How Much Can I Earn as a Holistic Health Practitioner?
“Holistic health” is not a particular job. Instead, it’s a philosophy that informs and defines a number of healthcare careers. There is a wide range of jobs that use the holistic health philosophy of treating the entire person (not just a symptom or disease), and a wide range of holistic health practitioner salary figures as well.
While many holistic health practitioners still open and run their own practices, there are also opportunities for holistic providers in spas, wellness centers, and even medical centers that integrate holistic approaches. For example, the respected Scripps Center for Integrative Medicine in California employs acupuncturists alongside registered nurses and other traditional healthcare professionals.
This greater visibility and acceptance doesn’t just benefit holistic providers who work at medical centers. It also means that providers who run their own practices might be able to attract more clients, plus set higher fees that reflect their skills and education.
Holistic Health Industry Median Salary Overview
“In many states, holistic healthcare is starting to be incorporated into more mainstream institutions which increases access to a greater population of individuals,” says Jennifer Bennett, ND, LAc, a professor at Bastyr University in Seattle. “Some will build holistic practitioners into their clinics to provide preventative or adjunctive care to patients.”
Those interested in this industry could expect varied salaries for a large—and growing—list of specialties. Here is what the median pay looks like for holistic health practitioners across the nation as a whole, and each state’s median figure.
Healthcare Diagnosing or Treating Practitioners, All Other
National data
Median Salary: $107,990
Projected job growth: 2%
10th Percentile: $62,400
25th Percentile: $78,670
75th Percentile: $154,420
90th Percentile: $194,670
Projected job growth: 2%
State data
State
Median Salary
Bottom 10%
Top 10%
Alabama
$89,020
$70,510
$140,980
Alaska
$93,450
$40,370
$107,160
Arizona
$85,220
$57,120
N/A
Arkansas
$73,690
$34,720
$155,150
California
$110,260
$68,220
$183,500
Colorado
$77,710
$50,700
$172,920
Connecticut
$96,910
$58,560
$183,500
District of Columbia
$141,190
$94,180
$183,500
Georgia
$121,330
$72,970
$169,800
Hawaii
$112,280
$84,160
$131,200
Idaho
$76,000
$43,460
$101,770
Illinois
$89,810
$67,870
$144,740
Indiana
$82,500
$47,840
$129,720
Iowa
$80,700
$62,640
$113,260
Kansas
$76,000
$42,910
$113,240
Kentucky
$83,220
$71,410
$121,440
Louisiana
$80,620
$58,620
$131,810
Maine
$89,370
$71,410
N/A
Maryland
$152,760
$89,980
$183,500
Massachusetts
$95,870
$59,530
$152,190
Michigan
$83,740
$51,200
$167,210
Minnesota
$108,040
$64,020
$142,360
Mississippi
$80,620
$69,100
N/A
Missouri
$86,440
$49,820
$130,870
Montana
$80,730
$56,730
$185,470
Nebraska
$78,310
$60,310
$114,900
Nevada
$77,480
$48,340
N/A
New Hampshire
$76,640
$76,640
$160,240
New Jersey
$100,900
$68,000
$207,990
New Mexico
$90,690
$69,760
$119,330
New York
$106,040
$65,210
$182,010
North Carolina
$94,910
$62,950
$175,910
North Dakota
$85,570
$61,190
$114,900
Ohio
$86,680
$56,690
$137,190
Oklahoma
N/A
N/A
N/A
Oregon
$70,970
$31,570
$164,020
Pennsylvania
$75,820
$64,750
$148,990
Rhode Island
$83,950
$54,370
$226,320
South Carolina
$66,920
$59,230
$131,890
South Dakota
$76,000
$69,100
$116,380
Tennessee
$82,830
$65,210
$129,160
Texas
$98,490
$53,020
$225,880
Utah
N/A
N/A
N/A
Vermont
$85,570
$45,400
$118,190
Virginia
N/A
N/A
N/A
Washington
$101,320
$56,480
N/A
West Virginia
$88,340
$54,600
$183,500
Wisconsin
$108,540
$76,000
N/A
Wyoming
$95,100
$50,000
$148,840
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) 2023 median salary; projected job growth through 2032. Actual salaries vary depending on location, level of education, years of experience, work environment, and other factors. Salaries may differ even more for those who are self-employed or work part time.
Most Popular Holistic Healthcare Jobs and Their Salaries
However, your salary may depend on your area of practice, your education, your experience, and other factors. One important thing to be aware of is that holistic health providers still often run their own practices. That means you’ll be responsible for taxes and overhead costs like office and equipment rental.
You might also need to pay to advertise your services, host a website, and more. This doesn’t mean you can’t make a great living as a holistic health provider, but it does mean you need to look at more than just hourly fees billed to clients when calculating your potential salary.
You can explore median salaries in popular holistic careers below.
Acupuncturist
An acupuncturist uses precise placement of specialized needles on the body to relieve pain, treat illness, and improve overall health. Acupuncturists often also use a technique called acupressure that involves using their hands to apply pressure to trigger points on the body.
Median Salary
$78,220 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics)
Ayurvedic Practitioner
An Ayurvedic practitioner uses a variety of techniques to help reduce pain, stress, fatigue, and symptoms of illness. Ayurvedic techniques include cleansing, meditation, and herbal remedies.
Median Salary
According to the National Ayurvedic Medical Association, there isn’t a median salary for this profession yet, since so many practitioners are self-employed and earnings depend on patient base and rates charged.
However, other professionals who perform similar jobs earn a median annual salary of $80,820 (according to the BLS report on “Healthcare Diagnosing or Treating Practitioners”). Keep in mind that this is a rough estimate and your salary will depend on your ayurvedic practice.
Energy Healer
An energy healer uses techniques such as sound and light therapy to align the energies in the human body and improve client wellness.
Median Salary
Energy healers often charge clients by the hour for their services, so your salary will depend on the number of clients you have and on the rates you set. Standard rates are generally around $100 an hour. Professionals in similar healing fields earn a median salary of $63,650 annually (according to the BLS’s “Therapist” category).
Herbalist
An herbalist prescribes herbal remedies to help manage patients’ symptoms. They also blend herbs to make individualized remedies for patients.
Median Salary
Herbalists’ salaries can vary greatly, according to The American Herbalists Guild, but the BLS’s Healthcare Diagnosing or Treating Practitioners, All Other category cites a median annual salary of $80,820 for an experienced practitioner.
Life Coach
A life coach works with clients to help them set and meet goals. They can help clients overcome professional and personal issues that are holding them back and give them the tools they need to find success. Life coach falls under the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ category of “Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors” category.
Median Salary
$61,710 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics)
Massage Therapist
A massage therapist uses specialized techniques to provide therapeutic massage and relieve painful tension in muscles.
A notable benefit of the growing acceptance of and demand for holistic professionals is an increase in insurance reimbursement. While not all holistic health disciplines are recognized by insurance companies, some, such as nutritionists, acupuncturists, midwives, and massage therapists, sometimes are.
Another example comes from a place you might not expect, but that has serious implications for holistic health. Medicare, the national health insurance program that services more than 60 million Americans, provides coverage for some holistic services, including:
It’s a trend that’s likely to continue. As more and more people seek the services of holistic health practitioners, the providers will enjoy increased respect and career growth possibilities. That might not always mean insurance reimbursement, but it is likely to mean your services will be in demand.
Piper Gibson, a board-certified doctor of natural medicine who specializes in pediatric mental health and development disorders and practices at Aria Wellness in Las Cruces, New Mexico, has seen this demand in her own practice and believes it will continue in the future.
“One in two parents whose child is diagnosed with a mental or developmental disorder experience grief and helplessness and don’t know where to turn,” says Gibson. “There is more and more information supporting the fact that diet, lifestyle, and environment impact our health, and parents are looking for other ways to help their children.”
For example, nurse midwives always need to be registered nurses with master’s degrees. Naturopaths aren’t regulated in all states, but in order to be board certified, they need to earn a doctorate. On the other hand, you might be able to earn a certificate in energy healing or massage therapy in as little as a few weeks.
No matter what, it’s important to make sure you have the appropriate education. Getting the education you need will help you provide safe and effective care for your patients. It will also let your patients know that you’re a true professional, something that’s extremely important if you’re looking to build your own business with a client base.
The education you need depends on the career path you choose. Options include:
Undergraduate Degrees
Certificates
Master’s Degrees
Doctorates
Do I Need to Be Certified?
Just like education, the certification you need depends on the holistic career path you choose. Some professions in this group, like acupuncturists, midwives, naturopaths, massage therapists, and nutritionists, require certification. You’ll need to meet standards for certification before you can get hired or open your own practice.
Certification standards are looser for some holistic professions, such as life coaches and energy healers. However, earning a professional certification is a smart idea, because it can help you prove your skills and qualifications. They can also help build your reputation, which can help you build a client base.
What Jobs Can I Get with a Holistic Health Background?
A holistic health philosophy can take you down many exciting career paths. The right path for you depends on your interests. Someone with an interest in medicine and natural remedies might thrive as an herbalist, while someone who enjoys helping people overcome difficulties might make an excellent life coach.
Remember that holistic health practitioners are often their own bosses. They open their own practices and create their own client base. That means that a career in holistic health will also require you to have a little bit of business, marketing, and accounting savvy.
