Doctor of Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine

Career Information

What are career options in acupuncture and Chinese medicine?

Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine (ACM) has been a primary, whole-person health care system in Asia for centuries. DAcCHM and MAcCHM graduates can be found in family and preventive health practices, in specialties such as orthopedics/sports medicine and women’s health. In almost all settings, you will work with people of a wide variety of ages, abilities, and backgrounds.

As an acupuncturist, you’ll have many career options available to you, including:

  • Primary/general care
  • Integrative practice
  • Specialty practice
  • Private practice or own their own practices

In addition to their practices, many ACM graduates become teaching faculty and/or conduct research.

Where are SCU graduates practicing?

  • 88% of graduates are practicing in Southern California
  • 12% of graduates are practicing out-of-state
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U.S. employees are acupuncturists (1)
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Expected growth from 2022 to 2032 in California, faster than the avg. for all occupations (2)
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Annual wage for acupuncturists in the Los Angeles metro area* (3)

1 Per Bureau of Labor Statistics

2 According to O*Net OnLine

3 Based on O*Net wage data

What can you earn as an acupuncturist?

Graduates of our Doctor of Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine program enter a rewarding field with strong earning potential. According to O*NET OnLine, acupuncturists in the United States earn an average annual wage ranging from $54,000 to $107,000, while those practicing in the Los Angeles metro area can expect an average annual wage range of $52,000 to $83,000. These figures reflect the growing demand for licensed acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine practitioners across diverse clinical and wellness settings.

* O*NET wage data may not reflect compensation associated with private practice ownership.

Does a career in acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine offer a flexible lifestyle?

Our DAcCHM and MAcCHM programs nurture students to be ready to “be their own boss” if they aspire to open their own practice. The curriculum not only teaches technical content, but also includes business content with three practice management courses. Students also learn clinical operations while participating in clinical training. For example, SCU’s Health Center is an open-to-public clinical facility. Students also have the opportunity to shadow private practice practitioners in their offices.

Our DAcCHM and MAcCHM programs support student leadership. This mindset strengthens students to become fearless in being their own boss after graduating. Practice owners can build businesses that reflect their values, their schedule, and work-life balance.

Resources

View additional career and job resources below.

Career and salary information provided is for informational purposes only and is based on data published by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). BLS wage estimates are derived from employer survey data and statistical estimation methods and may vary by occupation and geographic area. Actual compensation and employment outcomes may differ based on factors including experience, licensure, certifications, geographic location, specialty, employer, and economic conditions. SCU does not guarantee employment or salary outcomes.