# Chiropractors

US SOC code 29-1011. Markdown version of https://futurehistory.earth/timeline/29-1011

Also called: DC, Doctor of chiropractic, Chiropractic physician, Chiropractic doctor, Spinal manipulation specialist.

## In brief

In May 2025, [BLS](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm25nat.zip) counted **39,630** US chiropractors, with median pay of **$79,200** a year. Of the BLS counts since 2003, the highest was **41,480**, in May 2023, close to the May 2025 count. The earliest figure here is [an estimate](https://www.wfc.org/history) of **14,000** from 1930, not measured the same way as today's count. The last full technology era for chiropractors: Chiropractic-specific EHR software, 2005 to 2015.

## What the sources say

### Official outlook

BLS projects employment to grow 8.7% from 2025 to 2035. Source: [BLS Employment Projections 2025-35](https://data.bls.gov/projections/nationalMatrix?queryParams=29-1011&ioType=o).

### AI exposure studies

- **31.8%** of this job's tasks are exposed to large language models. Not a forecast of job losses. [Eloundou and others, 2023](https://github.com/openai/GPTs-are-GPTs/blob/main/data/occ_level.csv)

Data as of BLS OEWS May 2025; BLS Employment Projections 2025-35. BLS publishes these counts as yearly survey snapshots and cautions against reading them as a precise trend. In May 2021 BLS changed how it estimates these counts (a model-based method using three years of survey data) and moved fully to the 2018 occupation codes, so part of a change across 2021 can come from the method rather than the work.

## Chiropractors employment and pay by year

- On record since: 1895
- Latest US employment: 39,630 (May 2025). Source: BLS OEWS May 2025 [3]
- Latest US median pay: $79,200 (May 2025). Source: BLS OEWS May 2025 [7]
- Outlook: +8.7% by 2035. Source: BLS Employment Projections 2025-35 [25]

### In other countries

The latest figure each country's statistics agency publishes for this job. Each uses its own occupation definition, survey basis and currency, so the numbers are not directly comparable with each other or with the US figures.

- **Canada** (NOC 31201)
  - Employment, 2020: 8,305. Source: Statistics Canada Census 2021 [5]. Statistics Canada Census of Population 2021: number of persons with employment income in NOC 31201 Chiropractors, Canada, reference year 2020. A recipients basis (anyone with employment income during the year), slightly broader than a point-in-time employed count. Statistics Canada Open Licence.
  - Median pay, 2020: C$61,600. Source: Statistics Canada Census 2021 [10]. Statistics Canada Census of Population 2021 (Table 98-10-0586): median employment income for NOC 31201 Chiropractors, Canada, reference year 2020, full-year full-time workers (the basis comparable to the US OEWS full-time median). Statistics Canada Open Licence.

### All 28 years of cited US data

| Year | US employment | Annual pay (median unless marked) | Source |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1930 | 14,000 (estimate) | n/a | Est., History of Chiropractic [1] |
| 1970 | 13,000 (estimate) | n/a | Est., AHCPR 1997 [2] |
| 1990 | 40,000 (estimate) | n/a | Est., AHCPR 1997 [2] |
| 1993 | n/a | $80,000 (estimate) | Est., Chiropractic in the United States [6] |
| 1994 | 50,000 (estimate) | n/a | Est., AHCPR 1997 [2] |
| 2003 | 20,210 | $65,990 | BLS OEWS May 2003 [3] |
| 2004 | 21,830 | $69,910 | BLS OEWS May 2004 [3] |
| 2005 | 24,290 | $67,200 | BLS OEWS May 2005 [3] |
| 2006 | 25,470 | $65,220 | BLS OEWS May 2006 [3] |
| 2007 | 27,190 | $65,890 | BLS OEWS May 2007 [3] |
| 2008 | 27,050 | $66,490 | BLS OEWS May 2008 [3] |
| 2009 | 26,310 | $67,650 | BLS OEWS May 2009 [3] |
| 2010 | 26,250 | $67,200 | BLS OEWS May 2010 [3] |
| 2011 | 27,510 | $66,060 | BLS OEWS May 2011 [3] |
| 2012 | 27,740 | $66,160 | BLS OEWS May 2012 [3] |
| 2013 | 28,850 | $65,300 | BLS OEWS May 2013 [3] |
| 2014 | 29,830 | $66,720 | BLS OEWS May 2014 [3] |
| 2015 | 32,080 | $64,440 | BLS OEWS May 2015 [3] |
| 2016 | 32,960 | $67,520 | BLS OEWS May 2016 [3] |
| 2017 | 33,630 | $68,640 | BLS OEWS May 2017 [3] |
| 2018 | 34,740 | $71,410 | BLS OEWS May 2018 [3] |
| 2019 | 35,010 | $70,340 | BLS OEWS May 2019 [3] |
| 2020 | 34,760 | $70,720 | BLS OEWS May 2020 [3] |
| 2021 | 35,810 | $75,000 | BLS OEWS May 2021 [3] |
| 2022 | 37,740 | $75,380 | BLS OEWS May 2022 [3] |
| 2023 | 41,480 | $76,530 | BLS OEWS May 2023 [3] |
| 2024 | 37,630 | $79,000 | BLS OEWS May 2024 [3] |
| 2025 | 39,630 | $79,200 | BLS OEWS May 2025 [3] |

## Sources (87)

### Employment series

1. [History of Chiropractic -- World Federation of Chiropractic (profession history overview)](https://www.wfc.org/history), World Federation of Chiropractic
2. [AHCPR 1997 -- Chiropractic in the United States: Supply and Utilization (Chapter 4, licensed practitioner count 1970)](https://chiro.org/Graphics_Box_LINKS/FULL/Chiropractic_in_the_United_States/chapter4.htm), Agency for Health Care Policy and Research / chiro.org
3. BLS OEWS, national cross-industry estimates (flat file), Bureau of Labor Statistics. Editions: [2003](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm03nat.zip), [2004](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm04nat.zip), [2005](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm05nat.zip), [2006](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm06nat.zip), [2007](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm07nat.zip), [2008](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm08nat.zip), [2009](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm09nat.zip), [2010](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm10nat.zip), [2011](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm11nat.zip), [2012](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm12nat.zip), [2013](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm13nat.zip), [2014](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm14nat.zip), [2015](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm15nat.zip), [2016](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm16nat.zip), [2017](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm17nat.zip), [2018](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm18nat.zip), [2019](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm19nat.zip), [2020](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm20nat.zip), [2021](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm21nat.zip), [2022](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm22nat.zip), [2023](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm23nat.zip), [2024](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm24nat.zip), [2025](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm25nat.zip)
4. [Statistics Canada, Census of Population 2016, Table 98-400-X2016356 (Occupation by employment income statistics, NOC 2016), income reference year 2015](https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/en/catalogue/98-400-X2016356), Statistics Canada
5. [Statistics Canada, Census of Population 2021, Table 98-10-0586 (Employment income statistics by occupation unit group, NOC 2021), income reference year 2020](https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/t1/tbl1/en/tv.action?pid=9810058601), Statistics Canada

### Wage series

6. [Chiropractic in the United States: Supply and Utilization -- AHCPR 1997 (practitioner income section, ACA survey data)](https://chiro.org/Graphics_Box_LINKS/FULL/Chiropractic_in_the_United_States/chapter4.htm), Agency for Health Care Policy and Research / chiro.org
7. BLS OEWS, national cross-industry estimates (flat file), Bureau of Labor Statistics. Editions: [2003](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm03nat.zip), [2004](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm04nat.zip), [2005](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm05nat.zip), [2006](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm06nat.zip), [2007](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm07nat.zip), [2008](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm08nat.zip), [2009](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm09nat.zip), [2010](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm10nat.zip), [2011](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm11nat.zip), [2012](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm12nat.zip), [2013](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm13nat.zip), [2014](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm14nat.zip), [2015](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm15nat.zip), [2016](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm16nat.zip), [2017](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm17nat.zip), [2018](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm18nat.zip), [2019](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm19nat.zip), [2020](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm20nat.zip), [2021](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm21nat.zip), [2022](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm22nat.zip), [2023](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm23nat.zip), [2025](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm25nat.zip)
8. [BLS OEWS May 2024, national cross-industry estimates (flat file)](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm24nat.zip), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
9. [Statistics Canada, Census of Population 2016, Table 98-400-X2016356 (Occupation by employment income statistics, NOC 2016), income reference year 2015](https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/en/catalogue/98-400-X2016356), Statistics Canada
10. [Statistics Canada, Census of Population 2021, Table 98-10-0586 (Employment income statistics by occupation unit group, NOC 2021), income reference year 2020](https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/t1/tbl1/en/tv.action?pid=9810058601), Statistics Canada

### Tool eras

11. [Palmer College of Chiropractic -- D.D. Palmer biography and founding of chiropractic (1895)](https://www.palmer.edu/about-palmer/palmer-college-history/), Palmer College of Chiropractic
12. [Wikipedia -- History of chiropractic (D.D. Palmer founding and early philosophy)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_chiropractic), Wikipedia
13. [Sherman College of Chiropractic -- Brief History of X-ray Technology in Chiropractic Science (B.J. Palmer 1910 introduction)](https://www.sherman.edu/brief-history-x-ray-technology-chiropractic-science/), Sherman College of Chiropractic
14. [PMC -- A Tale of Specialization in 2 Professions: Comparing the Development of Radiology in Chiropractic and Medicine](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6911919/), PubMed Central / Journal of Chiropractic History
15. [PMC -- Introducing the Neurocalometer: A View from the Fountain Head (JCCA 1991, historical account)](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2484664/), PubMed Central / Journal of the Canadian Chiropractic Association
16. [Smithsonian National Museum of American History -- Neurocalometer artifact record](https://americanhistory.si.edu/collections/object/nmah_724185), Smithsonian Institution
17. [Activator Methods International -- About Us (founding 1967, development history)](https://activator.com/about-us/), Activator Methods International
18. [Activator Methods International -- Clinical Trials (peer-reviewed research on Activator technique)](https://activator.com/clinical-trials/), Activator Methods International
19. [PMC 2025 -- Advancing Musculoskeletal Care Using AI and Digital Health Applications: history of diagnostic technology in MSK and chiropractic care](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12126469/), PubMed Central
20. [The American Chiropractor (May 2010) -- Health Information Technology Defines Meaningful Use: chiropractors as eligible professionals under HITECH](https://theamericanchiropractor.com/article/2010/5/1/part-2-health-information-technology-defines-meaningful-use-part-2-of-a-3-part-series), The American Chiropractor
21. [PMC 2018 -- A Literature Review of Electronic Health Records in Chiropractic Practice: Common Challenges and Solutions](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5812902/), PubMed Central
22. [ChiroTouch -- Rheo launch August 2025: first AI assistant purpose-built for chiropractors; 92% charting time savings reported; 160M+ patient encounters database](https://www.chirotouch.com/news/chirotouch-launches-rheo-the-first-ai-assistant-purpose-built-for-chiropractors), ChiroTouch
23. [Kansas Chiropractic Association -- Artificial Intelligence and Compliance in Chiropractic (May 2026): compliance risks of AI documentation tools](https://kansaschiro.com/2026/05/15/artificial-intelligence-and-compliance-in-chiropractic/), Kansas Chiropractic Association
24. [Kentucky Association of Chiropractors -- AI in Chiropractic: Boosting Efficiency or Raising Red Flags? (July 2025)](https://thekac.org/2025/07/31/artificial-intelligence-in-chiropractic-boosting-efficiency-or-raising-red-flags/), Kentucky Association of Chiropractors

### Forecasts and exposure studies

25. [BLS Employment Projections 2025-35, National Employment Matrix: 29-1011 Chiropractors (2025: 61.7 thousand; 2035: 67.0 thousand; +8.7%)](https://data.bls.gov/projections/nationalMatrix?queryParams=29-1011&ioType=o), Bureau of Labor Statistics
26. [Eloundou, Manning, Mishkin & Rock (2023), "GPTs are GPTs", occupation-level exposure data occ\_level.csv (O\*NET-SOC 29-1011.00, human-rated β 0.318)](https://github.com/openai/GPTs-are-GPTs/blob/main/data/occ_level.csv), OpenAI

### Historical notes

27. [Palmer College of Chiropractic -- First Adjustment Library Guide (September 18, 1895)](https://library.palmer.edu/ddpalmer/DDPalmerAdjustment), Palmer College of Chiropractic
28. [Chiropractic Authority -- History of Chiropractic in the United States: Kansas first licensure 1913](https://chiropracticauthority.com/history-of-chiropractic-in-the-united-states), Chiropractic Authority
29. [PMC -- Fighting Injustice: A Historical Review of the National Chiropractic Antitrust Committee (AMA Committee on Quackery, 1964)](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6911905/), PubMed Central
30. [PMC -- Looking back at the lawsuit that transformed the chiropractic profession: Overview (Wilk v. AMA history)](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8493527/), PubMed Central
31. [ChiroTouch -- Rheo launch: first AI assistant purpose-built for chiropractors (August 21, 2025)](https://www.chirotouch.com/news/chirotouch-launches-rheo-the-first-ai-assistant-purpose-built-for-chiropractors), ChiroTouch

### Predecessors & successors

32. [Wikipedia -- History of chiropractic: D.D. Palmer background as magnetic healer before 1895](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_chiropractic), Wikipedia

### Present-day analysis

- [O\*NET 30.3 — Chiropractors (29-1011.00): tasks, work activities, technology skills, employment data](https://www.onetonline.org/link/summary/29-1011.00), accessed 2026-05-24
- [BLS OOH — Chiropractors: 57,200 employed May 2024; +10% growth 2024-2034 (much faster than average); median annual wage $79,000; 2,800 projected annual openings](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/chiropractors.htm), accessed 2026-05-24
- [ChiroTouch Launches Rheo — first AI assistant purpose-built for chiropractors; August 2025; 92% charting time savings reported by early users; 160M+ patient encounters database; 2026 Pinnacle Award winner (Remote Care & Digital Health AI)](https://www.chirotouch.com/news/chirotouch-launches-rheo-the-first-ai-assistant-purpose-built-for-chiropractors), accessed 2026-05-24
- [Kentucky Association of Chiropractors — AI in chiropractic: augments but cannot replace hands-on care; Harvard HSPH projects 40% improvement in outcomes with AI-assisted diagnosis; consent and HIPAA compliance required (July 2025)](https://thekac.org/2025/07/31/artificial-intelligence-in-chiropractic-boosting-efficiency-or-raising-red-flags/), accessed 2026-05-24
- [Kansas Chiropractic Association — AI compliance risks in chiropractic: hallucinations, cloning, overdocumentation, unsupported CMT/PART coding; HIPAA BAA required for AI vendors (May 2026)](https://kansaschiro.com/2026/05/15/artificial-intelligence-and-compliance-in-chiropractic/), accessed 2026-05-24
- [PMC 2025 — Advancing Musculoskeletal Care Using AI and Digital Health Applications: AI-enabled triage, diagnostic assistance, treatment planning automation, and administrative workflow optimization reshaping MSK care](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12126469/), accessed 2026-05-24
- [Eloundou et al. 2024 — GPTs are GPTs (Science): occupational LLM exposure framework; chiropractors in moderate-exposure band; documentation/admin high-exposure; manual therapy/palpation AI-resistant due to physical embodiment](https://arxiv.org/abs/2303.10130), accessed 2026-05-24
- [McKinsey — Generative AI in Healthcare: Current Trends and Future Outlook (2025): documentation/admin and revenue cycle automation as highest-ROI near-term AI applications in outpatient settings](https://www.mckinsey.com/industries/healthcare/our-insights/generative-ai-in-healthcare-current-trends-and-future-outlook), accessed 2026-05-24
- [Jane App AI Scribe — HIPAA/PIPEDA/PHIPA compliant ambient scribe; Smart SOAP Note chart part; $15/month per staff profile; Hosmer Chiropractic Health public case study (jane.app 2025)](https://jane.app/guide/ai-scribe), accessed 2026-05-24
- [MedCloudMD — AI transforming chiropractic billing in 2026: denial rates dropping 18-28% to 3-8%; revenue impact $180K-$260K per $1M billed; AI appeal letters achieve 10% higher success rate than manual drafts](https://www.medcloudmd.com/post/ai-transforming-chiropractic-billing-2026), accessed 2026-05-24
- [SPRY AI — 95%+ visit verification rate; prior-auth cycles from days to hours; 75% denial reduction claimed; 80% reduction in manual data entry; 500+ clinics using SPRY (sprypt.com 2025-2026)](https://www.sprypt.com/spry-ai), accessed 2026-05-24
- [Chiropax AI — 50+ AI spinal measurements; 23+ cervical landmarks detected automatically; disc degeneration and spondylosis detection; AOMSI report automation per AMA Guidelines; results in under 6 seconds; cloud PACS storage (chiropax.ai 2025)](https://chiropax.ai/), accessed 2026-05-24

How to read these figures: https://futurehistory.earth/methodology. Every figure links to its own source; gaps stay gaps.