Top 5 Benefits of Becoming a Chiropractor

Have you ever considered a healthcare career as a Chiropractor? Focused on the diagnosis and treatment of neuromuscular disorders, these medical career professionals specialize in restoring and enhancing joint function usually around a patient’s back. By improving such function, Chiropractors often resolve joint inflammation and thus reduce patient discomfort. Although this role comes with great responsibility, working as a Chiropractor also involves great reward. Here are the Top 5 benefits of Becoming a Chiropractor:

1. Make A Difference in the Lives of Others

In a career as a Chiropractor, professionals are given the opportunity to help better patient lives. Each day, Chiropractors help resolve neuromuscular issues, alleviating patient’s pains, allowing them to go back to their normal day-to-day activities.

“As Chiropractors, we improve the health and welfare of our patients in a safe and natural manner,” Jean Exume, DC, a Chiropractor practicing in Virginia, said. “A Chiropractor should enjoy helping others. We can make such a difference, naturally without medication. Each time we interact with a patient, the well being of that person is affected.”

Exume added that in some cases, Chiropractors are able to witness immediate positive results, while at other times certain conditions may require additional treatments. Yet, no matter how long a patient’s road to recovery is, if the desired health outcomes are achieved the treatment was a success.

2. Private Practice Opportunities

Another benefit of a career as a Chiropractor is having the ability to open your own practice. This means that many of these professionals are in charge of their own business, and able to control the numerous aspects needed to be most successful. While owning a practice obviously requires more administrative oversight, the owner can directly control the growth and quality of the business outcomes, and even set their own compensation, hours, holidays and more. “Many Chiropractors open their own businesses,” Exume confirmed, “it’s the way to go”!

3. Solid Earning Potential

Today, the median annual wage for a Chiropractor is $68,640, although they can earn as much as $144,730 a year! Although earnings typically vary depending on a professional’s years of experience, geographic region, education and hours worked etc., income can also be affected by clientele. This means, as a Chiropractor’s reputation and client list builds, they will begin to earn a greater salary as well. Unlike those who work for healthcare organizations who have little control over business aspects outside of their own work, Chiropractors are usually able to directly influence their business.

“Chiropractors can make a very nice salary depending on their type of practice and where they work,” Exume explained. “However, compensation in the field of chiropractic varies depending on if you have your own practice, or if you work for someone else’s practice or another health organization.”

Exume further explained that a Chiropractor can increase their salary by offering paid webinars to other Chiropractors, enrolling in insurance programs and by selling products that will improve the health and welfare of their patients (such as specialized pillows or natural supplements). Also, Exume noted that these professionals can increase their revenue by increasing the therapeutic interventions offered at their office. For example, hiring massage therapists or nutritionists not only provides holistic care for their patients but also generates income.

4. Consistent Demand

Over the next decade, employment of Chiropractors is expected to grow 12 percent. This growth is largely because of an increasing demand for “integrative” or “complementary healthcare” as a way to treat pain. Further, the large aging baby-boom generation is beginning to require increased chiropractic services as it has become more commonly used to treat neck and shoulder stress.

“Many of our patients come to a Chiropractor when they are looking for safer healthcare options outside of traditional ‘Western Medicine,’” Exume explained. “We are in high demand because we can help decrease the effects of the opioid crisis as we can help patients heal over time” without the dangers of pill addiction.

Even though this career is healthcare is in demand, Exume further noted that personal development must remain a focus of each Chiropractor. This means keeping up-to-date on the latest industry standards and attending conferences to connect and share insights with other chiropractic professionals.

“Self-development is very important. Each year I have a goal to increase my services, driving revenue and looking at ways I can improve my practice for my current and future patients,” Exume said. “Within the last year, I moved to a larger office, hired two new massage therapists and am now also looking to add a nutritionist to the team.”

5. Great Opportunity

With the ability to open a practice anywhere, Chiropractors can largely find work wherever they would be interested in living. As Chiropractic services are required throughout the world, the opportunities are almost limitless. You can even consider a position as a traveling Chiropractor!

“We work in climate controlled and peaceful offices,” Exume explained, “with the flexibility to make our own schedules.”

Overall, this career plays an important role in the healthcare community and offers many rewarding benefits. Outside of the workplace, this profession can also influence the personal lives of its practitioners because the line of work emphasizes well-being.

“Being a Chiropractic influences my life in the ways I eat and how I sleep, affecting my overall health”. Knowing exactly what specialized pillows to use for sleeping and sitting, Exume is always comfortable and free from pain.

Learn how to take the first step toward entering a Career in Healthcare as a Chiropractor today!