Chiropractor salary in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA
Chiropractors in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area earn a median of $51,990 a year ($25.00 an hour), based on BLS data for 640 workers.
Pay ranges from $51,990 for the lowest-paid 10% to $179,230 for the top 10%. That is 34% lower than the national median of $79,200. Pay here is 31% lower than the California statewide median of $75,470. There are 0.42 chiropractors per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.6× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $83,210, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for chiropractors in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $51,990 | $25.00 |
| 25th percentile | $51,990 | $25.00 |
| Median | $51,990 | $25.00 |
| 75th percentile | $100,570 | $48.35 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $179,230 | $86.17 |
| Average (mean) | $83,210 | $40.00 |
Half of chiropractors 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 | $4,332.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,166.25 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,999.62 |
| Weekly | $999.81 |
| Hourly | $25.00 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $51,990 salary, see how much house you can afford in California at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Chiropractor salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $103,090 | 130 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $95,990 | 190 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $93,530 | 30 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $83,440 | 40 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $80,560 | 220 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $74,930 | 70 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $74,860 | 510 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $74,340 | 40 |
| Modesto, CA | $73,640 | 40 |
Highest-paying states for chiropractors
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| New Jersey | $134,990 |
| New York | $120,950 |
| Maine | $107,300 |
| Washington | $104,070 |
| Alaska | $103,500 |
| Arizona | $100,260 |
| North Carolina | $91,540 |
| Virginia | $88,030 |
| Texas | $87,520 |
| Oklahoma | $85,580 |
See Chiropractor 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 |
| Pediatricians, General | $262,650 | $126.28 |
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 29-1011. 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 chiropractor make in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA?
The median salary for chiropractors in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area is $51,990 a year, or $25.00 an hour. Pay ranges from $51,990 for the lowest-paid 10% to $179,230 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid chiropractors make in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA?
The top 10% of chiropractors in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area earn at least $179,230 a year. The top 25% earn $100,570 or more.
What is the starting pay for chiropractors in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $51,990 a year, and a quarter of chiropractors earn $51,990 or less.
How many chiropractors work in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA?
About 640 chiropractors are employed in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area, not counting the self-employed.