As of August 2026, Acupuncturists has an AI-exposure score of 39/100 (Low exposure) on the AI-Safe Careers index. This is an estimate of task exposure, not a prediction of job loss.
Score inputs for this role: This role starts from O*NET 29.1 occupational descriptors and is empirically grounded by Penn/OpenAI GPTs are GPTs study, Anthropic Economic Index (June 26, 2026). BLS labor-market figures are separate context, not score inputs.

AI Exposure Score for

Acupuncturists

39/100
Low exposure
LowModerateElevatedHighVery High

More exposed than 7% of the roles we track. Median pay ~US$76,040. About 900 projected openings a year (BLS 2024–34 - growth plus replacement).

Pay & demand figures are US medians (BLS, in USD) - your local figures will differ. Your exposure score applies broadly.

Will AI replace Acupuncturists?

No exposure score can predict whether AI will replace this role. The 39/100 score means our current model estimates low task exposure from the sources listed on this page. It does not predict an employer decision, headcount, or an individual outcome. The task map below shows the work assessed and where human judgment remains important.

Early-career context (study ages 22-25)

This role is in our Low exposure band, not our highest-exposure bands. The study's 16% finding should not be applied directly to this role.

The November 2025 revision reports a 16% relative employment decline for workers ages 22-25 in the most AI-exposed U.S. occupations, after firm-level controls, relative to workers in less-exposed fields and more experienced workers in the same occupations.

Use the task map to identify durable work and the skills worth building early.

Stanford Digital Economy Lab, Canaries in the Coal Mine - November 2025 revision

This is group-level U.S. payroll evidence, not a personal forecast. The authors do not claim that AI alone caused the change, and this context does not alter the exposure score.

How this role compares to similar Healthcare roles

Acupuncturists (this role)
39
Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
40
Dietitian
37
Low Vision Therapists, Orientation and Mobility Specialists, and Vision Rehabilitation Therapists
41
Music Therapists
42
Surgical Assistants
42
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Data sources, not endorsements: O*NET and curated role data; empirical AI signals where matched; BLS employment, pay, and demand as separate context.Methodology Data sources
Role snapshot

What this role usually involves

O*NET 29.1 exact occupation

Diagnose, treat, and prevent disorders by stimulating specific acupuncture points within the body using acupuncture needles. May also use cups, nutritional supplements, therapeutic massage, acupressure, and other alternative health therapies.

Common titles
Acupuncture PhysicianAcupuncturistHerbalistLicensed Acupuncturist (LAC)Acupuncture DoctorAcupuncture Provider
O*NET job-zone preparation
Job Zone 5 · Extensive Preparation Needed Most of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree). Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these occupations. Many require more than five years of experience.

Broad guidance for this preparation level; exact requirements vary by role and employer.

Skills and knowledge
Critical ThinkingService OrientationSocial PerceptivenessSpeakingJudgment and Decision MakingMonitoring
Work context
Decision latitudeFrequent contact with othersIndoor controlled settingConsequence of errorRepeating tasks

Source: O*NET 29.1 exact occupation - Acupuncturists, SOC 29-1291.00. Context describes the role; the AI-exposure score remains a separate task-exposure estimate.

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Acupuncturists tasks, by AI exposure

Automatable

No automatable tasks identified for this role - its individually-assessed tasks split 56% augmentable / 44% durable.

Augmentable
  • Formulate herbal preparations to treat conditions considering herbal properties, such as taste, toxicity, effects of preparation, contraindications, and incompatibilities.
  • Collect medical histories and general health and lifestyle information from patients.
8 more augmentable tasks locked in the report.
Durable
  • Identify correct anatomical and proportional point locations based on patients' anatomy and positions, contraindications, and precautions related to treatments, such as intradermal needles, moxibustion, electricity, guasha, or bleeding.
  • Insert needles to provide acupuncture treatment.
6 more durable tasks locked in the report.

We analyzed all 18 Acupuncturists tasks - 10 augmentable and 8 durable. The full task map - every task with exactly what to do about each - is in your Career Report.

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Full task map

Every task scored with what to automate, augment, or protect.

Adjacent path comparison

Related roles with exposure deltas, salary, demand, and reachability. Lower-exposure options appear only when the data supports them.

30/60/90 plan + PDF

A keepable roadmap plus resume and LinkedIn repositioning.

Grounded in O*NET-linked or curated role data, with Penn, Anthropic Economic Index, and AIOE signals where matched. BLS labor-market context is separate - not generic advice.

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Adjacent career paths

This role is already among lower-exposure work. The adjacent paths below are shown for opportunity and skill transfer, not as lower-exposure alternatives.

Massage Therapists
64% skills overlap; 2 points higher - similar exposure within the 5-point model resolution; Moderate band; ~US$58,450
View path
41
7 more adjacent paths with exposure deltas, salary, demand, and reachability in your Career Report.
Agent Reality Check (on-site workflow preview)

Formulate herbal preparations to treat conditions considering herbal properties, such as taste, toxicity, effects of preparation, contraindications, and incompatibilities.

Check what deployed AI agents can attempt on tasks like this using dated capability evidence. You review the real task before any analysis runs.
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Your AI-Safe Career Report

Every task scored with what to do about it; adjacent paths with honest exposure deltas, salary, demand, and reachability; a skill-gap map; a 30/60/90-day roadmap; Agent Reality Check; plus a résumé and LinkedIn rewrite and professional PDF.
Grounded in O*NET-linked or curated role data, with Penn, Anthropic Economic Index, and AIOE signals where matched. BLS labor-market context is separate.

Workers with AI skills earn a roughly 62% wage premium - adapting pays. - PwC Global AI Jobs Barometer, 2026

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Important: This is an estimate of AI exposure, not a prediction that your job will disappear. It is designed to help you understand how your role may change and improve your career resilience.

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Acupuncturists - median pay by US state (BLS OEWS, USD)

New York: US$86,120California: US$75,530Florida: US$69,990Texas: US$66,530

Median annual wage, in USD. US national: US$76,040. More states are being added.

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