Naturopathic Physicians: Job Description
Diagnose, treat, and help prevent diseases using a system of practice that is based on the natural healing capacity of individuals. May use physiological, psychological or mechanical methods. May also use natural medicines, prescription or legend drugs, foods, herbs, or other natural remedies.
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The Daily Work of Naturopathic Physicians Take On?
The core tasks performed by naturopathic physicians span:
- Document patients' histories, including identifying data, chief complaints, illnesses, previous medical or family histories, or psychosocial characteristics.
- Educate patients about health care management.
- Advise patients about therapeutic exercise and nutritional medicine regimens.
- Conduct physical examinations and physiological function tests for diagnostic purposes.
- Administer, dispense, or prescribe natural medicines, such as food or botanical extracts, herbs, dietary supplements, vitamins, nutraceuticals, and amino acids.
- Interview patients to document symptoms and health histories.
- Diagnose health conditions, based on patients' symptoms and health histories, laboratory and diagnostic radiology test results, or other physiological measurements, such as electrocardiograms and electroencephalographs.
- Administer treatments or therapies, such as homeopathy, hydrotherapy, Oriental or Ayurvedic medicine, electrotherapy, and diathermy, using physical agents including air, heat, cold, water, sound, or ultraviolet light to catalyze the body to heal itself.
Skills and Knowledge
Successful naturopathic physicians draw on a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Key Skills
These are the skills most central to this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Core Knowledge
Related Job Titles
Common job titles for this role include:
- Doctor (Dr)
- Naturopath
- Naturopathic Doctor
- Naturopathic Endocrinologist
- Naturopathic Medicine Doctor
- Naturopathic Oncologist
- Naturopathic Oncology Provider
- Physician
Job Outlook
The U.S. employs around 2,491,795 naturopathic physicians working in the United States today. Employment is projected to grow by +6.6% over the projection horizon.
Salary for Naturopathic Physicians
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $138,086 |
| Hourly median | $66.39 |
| 10th percentile | $88,826 |
| 25th percentile | $113,456 |
| 75th percentile | $162,716 |
| 90th percentile | $187,346 |
Pay can vary substantially based on experience, location, and industry.
Naturopathic Physicians Salary by State
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| Maryland | $160,560 |
| District of Columbia | $145,480 |
| Virginia | $128,940 |
| Montana | $124,550 |
| Georgia | $123,840 |
| California | $118,210 |
| New York | $117,190 |
| Hawaii | $116,800 |
| Utah | $113,730 |
| North Carolina | $112,590 |
| Missouri | $111,050 |
| Maine | $108,020 |
| Washington | $107,100 |
| Massachusetts | $104,770 |
| Wisconsin | $104,330 |
| Minnesota | $104,100 |
| Connecticut | $102,150 |
| Texas | $101,420 |
| New Jersey | $100,900 |
| Wyoming | $99,570 |
| Nevada | $98,740 |
| Ohio | $96,700 |
| New Mexico | $96,660 |
| Vermont | $94,450 |
| Alaska | $94,000 |
| Alabama | $92,750 |
| West Virginia | $92,750 |
| Kentucky | $89,860 |
| Nebraska | $89,380 |
| Illinois | $88,730 |
| Michigan | $88,000 |
| Rhode Island | $87,050 |
| Tennessee | $86,940 |
| North Dakota | $86,940 |
| Iowa | $86,830 |
| Colorado | $86,740 |
| Oregon | $85,840 |
| Louisiana | $84,640 |
| Kansas | $83,510 |
| Mississippi | $82,220 |
| Puerto Rico | $81,890 |
| Pennsylvania | $80,720 |
| Arizona | $79,990 |
| Indiana | $79,790 |
| Arkansas | $79,790 |
| South Dakota | $79,790 |
| New Hampshire | $79,730 |
| South Carolina | $66,950 |
Top-Paying U.S. Regions
Earnings for naturopathic physicians differ across the country. These regions lead on median pay:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Middle Atlantic | $145,220 | 29.7% | 8.73 |
| Southeast | $110,915 | 21.9% | 1.94 |
| Far Western US | $108,986 | 12.1% | 0.83 |
| Rocky Mountains | $97,978 | 4.2% | 1.19 |
| Plains States | $97,753 | 4.9% | 0.69 |
| New England | $95,500 | 8.5% | 4.06 |
| Great Lakes | $91,446 | 11.3% | 0.74 |
| Southwest | $88,248 | 7.1% | 0.56 |
Highest-Paying Metro Areas for Naturopathic Physicians
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | NC | $179,960 | 190 |
| Missoula, MT | MT | $177,610 | 30 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | DC | $162,610 | 6,330 |
| Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT | CT | $149,070 | |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | CA | $137,240 | 220 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | TX | $137,180 | 240 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | NY | $132,790 | |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | GA | $131,120 | 2,530 |
Which Industries Hire Naturopathic Physicians
The bulk of naturopathic physicians work in these industries:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Educational Services | 1,010 | $78,630 |
| Finance and Insurance | 130 | $111,260 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 100 | $67,000 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | 90 | $90,250 |
| Manufacturing | 40 | $105,930 |
| Wholesale Trade | 30 | $134,830 |
Naturopathic Physicians work in the following industries:
Software Naturopathic Physicians Use
- Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
Work Environment
Daily working conditions for naturopathic physicians reflects the following characteristics:
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Telephone Conversations
- Freedom to Make Decisions
- Contact With Others
How to Become Naturopathic Physicians
This career aligns with Extensive Preparation Needed (Job Zone 5), signaling the level of preparation typically expected.
Similar Occupations
Similar Occupations
- Chiropractors (Primary-Short)
- Physician Assistants (Supplemental)
- Advanced Practice Psychiatric Nurses (Supplemental)
- Nurse Practitioners (Supplemental)
- Cardiologists (Primary-Short)
- Dermatologists (Primary-Long)
- Emergency Medicine Physicians (Supplemental)
- Family Medicine Physicians (Primary-Long)
Degree Programs
Aspiring naturopathic physicians typically earn programs in:
Health Professions and Related Programs
14 programs across 3 majors
Sources
Statistics shown above are sourced from the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 29-1299.01 (Healthcare Diagnosing or Treating Practitioners, All Other).
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