UPDATED APRIL 2, 2020
If you know a chiropractic patient, ask if they’ve ever seen their doctor in a bad mood. It’s not that chiropractors don’t have bad days, but the freedom and satisfaction that comes from their work seems to eliminate the negativity in their lives. How can this be? They love what they do!
Imagine for a moment if you possessed the power in your hands to make people feel better every day. You would earn respect and admiration of your patients as you help them live a more healthy and productive life. Surrounded by this goodwill from others, the doctor with a chiropractic degree usually enjoys a life of satisfaction and fulfillment that is unmatched by many professions. Chiropractors spend more time per patient than other healthcare professionals.
Excellent Compensation Potential
While earning the loyalty and confidence of patients may be enough for some, a chiropractic degree offers more. There are different career paths to pursue. You can work for others, work in a group practice, or open your own business. Regardless of your preference, there is always a need for better health.
To that perk, add a median salary from $107,283 to $150,000, which represents an established patient base and often includes bonuses, commissions, and profit-sharing.
It’s understandable if this is starting to sound like the incredible career you’ve been seeking. But it gets even better. Just as in other healthcare professions, chiropractic has different options that allow for a focus on one particular area.
Here are just a few of the chiropractic career possibilities.
1. Family Practice (Group or Individual)
Many chiropractors operate a family practice, where they provide care for a wide variety of injuries and conditions as well as offering preventive care. The doctor often becomes close to the families, sometimes treating multiple generations from the same household. From high school sports injuries to post-retirement back flare-ups, the family chiropractor can almost become an extended family member.
2. Women and Pediatric Chiropractic
The health difficulties experienced by women are unique and often worsen during pregnancy. The body endures a great deal of stress during those nine months, and to find relief, pregnant mothers may seek chiropractic care. Post-partum care may include chiropractic treatment for both the mother and the infant, leading some doctors of chiropractic to specialize exclusively in treatment for women and pediatrics.
3. Integrated Practice
With the growing level of professional respect between chiropractic and medical doctors, now more than ever there is a collaboration between practitioners in different disciplines. Some chiropractors now have hospital-based practices where they offer treatment in conjunction with medical doctors and specialists in a variety of fields.
4. Sports Chiropractic
A career in sports chiropractic is also a popular option in the profession. The excitement of competition and having an integral role in the performance of athletes is something many are anxious to pursue. Chiropractors are associated with the sporting culture now more than ever. All NFL and MLB teams, major league soccer, and Olympic teams have chiropractic services available for their top-tier athletes.
5. Animal Chiropractic
Helping animals is close to the hearts of many people. Since animals cannot describe where or why they are experiencing discomfort, some people find helping animals more rewarding than helping humans. Since chiropractic can be used effectively on those in the animal kingdom and does not require drugs or surgery, some zoos now offer chiropractic care to their residents as a non-invasive form of care.
Your Chiropractic Career Starts at CUKC
To learn more about the job security, solid salary, and incredible opportunities in a chiropractic career, explore the Doctor of Chiropractic degree at Cleveland University-Kansas City (CUKC). Our College of Chiropractic has educated more than 10,000 chiropractors working today.
It’s easy to find out what you need to know. Click here for a free chiropractic ebook: The Complete Guide to the Chiropractic Profession.
