はり師・きゅう師 はり師・きゅう師
What はり師・きゅう師 do
An English description is being prepared. Japanese description:
はり・きゅう治療の背景である東洋医学では、「気」（生命エネルギー）が全身をめぐり生命を保っていて、「気」のめぐりが悪くなると病気になると考える。「気」のとどこおりや詰まりを調整する場所がツボ（経穴）であり、ここを刺激することで人間の自然治癒力を高める。副作用がほとんど見られない医療法といわれている。
はり治療に用いるはりは直径0.2㎜の髪の毛ほどの太さである。患者の症状に応じて、ツボを指で探し当てて、消毒したはりをトントンと叩くようにして瞬間的に皮膚を通過させる。患部だけでなく、その周辺の神経にも刺激を与える。また、皮膚に刺したはりを電極にして弱い電流を流すことによって、はりの効果を倍増させる方法も行われている。
きゅう治療の場合は、指で患部周辺を押してツボを探し、ツボに適量のもぐさをのせ線香の火をつけて燃やし、熱の刺激で治療する。また、皮膚の上ではなく台座の上にもぐさを置く方法もある。
実際にははり師ときゅう師の両方の免許を持って施術をしている人が多い。
◇ よく使う道具、機材、情報技術等
はり、きゅう
Employment type of workers
はり師・きゅう師 salary
The average annual pay for はり師・きゅう師 in Japan is ¥4.54M (≈ $28,881; Basic Survey on Wage Structure (2025), national). The estimated median is ¥4.22M, the typical range is ¥3.21M–¥7.54M and the top 10% earn about ¥6.54M.
How does your pay compare with people your age?
Your numbers are not sent or stored. The distribution is estimated from Japan's national wage statistics, including pay differences by age.
Pay by ageest.
Estimated from the average pay and average age (37.6) using the age-wage curve of the Basic Survey on Wage Structure.
Pay by experienceest.
Pay by employment typeest.
The average hourly wage of ¥2,266 is 1.9× Japan's national average minimum wage of ¥1,177 (fiscal 2026). Minimum wage by prefecture →
Japanese pay is shown in yen (¥5.57M = 5.57 million yen ≈ 557万円). Dollar figures use the current rate of 157.25 yen per dollar and are for reference only; purchasing power differs.
Pay over time
| Year | Average pay | Employment | Openings ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | ¥4.23M | — | — |
| 2022 | ¥4.43M | — | — |
| 2023 | ¥4.59M | — | 1.88x |
| 2024 | ¥4.30M | — | 1.98x |
| 2025 | ¥4.54M | — | 1.88x |
Projected pay for はり師・きゅう師 (3, 5 and 10 years)est.
Today ¥4.54M → in 3 years ¥4.93M → in 5 years ¥5.21M → in 10 years ¥5.98M (10-year range ¥5.14M–¥6.94M). The model assumes pay growth of +2.8% per year.
What drives the annual growth rate
Projected pay = current pay × (1 + annual growth)^years. The annual growth rate starts from a base wage-growth rate and adds or subtracts labor demand (the job-openings-to-applicants ratio), wage momentum and AI replacement risk for each occupation. Projections are not guarantees. How it is calculated →
Outlook score for はり師・きゅう師
Each component is a percentile rank among all occupations in the same country (0–100). Weights: labor demand 25, wage momentum / openings 15, pay level 15, AI resistance 25, aging workforce 10 (Japan only), entry barrier 10.
Will AI replace はり師・きゅう師? AI replacement risk
How AI is changing this job
A written analysis for this occupation is being prepared.
AI replacement risk compares the parts of a job that are easy to hand to AI or software (processing information, documentation, repetitive computer work) with the parts that are hard to automate (physical work, working closely with people, judgment in unpredictable settings), using the MHLW job tag survey on work activities, work context, skills and knowledge. The result is a relative position among all occupations in the country, scaled to 0–100%. Methodology →
Labor demand for はり師・きゅう師
A ratio above 1.0 means there are more job openings than applicants (a labor shortage). The 5- and 10-year figures are estimates from the openings ratio, wage momentum and AI replacement risk.
The same job in the United States
| はり師・きゅう師 Japan | Acupuncturists United States | |
|---|---|---|
| Median / average pay | ¥4.54M ≈ $28,881 | $76,040 |
| Pay in 10 years (est.) | ¥5.98M | $106,100 |
| Outlook score | 58 | 75 |
| AI replacement risk | 18% Very low | 29% Low |
| Workers | — | 7,830 |
Matched by occupation (SOC code). Yen converted at 157.25 JPY/USD for reference; Japanese figures are averages, U.S. figures are medians, and the surveys define occupations differently.
Skills, education and requirements for はり師・きゅう師
Key skills
Skill levels from the MHLW job tag worker survey.
Key knowledge areas
What the work involves
Important abilities
Licenses and certifications (Japan)
- はり師
- きゅう師
Related qualifications listed on job tag (names in Japanese). Some are mandatory, others recommended.
Education of workers
Training before entry
Related work experience
Difficulty of entry: ★★★★☆ Demanding (from education, training, experience, licenses)
How to become はり師・きゅう師
The typical path in Japan is shown by the education, training and experience of current workers above and in the Japanese guidance below. A detailed English guide for this occupation is being prepared.
Guidance from job tag (Japanese)
はり師試験、きゅう師試験を受けるには、認定された専門学校か大学・短大ではり・きゅうの技能と知識を３年以上修学する必要がある。視力障害者の場合は、盲学校や視力障害センターなどで学ぶことが多い。なお、視覚障害者の場合には、中学校卒でも5年の教育を受ければ、国家試験の受験資格が得られる。
はり・きゅう治療院などに数年間勤務して経験を積んでから、独立開業するケースが多く見られる。
患者に直接接して治療することから、治療技術に加えて適切なコミュニケーションを通して相手の気持ちを和ませ、信頼関係を築くことが求められる。
Career path and how to earn more as はり師・きゅう師
Career-path guidance is being prepared. Pay by experience is shown in the Pay section.