Chiropractor vs. Physical Therapist

Difference Between Chiropractor and Physical Therapist

How can you tell these two types of health care providers apart? Chiropractors and physical therapists often direct their attention to the same parts of the body, but one of the main differences between them is the different methods they use to treat a range of health conditions.

Chiropractic care involves the diagnosis and treatment of problems of the musculoskeletal and nervous system, which includes nerves, bones, muscles, ligaments and tendons. Chiropractors treat conditions such as back pain, neck pain, headaches, and pain in arm and leg joints, according to the American Chiropractic Association. Chiropractors may use a variety of procedures to treat these conditions and to improve overall body alignment. Methods include manual therapies such as spinal adjustments and manipulations, as well as therapeutic and rehabilitative exercise.

Physical therapy, on the other hand, focuses on helping injured or ill patients improve mobility, flexibility, strength and function and manage their pain through hands-on therapy-prescribed exercises and the use of special equipment. Physical therapy patients may also seek treatment to maintain physical functioning and prevent physical dysfunction, according to O*NET, the U.S. Department of Labor’s occupational information database. Exercise; physical training in functional movement; and special movements of joints, muscles and other soft tissues are just a few of the treatment methods used by physical therapists.

Another key difference between a chiropractor and physical therapist is the formal education they receive. Both professionals must earn a doctoral degree to become licensed practitioners — a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) or a doctor of chiropractic degree — but the path to earn either one of those degrees differs. The licensure process is different, too. Aspiring physical therapists are required to take the National Physical Therapy Examination, administered by the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy. The National Board of Chiropractic Examiners administers a four-part series of pre-licensure exams (Parts I through IV), which state licensing agencies use when evaluating candidates for licensure; the NBCE also offers elective exams, such as physiotherapy. Some states may require additional testing.

Chiropractor vs. Physical Therapy Career

When choosing between these two career options, individuals typically pinpoint their focus area of interest. From work environment to range of responsibilities, each professional must find the right fit. Those considering a career in either of these fields should review state requirements to practice in a specific region.

Chiropractor Career Path

While a chiropractic degree program prepares students to become licensed professionals, there are still opportunities for individuals to gain certification in different specialty areas.

Chiropractor Education Requirements

Students enrolled at an eligible chiropractic college can take Part I of the NBCE exams in their second year. Some DC programs do not require a bachelor’s degree for admission: Council on Chiropractic Education accreditation standards allow programs to admit students who have completed 90 semester hours of undergraduate coursework and meet minimum GPA requirements.

Doctor of chiropractic programs are four-year doctoral graduate programs, and some graduates go on to one of the 10 nationally accredited chiropractic residency programs in the United States, according to the American Chiropractic Association.

Chiropractor Specializations and Skills

While chiropractors do hold doctorate degrees, they are not MDs, or doctors of medicine. Chiropractors can gain certification in specialty areas such as pediatrics, acupuncture, and radiology through specialty boards recognized by the American Board of Chiropractic Specialties.

Chiropractors are primarily trained to use spinal adjustments and manipulation to address patients’ needs. Professionals in the chiropractic field are also trained in the diagnostic process. They run tests, take X-rays and perform other evaluations to determine if a chiropractic procedure is appropriate for the patient. Chiropractors may provide advice on health and lifestyle issues, including exercise and nutrition, according to O*NET.

Chiropractors must become state licensed, and each state defines a chiropractor’s scope of practice, including any prescriptive authority, differently.

Chiropractor Practice and Work Environment

According to the BLS, chiropractors held about 39,630 wage-and-salary jobs in May 2025; this Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics estimate does not include self-employed chiropractors. With regards to where chiropractors work, about 35,860 of those wage-and-salary jobs were in offices of chiropractors, according to BLS industry estimates for May 2025. Additionally, a select number of chiropractors are employed by other health care facilities such as a physician’s office or a hospital.

Physical Therapist Career Path

Licensed practitioners and individuals studying to become physical therapists can shape their careers in a number of ways, from residencies to certification in different specialty care areas.

Physical Therapist Education

To become a physical therapist, an individual must complete a doctor of physical therapy (DPT) program and pass the national physical therapy exam. Most DPT programs require an undergraduate degree for admission, according to 2025 aggregate program data from the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE).

DPT students will spend most of their time in the classroom, but they are required to gain clinical experience.

Following graduation from a DPT program, individuals may apply for a postprofessional residency to receive additional training and experience in specialty areas of care.

Physical Therapist Specializations and Skills

According to O*NET, physical therapists plan and carry out rehabilitative programs that help improve or correct disabling conditions resulting from disease or injury.

They are able to diagnose a patient’s functions and movements, develop an individualized plan, use exercises to treat pain and increase mobility and educate the patient and their family about the recovery process, according to O*NET.

Through the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties, PTs can gain certification in areas such as pediatrics, pelvic and women’s health, geriatrics, and cardiovascular and pulmonary.

Physical Therapist Practice and Work Environment

Although some work in hospitals, most physical therapists work in other settings: of about 267,330 wage-and-salary physical therapist jobs in May 2025, about 71,920 were in hospitals, according to BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics estimates.

Chiropractor vs. Physical Therapy Salary

While both professions require similar levels of education and share similarities when it comes to day-to-day practice, the levels of pay vary. For May 2025, the BLS published state-level wage data for chiropractors and physical therapists. Among states with published estimates, the highest-paid chiropractors worked in New Jersey, while the highest-paid physical therapists worked in California (ranked by median annual wage).

The following data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows the median annual wages of physical therapists and chiropractors by state, as of May 2025.

How Much Does a Physical Therapist Make?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual wage for physical therapists was $102,760 in May 2025. Practitioners working in nursing and residential care facilities earned a median annual wage of $110,460, and those employed by hospitals earned a median annual wage of $106,800.

How Much Does a Chiropractor Make?

BLS data indicates that the median annual wage for chiropractors was $79,200 in May 2025. Chiropractors working in physicians’ offices earned a higher median annual wage of $119,670, while practitioners working in chiropractors’ offices earned a median annual wage of $78,460.