Written By Bethany McCamish
Updated on May 2, 2024
Acupuncturists use ancient Chinese healing techniques, such as inserting tiny needles into the skin, to help alleviate all kinds of human conditions. While this practice originates in the East, the acupuncturist’s career field is more like the Wild West. Acupuncturist salaries vary widely based on years of experience and location.
Acupuncturist salary breakdown
How much do acupuncturists make? According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), acupuncturists have a median wage of $78,220.
- Payscale reports the average salary for acupuncturists to be around $81,000.
- The People's Organization of Community Acupuncture reported an average gross income of $69,411 in 2023.
- Glassdoor estimates the average acupuncturist salary to be over $100,000.
You can see why it’s the Wild West for acupuncturist salaries — the industry’s pay ranges are huge.
We do know that acupuncturist salaries’ are defined by years of experience. Entry-level acupuncturists will earn an average of $28 an hour. Acupuncturists with 20 or more years of experience, however, earn an average of $77 an hour.
This rise over time is also attributed to opening and growing a business. Most acupuncturists are self-employed in their own practice. It takes time to build a client base and increase earnings.
Career length accounts for only part of the wide salary range. Location is the second major factor in determining how much an acupuncturist earns.
Income & Student Debt by Profession
How you compare to other
accountants stats*
| Average student debt | |
| Average income | |
| Average Debt-to-Income Ratio |
Statistics represent the population of Student Loan Planner clients in the respective profession referenced in the chart from 2017-2023. Sample excludes those in school or in training.*
Top 5 states with the highest and lowest acupuncturist salaries
To get a better idea of your future salary, you can look at the BLS annual wage report organized by state.
Top 5 states with the highest reported salaries
| Location | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Minnesota | $117,620 |
| Rhode Island | $110,840 |
| Florida | $107,340 |
| Oregon | $99,290 |
| New Jersey | $98,230 |
Although these states report higher earnings, the cost of living can match. Cost-of-living expenses should be a consideration when figuring out your future salary.
There are some states that truly tank when it comes to acupuncturist salary. Below are the states that reported the lowest annual salaries.
Top 5 states with the lowest reported salaries
| Location | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Idaho | $33,170 |
| Colorado | $46,340 |
| New Mexico | $53,410 |
| Maryland | $59,160 |
| Maine | $64,820 |
Acupuncturist take-home pay is even further impacted by student loan debt. Considering you will need to attend grad school and probably take on student loans, it’s best to find a position in a state that supports your cost-of-living and your loans.
Acupuncturist salary might not cut it with student loans
Acupuncturists must complete an accredited graduate program and an exam to practice in most states. Since acupuncturist grad programs can take at least 3 to 5 years, student loan debt that comes with this degree can be harsh.
Related: Student Loan Debt for Acupuncturists…a Real Stress Point
Acupuncturist programs start in the five figures, some as low as $67,000. But Student Loan Planner® has seen multiple acupuncturists with student debt close to $300,000.
How does the cost skyrocket from the advertised tuition? There are several factors that lead to six-figure student loan debt for acupuncturists:
- Tuition increases every year
- Fees aren’t included in tuition estimates
- Living expenses increase each year
- Student loan interest accrues while in school
Lastly, totals increase when loans taken out for undergrad are added to grad school loans. This can quickly push student loan debt into the high $100,000 — $300,000 range for acupuncturists.
To get a better sense of actual cost, review the regulations for the state you’re considering starting a practice in. This will give you a good idea of how much education you’ll need to invest in.
You should also add up your current student loans so you know how much debt you’re starting with.
Is the acupuncturist salary worth the student loan debt?
Six figures of student loan debt and a low starting salary is recipe for financial stress. Whether spending that much money is worth it or not is really up to you. If it’s your passion and you love your job, then the answer may be yes. If you think the stress of debt will outweigh the job, then it may not be worth it.
The good news is that the job outlook for acupuncturists is looking bright in the United States.
You’ll most likely be self-employed, so you need to be ready to work long hours and have debt while you build your business. But ideally, in a few years, your salary will increase.
More good news is you can find other ways to pay back your student loan debt. If you can, prepare to pay for some or all of grad school out of pocket, rather than take out more loans.
This isn’t possible for everyone, so the next step is to have a plan in place to repay your student loans.
Acupuncturists student loan repayment option
You have several options for paying back your student loans. Our student loan calculator is a good way to compare them side by side.
Let’s walk through an example with these assumptions:
- You leave grad school with $250,000 in student loans at 7% interest.
- You earn $45,000 your first year working, which will increase over time.
- You’re single and don’t have plans to get married.
The thought of paying off $250,000 on a salary of $45,000 may seem impossible. And it very well might be if you choose the standard 10-year repayment plan where your payments will be $2,903 a month.
However, if you enroll in the new Saving on a Valuable Education (SAVE) forgiveness plan, your monthly payments will be much more affordable, starting out at $93 per month. After 25 years of on-time payments, your remaining loan balance is forgiven. Under this plan, you should set aside an additional $185 per month to account for future taxes owed on the forgiven amount.
In total, under REPAYE, you’d direct $278 of your monthly income toward student loans. This example should give you hope. Despite the low starting salary for acupuncturists, you can find a way to manage the student loans often required by this occupation.
If you’re worried about taking on major student loan debt, we know the feeling. That’s why we created the pre-debt consult to give you a chance to run through the numbers with a professional.
Income & Student Debt by Profession
How you compare to other
accountants stats*
| Average student debt | |
| Average income | |
| Average Debt-to-Income Ratio |
Statistics represent the population of Student Loan Planner clients in the respective profession referenced in the chart from 2017-2023. Sample excludes those in school or in training.*
Comments are closed.