ** |
Related occupations
Occupations in the same SOC broad group (29-1290), with their national median annual wage.
Part of Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations. Compare any area in the wage explorer.
Source and notes
Data: BLS OEWS May 2025, released 2026-05-15. Cross-industry estimates, all ownerships. BLS page: OEWS 29-1291 Acupuncturists.
**- Employment estimate not available.
- Annual wages assume 2,080 hours a year at the hourly rate; occupations BLS publishes on one basis only show an en dash (–) on the other.
- Employment is rounded to the nearest 10 by BLS. Where BLS withholds a cell, nothing is estimated in its place.
- Top industries: nat4d_M2025_dl.xlsx in oesm25in4.zip (BLS OEWS May 2025, national, 4-digit NAICS, cross-ownership). Employment is the industry's rounded total for this occupation; industries whose employment BLS withheld (**) are not ranked.
- Published medians: national_M2021_dl.xlsx to national_M2024_dl.xlsx in oesm21nat.zip to oesm24nat.zip (BLS OEWS May 2021 to May 2024, national, cross-industry, all ownerships) and the May 2025 spine. Each release is shown as published; nothing is computed between them.
Sources
- BLS Standard Occupational Classification 2018, definition of 29-1291, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- O*NET 30.1 Database, 29-1291.00, National Center for O*NET Development, USDOL/ETA (CC BY 4.0).
- OEWS May 2025 national industry-specific estimates, 4-digit NAICS (oesm25in4.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2021 national estimates (oesm21nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2022 national estimates (oesm22nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2023 national estimates (oesm23nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2024 national estimates (oesm24nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2025 national estimates (oesm25nat.zip), the site's data spine, US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
Includes information from O*NET 30.1 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
Description written 2026-10-17 in our own words from the sources above.