Acupuncturist salary in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA
Acupuncturists in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area earn a median of $64,490 a year ($31.00 an hour), based on BLS data for 300 workers.
Pay ranges from $35,930 for the lowest-paid 10% to $119,660 for the top 10%. That is 15% lower than the national median of $76,040. Pay here is 15% lower than the California statewide median of $75,530. There are 0.19 acupuncturists per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 3.8× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $70,520, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for acupuncturists in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $35,930 | $17.27 |
| 25th percentile | $47,990 | $23.07 |
| Median | $64,490 | $31.00 |
| 75th percentile | $80,100 | $38.51 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $119,660 | $57.53 |
| Average (mean) | $70,520 | $33.91 |
Half of acupuncturists earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $5,374.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,687.08 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,480.38 |
| Weekly | $1,240.19 |
| Hourly | $31.00 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $64,490 salary, see how much house you can afford in California at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Acupuncturist salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $101,390 | n/a |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $91,350 | 50 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $86,530 | n/a |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $70,080 | 50 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $64,420 | 60 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $62,590 | 450 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $52,000 | n/a |
Highest-paying states for acupuncturists
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Tennessee | $141,430 |
| New Jersey | $125,260 |
| Indiana | $120,490 |
| Maryland | $101,650 |
| Massachusetts | $93,360 |
| Missouri | $89,000 |
| New York | $86,120 |
| Arizona | $85,300 |
| Kentucky | $85,130 |
| Wisconsin | $84,820 |
See Acupuncturist pay in every state or the California statewide figures.
Related jobs in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nurse | $139,520 | $67.08 |
| Physicians, All Other | $323,050 | $155.31 |
| Pharmacist | $165,130 | $79.39 |
| Physical Therapist | $113,850 | $54.74 |
| Nurse Practitioner | $163,860 | $78.78 |
| Dental Hygienist | $123,790 | $59.52 |
| Dentists, General | $158,160 | $76.04 |
| Occupational Therapist | $121,680 | $58.50 |
| Speech-Language Pathologist | $119,690 | $57.55 |
| Respiratory Therapist | $105,040 | $50.50 |
| Physician Assistant | $165,160 | $79.41 |
| Family Medicine Physician | $295,530 | $142.08 |
| Veterinarian | $159,750 | $76.80 |
| Chiropractor | $51,990 | $25.00 |
More: Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations · all salaries in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 29-1291. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a acupuncturist make in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA?
The median salary for acupuncturists in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area is $64,490 a year, or $31.00 an hour. Pay ranges from $35,930 for the lowest-paid 10% to $119,660 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid acupuncturists make in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA?
The top 10% of acupuncturists in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area earn at least $119,660 a year. The top 25% earn $80,100 or more.
What is the starting pay for acupuncturists in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $35,930 a year, and a quarter of acupuncturists earn $47,990 or less.
How many acupuncturists work in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA?
About 300 acupuncturists are employed in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area, not counting the self-employed.