An acupuncturist is known as a homeopathic professional that practices acupuncture. Acupuncture is a therapy that has been in existence for centuries and originated in ancient China. An acupuncturist is a type of medical healer that helps and treats patients dealing with pain caused by headaches or any other type of body ache. This type of specialist is often referred to as a natural healer that uses needles, herbs and other natural remedies for the treatments that they offer to patients. This type of professional has a lot of job flexibility and can work in a variety of settings. The most common settings of employment for an acupuncturist include health clinics, rehabilitation centers, cancer treatment units or general practice. The salary for an acupuncturist ranges greatly based on the type of employment that is achieved. Many factors go into determining the salary of a professional in this specific natural health field.
Job Description Details
The actual duties of an acupuncturist range quite a bit, but a general examination is the fits step to the treatment provided. This type of specialist will require patients to undergo an extensive physical examination that is designed to pinpoint the pain and allow for the best type of acupuncture treatment. It is also important for an acupuncturist to ask a patient many questions surrounding their eating habits, lifestyle, sleep patterns and other bodily function-related questions. It takes a very special skillset to analyze a patient fully and gain a greater grasp of the cause to their pain. It is also vital for this type of healthcare professional to perform tests, and also analyze x-rays. An acupuncturist must come to a final diagnosis and offer diet and exercise advice to patients in addition to acupuncture treatments. Many different aspects go into providing optimal acupuncture care to patients in pain.
Median Salary For Natural Healer
This type of natural healer can expect to make a median salary that is extremely competitive. However, the range for this occupation varies greatly. The median salary for an acupuncturist in the United States is between $37,642 and $161,034. This is a very large median range and there are numerous factors that go into determining the salary for an acupuncturist.
Private or Government?
One of the basic differences in salary can be attributed to the type of employment that an acupuncturist obtains. A specialist in this field that is employed by a government or private agency. Government agencies often pay higher salaries to those professionals that are qualified, but more experience is needed to obtain these positions. A low-end salary that can be expected is $17.472, but this is from private facilities only and is not the norm. The average salary is closer to about $46,520, but a specialist with much experience in this field can make up to $344,846 annually. This leaves for a huge disparity in salary based mostly on the setting that you have for employment.
State and Pay
Not only does setting matter when it comes to salary, but the state that you are employed in also makes a difference. Not all states pay acupuncturists the same salary for the services and treatment that they provide. Mississippi has the highest median salary for an acupuncturist at $121,000, but New York is close behind with a median salary of $111,000. Other states that pay a high median salary to acupuncturists include California, Florida, Connecticut, Texas and Nevada. The median salary ranges for these states is between $94,000 and $77,000. These statistical salary figures clearly show that the state employment does matter when it comes to the salary of an acupuncturist. The higher cost of living in these states can also be attributed to the higher median salary.
Pay in Other Countries
The median salary for acupuncturists in other countries is slightly lower than the United States. In the UK the median salary is $42,345, but the highest range tops out at $250,000. This trend is also true for Australia where the median salary is about $54,315. This means that the hourly wage for an acupuncturist is Australia is between $25.00 and $34.99. The salary-related statistics clearly show that higher salaries in this field are found in the United States. The pay range may be wider, but the ability to make more is greater in the United States than in other Countries.
How to Become an Acupuncturist
Becoming an acupuncturist requires a distinct skillset and knowledge that can only be obtained through education. This requires not only entry level education, but also the completion of some type of accredited osteopathic program. It is also requires by law for all acupuncturists to have licensing from the National Certification for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine. This type of licensing is required in order for employment to be gained at any government or private facility.
