Chiropractor Salary in California: $78,982 (2026)

Quick Answer:Across California's 156 metropolitan areas, the average median chiropractor pay sits at $78,982/year heading into 2026 — a figure projected from 2025 BLS OEWS wage data for SOC 29-1011. Because California sits at BEA RPP 113.1 (13% above the U.S. baseline), that statewide median translates to roughly $69,834 in nationally-comparable purchasing power. Highest-paying metros: Folsom ($103,787), Sacramento ($103,090), Roseville ($102,665).

Chiropractor Salary in California - 2025 BLS Data Infographic — California chiropractor salary overview (2026)

$78,982

Avg Median Salary

$37.97

Avg Hourly Rate

5,925

Metro Employed

156

Cities

The projected average median salary for chiropractors in California in 2026 is $78,982, which is slightly below the national median of $81,014. This represents a difference of 2.5%. Folsom ranks as the highest-paying city with a salary of $106,164, while Carlsbad pays the lowest at $52,736, highlighting a significant salary gap of $53,428. Factors contributing to this disparity include varying costs of living, demand for chiropractic services, and local competition in different metropolitan areas. California’s chiropractic landscape is influenced by stringent licensing requirements and specific scope of practice laws that can affect the earning potential of practitioners. The demand for chiropractic care is growing, driven by an increasing awareness of holistic health approaches and a broader acceptance of alternative medicine. With a projected growth rate of 2.29% for chiropractors in California, the job market appears stable, with 5,925 chiropractors currently employed across the state. Cities like Sacramento ($105,451), Roseville ($105,016), Sunnyvale ($100,494), and Santa Clara ($99,834) are also positioned to provide competitive salaries, making California a state with varied opportunities in this profession.

California Chiropractor Salary Range

Entry Level (10th %ile)

$50,448

avg across 156 cities

Median

$78,982

state average

Top Earners (90th %ile)

$137,352

avg across 156 cities

Overall salary range in California: $30,587 (lowest entry-level) to $205,132 (highest top earner)

California vs National Average

California

$78,982

National Median

$81,014

California chiropractors earn 2.51% less than the national median ($-2,032/year difference).

California Chiropractor Salary Distribution (2026)

Chiropractor salaries in California range from $50,448 (entry-level, 10th percentile) to $137,352 (top earners, 90th percentile), with a median of $78,982. The California median is $2,032 below the US national median of $81,014. The average hourly rate is $37.97/hr. Approximately 5,925 chiropractors are employed across 156 cities.

2019 BLS Actual

$65,262

2025 BLS Actual

$77,214

2026 Current Est.

$78,982

2019–2027 Growth

+23.8%

Salary Trajectory for Chiropractors in California (2019–2027)

2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 2.29% projection.

BLS Actual Estimated Projected

Year	Annual Salary	Status
2019	$65,262	Actual
2020	$64,861	Actual
2021	$80,916	Actual
2022	$75,244	Actual
2023	$79,945	Actual
2024	$106,307	Actual
2025	$77,214	Actual
2026(current)	$78,982	Estimated
2027	$80,791	Projected

Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the California metropolitan area, the median chiropractor salary grew 18.3% from $65,262 (2019) to $77,214 (2025). At a 2.29% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $80,791 by 2027 — a total increase of $15,529 (23.79%) from 2019.

Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the California metropolitan area, sourced from annual Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys. 2026–2026 figures are current estimates, and 2027 values are projections, calculated using a 2.29% CAGR derived from 7-year BLS historical data. Actual salaries may vary based on employer, experience, certifications, and local market conditions.

Top 5 Highest Paying Cities in California

Folsom

17 employed · $51.04/hr

$106,164

+34.42% vs avg

Sacramento

130 employed · $50.69/hr

$105,451

+33.51% vs avg

Roseville

35 employed · $50.49/hr

$105,016

+32.96% vs avg

Sunnyvale

26 employed · $48.31/hr

$100,494

+27.24% vs avg

Santa Clara

32 employed · $47.99/hr

$99,834

+26.40% vs avg

Lowest Paying Cities in California

City	Median Salary	vs State Avg	Hourly
Carlsbad	$52,736	-33.23%	$25.36
San Diego	$53,181	-32.67%	$25.57
Chula Vista	$53,242	-32.59%	$25.59
Modesto	$75,326	-4.63%	$36.21
Brea	$75,452	-4.47%	$36.27

Best Value Cities for Chiropractors in California

When adjusted for local cost of living, these California cities offer the most purchasing power for chiropractors.

City	Nominal Salary	CoL Index	Adjusted Salary
Sacramento	$105,451	106.67	$98,857
Folsom	$106,164	113.1	$93,867
Roseville	$105,016	113.1	$92,852
Stockton	$95,672	105.089	$91,039
San Jose	$98,188	110.423	$88,920

Adjusted salary = nominal salary × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average. Lower index = lower cost of living.

Salary by Experience Level in California

Experience Level	Estimated Annual	Est. Hourly	Description
Entry Level (0-2 years)	$50,448	$24.25	10th percentile, new graduates
Mid Career (3-7 years)	$78,982	$37.97	50th percentile, median salary
Experienced (7+ years)	$137,352	$66.03	90th percentile, top earners

Estimates based on BLS percentile data averaged across California metro areas. Individual pay varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.

All 156 Cities in California

#	City	Median Salary	Hourly	Entry (P10)	Top (P90)	Employed
1	Folsom	$106,164	$51.04	$61,574	$164,554	17
2	Sacramento	$105,451	$50.69	$45,294	$143,247	130
3	Roseville	$105,016	$50.49	$60,910	$162,775	35
4	Sunnyvale	$100,494	$48.31	$58,287	$155,765	26
5	Santa Clara	$99,834	$47.99	$57,903	$154,742	32
6	San Jose	$98,188	$47.21	$75,971	$192,448	190
7	Stockton	$95,672	$45.99	$50,726	$194,955	30
8	Lodi	$94,351	$45.37	$54,724	$146,244	14
9	Fresno	$85,754	$41.22	$49,737	$132,919	84
10	Los Angeles	$85,726	$41.21	$49,721	$132,876	714
11	San Luis Obispo	$85,351	$41.03	$51,298	$133,458	40
12	Anaheim	$84,988	$40.85	$49,293	$131,731	51
13	Santa Ana	$84,259	$40.51	$48,870	$130,602	69
14	Long Beach	$83,779	$40.28	$48,592	$129,857	89
15	Ontario	$83,516	$40.15	$48,439	$129,449	42
16	Fontana	$82,700	$39.76	$47,966	$128,186	32
17	Irvine	$82,609	$39.72	$47,914	$128,045	72
18	San Bernardino	$82,507	$39.67	$47,854	$127,886	33
19	Riverside	$82,405	$39.62	$37,049	$154,437	220
20	Pomona	$82,206	$39.52	$47,679	$127,420	36
21	Simi Valley	$82,161	$39.50	$47,654	$127,350	23
22	Escondido	$82,142	$39.49	$47,643	$127,320	31
23	Fairfield	$81,995	$39.42	$47,557	$127,091	25
24	Fullerton	$81,693	$39.28	$47,382	$126,624	25
25	Daly City	$81,622	$39.24	$47,341	$126,514	20
26	El Monte	$81,596	$39.23	$47,325	$126,473	20
27	Vista	$81,551	$39.21	$47,300	$126,404	24
28	Concord	$81,532	$39.20	$47,289	$126,375	29
29	Clovis	$81,410	$39.14	$47,217	$126,185	19
30	Garden Grove	$81,327	$39.10	$47,169	$126,056	37
31	Temecula	$81,307	$39.09	$47,158	$126,026	25
32	Santa Clarita	$81,253	$39.06	$47,127	$125,943	41
33	Lancaster	$81,147	$39.01	$47,065	$125,778	40
34	Inglewood	$81,147	$39.01	$47,065	$125,778	21
35	Corona	$81,043	$38.96	$47,005	$125,617	24
36	Richmond	$81,031	$38.96	$46,998	$125,598	25
37	Rialto	$80,992	$38.94	$46,976	$125,537	17
38	Torrance	$80,889	$38.89	$46,915	$125,378	26
39	Salinas	$80,799	$38.85	$46,863	$125,239	29
40	Elk Grove	$80,735	$38.82	$46,826	$125,140	25
41	Oceanside	$80,716	$38.81	$46,815	$125,110	28
42	Whittier	$80,692	$38.80	$46,802	$125,073	22
43	San Rafael	$80,685	$38.79	$46,798	$125,062	11
44	Rancho Cucamonga	$80,613	$38.76	$46,756	$124,949	46
45	Hayward	$80,568	$38.74	$46,729	$124,880	23
46	Woodland	$80,547	$38.73	$46,718	$124,848	15
47	Buena Park	$80,535	$38.72	$46,711	$124,830	20
48	Encinitas	$80,528	$38.72	$46,707	$124,818	16
49	Downey	$80,523	$38.72	$46,704	$124,810	22
50	Dublin	$80,478	$38.70	$46,677	$124,741	14
51	Redlands	$80,453	$38.68	$46,663	$124,703	16
52	Chino	$80,408	$38.66	$46,637	$124,632	17
53	Westminster	$80,384	$38.65	$46,623	$124,594	21
54	Santa Monica	$80,377	$38.65	$46,619	$124,585	20
55	San Mateo	$80,369	$38.63	$46,615	$124,573	21
56	Tulare	$80,346	$38.62	$46,600	$124,536	17
57	San Buenaventura	$80,317	$38.61	$46,584	$124,491	19
58	Visalia	$80,266	$38.59	$46,554	$124,412	35
59	Mission Viejo	$80,264	$38.58	$46,553	$124,409	23
60	Moreno Valley	$80,263	$38.58	$46,552	$124,407	53
61	Pleasanton	$80,252	$38.58	$46,546	$124,390	16
62	Pasadena	$80,137	$38.52	$46,480	$124,213	35
63	Santee	$80,081	$38.50	$46,447	$124,125	9
64	Glendale	$80,009	$38.46	$46,405	$124,014	36
65	Thousand Oaks	$79,996	$38.46	$46,398	$123,994	32
66	Mountain View	$79,967	$38.45	$46,381	$123,949	13
67	Pittsburg	$79,961	$38.44	$46,377	$123,940	19
68	Novato	$79,937	$38.43	$46,363	$123,902	11
69	Costa Mesa	$79,906	$38.42	$46,346	$123,854	23
70	Berkeley	$79,823	$38.38	$46,297	$123,726	23
71	Huntington Beach	$79,804	$38.37	$46,286	$123,695	50
72	Jurupa Valley	$79,733	$38.34	$46,245	$123,586	24
73	Hemet	$79,709	$38.32	$46,232	$123,550	14
74	Union City	$79,703	$38.32	$46,228	$123,540	11
75	West Covina	$79,694	$38.32	$46,223	$123,526	25
76	Chino Hills	$79,672	$38.31	$46,210	$123,491	21
77	Chico	$79,565	$38.26	$46,148	$123,326	20
78	Gilroy	$79,558	$38.25	$46,144	$123,315	10
79	Santa Maria	$79,534	$38.24	$46,130	$123,277	16
80	Santa Cruz	$79,534	$38.24	$46,130	$123,277	12
81	San Marcos	$79,514	$38.23	$46,118	$123,247	17
82	Tustin	$79,445	$38.20	$46,078	$123,139	18
83	San Ramon	$79,438	$38.20	$46,074	$123,130	19
84	Eastvale	$79,363	$38.15	$46,031	$123,012	10
85	Murrieta	$79,360	$38.15	$46,028	$123,008	25
86	Vacaville	$79,360	$38.15	$46,028	$123,008	15
87	Brentwood	$79,325	$38.13	$46,008	$122,954	13
88	Hesperia	$79,287	$38.12	$45,987	$122,895	14
89	Lake Elsinore	$79,281	$38.11	$45,982	$122,885	18
90	Citrus Heights	$79,181	$38.07	$45,925	$122,730	19
91	El Cajon	$79,109	$38.03	$45,883	$122,619	18
92	San Clemente	$79,086	$38.02	$45,870	$122,582	10
93	Bellflower	$79,055	$38.01	$45,851	$122,535	11
94	Palmdale	$79,019	$37.99	$45,831	$122,480	29
95	La Mirada	$79,019	$37.99	$45,831	$122,480	10
96	Apple Valley	$79,004	$37.98	$45,822	$122,455	19
97	Menifee	$78,981	$37.97	$45,810	$122,421	20
98	Yucaipa	$78,947	$37.96	$45,789	$122,369	14
99	Norwalk	$78,942	$37.95	$45,787	$122,360	22
100	Yuba City	$78,910	$37.94	$45,768	$122,310	10
101	Rancho Cordova	$78,872	$37.92	$45,745	$122,251	20
102	Montebello	$78,796	$37.88	$45,702	$122,134	16
103	Compton	$78,764	$37.87	$45,684	$122,085	25
104	Vallejo	$78,717	$37.85	$45,656	$122,012	26
105	Porterville	$78,708	$37.84	$45,651	$121,997	11
106	Lompoc	$78,698	$37.84	$45,645	$121,982	8
107	Hawthorne	$78,576	$37.78	$45,574	$121,793	13
108	Antioch	$78,551	$37.77	$45,559	$121,754	17
109	Burbank	$78,544	$37.77	$45,556	$121,744	22
110	Redding	$78,419	$37.70	$45,483	$121,549	13
111	Napa	$78,399	$37.69	$45,916	$121,518	17
112	Alhambra	$78,361	$37.67	$45,833	$121,460	13
113	Livermore	$78,361	$37.67	$45,449	$121,460	21
114	Orange	$78,339	$37.66	$45,436	$121,425	21
115	South Gate	$78,337	$37.66	$45,458	$121,422	25
116	Victorville	$78,319	$37.65	$45,425	$121,395	30
117	Oakland	$78,317	$37.65	$45,424	$121,392	78
118	West Sacramento	$78,293	$37.64	$45,410	$121,354	9
119	Poway	$78,272	$37.63	$45,398	$121,322	8
120	San Leandro	$78,166	$37.58	$45,336	$121,157	23
121	Indio	$78,078	$37.54	$45,285	$121,021	23
122	Lake Forest	$78,078	$37.54	$45,285	$121,021	14
123	Carson	$77,940	$37.47	$45,205	$120,807	21
124	Rocklin	$77,927	$37.47	$45,198	$120,786	10
125	Newport Beach	$77,795	$37.40	$45,121	$120,581	12
126	Redwood City	$77,788	$37.40	$45,117	$120,572	13
127	Turlock	$77,770	$37.39	$45,107	$120,544	17
128	Manteca	$77,744	$37.38	$45,091	$120,504	13
129	Perris	$77,738	$37.38	$45,088	$120,495	12
130	Madera	$77,675	$37.35	$45,052	$120,396	8
131	Baldwin Park	$77,537	$37.27	$44,972	$120,183	19
132	Palo Alto	$77,537	$37.27	$44,972	$120,183	15
133	Lakewood	$77,505	$37.26	$44,953	$120,133	19
134	Hanford	$77,348	$37.18	$44,861	$119,889	10
135	Beaumont	$77,278	$37.15	$44,821	$119,781	9
136	Merced	$77,266	$37.15	$44,814	$119,762	20
137	Tracy	$77,260	$37.14	$44,810	$119,753	14
138	Alameda	$77,234	$37.13	$44,796	$119,713	12
139	Laguna Niguel	$77,216	$37.12	$44,785	$119,684	16
140	Milpitas	$77,178	$37.10	$44,763	$119,626	16
141	Camarillo	$77,014	$37.03	$44,668	$119,372	13
142	Oakley	$76,982	$37.01	$44,650	$119,322	8
143	Davis	$76,963	$37.00	$44,638	$119,293	14
144	Upland	$76,907	$36.98	$44,606	$119,206	18
145	La Habra	$76,793	$36.92	$44,540	$119,030	16
146	Lynwood	$76,761	$36.91	$44,522	$118,981	16
147	Santa Rosa	$76,646	$36.84	$53,191	$205,132	70
148	Fremont	$76,590	$36.82	$44,423	$118,714	43
149	San Francisco	$76,574	$36.81	$67,849	$127,331	510
150	Bakersfield	$76,042	$36.56	$50,460	$157,179	40
151	Petaluma	$75,914	$36.50	$44,030	$117,666	12
152	Brea	$75,452	$36.27	$43,763	$116,951	10
153	Modesto	$75,326	$36.21	$74,672	$104,540	40
154	Chula Vista	$53,242	$25.59	$30,880	$82,526	51
155	San Diego	$53,181	$25.57	$53,181	$183,334	640
156	Carlsbad	$52,736	$25.36	$30,587	$81,740	23

More California Salary Data

Hourly Rates

Explore chiropractor hourly pay in California cities.

Folsom →Sacramento →Roseville →

Entry Level

Starting salaries for new chiropractors.

Folsom →Sacramento →Roseville →

Senior / Experienced

Top earner salaries for experienced chiropractors.

Folsom →Sacramento →Roseville →

Compare Cities in California

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View all comparisons →

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Frequently Asked Questions

How much do chiropractors make in California in 2026?

The average median chiropractor salary in California is $78,982/year across 156 metro areas, based on estimated 2026 (projected from 2025 BLS data). Salaries range from $52,736 in Carlsbad to $106,164 in Folsom. This makes California 2.51% below the national median of $81,014. The state employs approximately 5,925 chiropractors.

What is the highest paying city for chiropractors in California?

Folsom offers the highest chiropractor salary in California at $106,164/year ($51.04/hr), based on estimated 2026 (projected from 2025 BLS data). The top 3 highest-paying cities are Folsom ($106,164), Sacramento ($105,451), Roseville ($105,016). Higher pay in these metros is typically driven by cost of living, demand for chiropractic services, and competition among employers for licensed chiropractors.

How does California chiropractor pay compare to the national average?

California's average chiropractor salary of $78,982 is 2.51% below the national median of $81,014 in 2026. The state employs approximately 5,925 chiropractors across 156 metropolitan areas. When comparing salaries, consider cost-of-living differences — a lower nominal salary in an affordable area may provide better purchasing power than a higher salary in an expensive metro.

What is the entry-level chiropractor salary in California?

Entry-level chiropractors (10th percentile) in California earn approximately $50,448/year on average, based on estimated 2026 (projected from 2025 BLS data). Starting salaries range from $30,587 in lower-paying areas to $75,971 in the highest-paying metros. New graduates should expect salaries at the lower end and can typically reach the area median within 3–5 years of clinical experience.

How many chiropractors are employed in California?

California employs approximately 5,925 chiropractors across 156 metropolitan areas, based on the latest BLS data. This makes California one of the larger employers of chiropractors nationally. Demand continues to grow as the chiropractic field expands and the population ages.

Which California city offers the best value for chiropractors?

When adjusted for cost of living, Sacramento offers the highest purchasing power for chiropractors in California, with an adjusted salary of $98,857 (nominal: $105,451, CoL index: 106.67). This means your dollar goes 6% less far compared to the national average, making it important to negotiate higher base pay.

Written by Maria Gonzalez, D.C.

Career Analyst

Maria has 10 years of experience as a chiropractor. She specializes in sports injuries and practices in a private clinic. Maria also conducts workshops for community health education.

Clinically reviewed by David Lee, D.C.Data verified by Amina Patel, D.C.

Methodology & Data Source

Statewide salary figures on this page are 2026 projections based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2026 release. A 2.29% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), derived from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to each metro area's reported salary to estimate current 2026 chiropractor compensation across California. State averages are employment-weighted across 156 metro areas — larger metro areas with more chiropractorscontribute proportionally more to the average, producing figures that better reflect typical compensation. Individual pay varies by city, employer, certifications, and experience.

Data Sources & Methodology

Source: BLS, OEWS, 7-year dataset (2019–2025). Per-city data from annual BLS metropolitan area surveys.

2026 figures are projected from 2025 BLS data using a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 2.29%, derived from historical BLS wage trends for chiropractors (SOC 29-1011).

Compiled and verified by Maria Gonzalez, D.C., a licensed chiropractor with 10+ years of clinical experience. · View source data at BLS.gov

Last verified: June 10, 2026

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