Acupuncturist salary in the U.S.
Acupuncturists in the U.S. earn a median of $76,040 a year ($36.56 an hour), based on BLS data for 7,830 workers.
Pay ranges from $38,830 for the lowest-paid 10% to $161,470 for the top 10%. The average (mean) salary is $87,020, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for acupuncturists in the U.S.
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $38,830 | $18.67 |
| 25th percentile | $55,380 | $26.63 |
| Median | $76,040 | $36.56 |
| 75th percentile | $102,280 | $49.17 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $161,470 | $77.63 |
| Average (mean) | $87,020 | $41.84 |
Half of acupuncturists earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $6,336.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,168.33 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,924.62 |
| Weekly | $1,462.31 |
| Hourly | $36.56 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Acupuncturist salary by state
| State | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Tennessee | $141,430 | n/a |
| New Jersey | $125,260 | 240 |
| Indiana | $120,490 | 30 |
| Maryland | $101,650 | n/a |
| Massachusetts | $93,360 | n/a |
| Missouri | $89,000 | n/a |
| New York | $86,120 | 1,160 |
| Arizona | $85,300 | 70 |
| Kentucky | $85,130 | 60 |
| Wisconsin | $84,820 | 170 |
| Washington | $83,200 | n/a |
| Maine | $83,040 | n/a |
| New Hampshire | $77,470 | n/a |
| North Carolina | $76,500 | 320 |
| California | $75,530 | 2,520 |
| Georgia | $73,980 | 140 |
| Florida | $69,990 | 900 |
| Minnesota | $69,690 | 210 |
| Texas | $66,530 | n/a |
| Michigan | $65,490 | n/a |
| Oregon | $64,870 | 360 |
| Hawaii | $64,570 | n/a |
| Utah | $58,620 | n/a |
| Colorado | $56,950 | n/a |
Best-paying metro areas for acupuncturists
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $107,880 | n/a |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | $105,850 | n/a |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $101,390 | n/a |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $100,920 | 160 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $100,550 | 1,210 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $99,360 | n/a |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $98,240 | n/a |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $91,350 | 50 |
| Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | $89,990 | 90 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $86,530 | n/a |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $85,130 | 50 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $82,890 | n/a |
| Madison, WI | $81,700 | 30 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $74,860 | 140 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $70,080 | 50 |
Metro areas with the most acupuncturists
| Metro area | Workers | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 1,210 | $100,550 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | 450 | $62,590 |
| Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | 380 | $55,470 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | 300 | $64,490 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | 270 | $67,210 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 160 | $100,920 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | 140 | $74,860 |
| Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | 90 | $89,990 |
| Eugene-Springfield, OR | 60 | $51,740 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | 60 | $64,420 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | 50 | $85,130 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | 50 | $70,080 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | 50 | $91,350 |
| Madison, WI | 30 | $81,700 |
Related jobs in the U.S.
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nurse | $97,550 | $46.90 |
| Physicians, All Other | $265,930 | $127.85 |
| Nurse Practitioner | $132,300 | $63.61 |
| Pharmacist | $140,910 | $67.75 |
| Physical Therapist | $102,760 | $49.40 |
| Dental Hygienist | $98,100 | $47.16 |
| Speech-Language Pathologist | $97,870 | $47.05 |
| Occupational Therapist | $100,330 | $48.24 |
| Physician Assistant | $135,880 | $65.33 |
| Respiratory Therapist | $82,280 | $39.56 |
| Dentists, General | $170,950 | $82.19 |
| Family Medicine Physician | $244,180 | $117.39 |
| Veterinarian | $130,100 | $62.55 |
| Dietitians and Nutritionists | $76,400 | $36.73 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 29-1291. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a acupuncturist make in the U.S.?
The median salary for acupuncturists in the U.S. is $76,040 a year, or $36.56 an hour. Pay ranges from $38,830 for the lowest-paid 10% to $161,470 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid acupuncturists make in the U.S.?
The top 10% of acupuncturists in the U.S. earn at least $161,470 a year. The top 25% earn $102,280 or more.
What is the starting pay for acupuncturists in the U.S.?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $38,830 a year, and a quarter of acupuncturists earn $55,380 or less.
How many acupuncturists work in the U.S.?
About 7,830 acupuncturists are employed in the U.S., not counting the self-employed.