7 Registered Nurse Roles You've Probably Never Considered
26 May, 2026
At first glance, a chiropractor and a health information management (HIM) professional seem like they belong in completely different worlds. One works hands-on with patients, adjusting spines and treating musculoskeletal conditions. The other operates behind the scenes, safeguarding medical records, ensuring regulatory compliance, and translating clinical data into actionable intelligence. But here's the thing I've noticed after years of helping healthcare job seekers navigate their options on healthcareers.app: both careers share surprising overlap in their appeal, their growth trajectories, and the kinds of people they attract.
If you're at a crossroads — maybe you love healthcare but aren't sure whether you want to be patient-facing or data-driven — this comparison might be exactly what you need. I wrote this post because we see searches for "chiropractor" career paths alongside queries about HIM professional roles more often than you'd expect. Let's break down both paths honestly so you can decide which one fits your strengths, lifestyle preferences, and long-term goals.
A chiropractor is a licensed healthcare provider who diagnoses and treats neuromuscular disorders, primarily through manual adjustment and manipulation of the spine. But the daily reality goes well beyond "cracking backs." Most chiropractors I've spoken with describe their workdays as a blend of clinical assessment, patient education, treatment planning, and small-business management.
A significant percentage of chiropractors are self-employed or run small group practices. That means marketing, billing, insurance negotiations, hiring staff, and managing overhead are all part of the job. If you're someone who wants clinical autonomy and business ownership, this is a major draw. If spreadsheets and payroll make you break out in hives, it's worth factoring in.
A HIM professional — sometimes called a health information management specialist, medical records administrator, or clinical data analyst — is responsible for the accuracy, accessibility, and security of patient health information. In an era of electronic health records, interoperability mandates, and data-driven care, the HIM professional has become indispensable.
HIM professionals work in hospitals, outpatient clinics, insurance companies, government agencies, consulting firms, and increasingly from home. Remote work availability is one of the strongest selling points of this career — something I see candidates on healthcareers.app actively searching for.
The path to becoming a chiropractor is rigorous. You'll need:
All told, you're looking at roughly seven to eight years of post-secondary education before you're practicing independently.
The HIM professional pathway offers more flexibility in terms of entry points:
You could be working in a HIM role in as little as two years with an associate degree, though advancement typically requires a bachelor's and certification.
I want to be transparent here — I won't throw out fabricated salary numbers. What I can tell you, based on directional data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and industry surveys, is the following:
Chiropractors generally earn a solid income, though there's significant variability. Self-employed chiropractors who build a strong patient base in the right market can earn well above average, while those just starting out or working as associates in someone else's practice may earn considerably less. The BLS projects continued steady demand for chiropractors, driven by growing interest in non-pharmacological pain management and an aging population seeking musculoskeletal care.
HIM professional salaries vary widely depending on education, certifications, and role. Entry-level coding positions start modestly, but RHIA-credentialed professionals in management or analytics can command competitive salaries. The BLS and AHIMA both indicate strong growth prospects for HIM roles, particularly as healthcare organizations invest in data infrastructure, cybersecurity, and value-based care models.
In broad strokes: a chiropractor's earning ceiling may be higher (especially with practice ownership), but the HIM professional's floor tends to be more predictable and carries less financial risk.
This is where the comparison gets really interesting for candidates weighing their options.
Many chiropractors work standard business hours, though evenings and weekends are common — especially for practice owners trying to accommodate working patients. The physical demands are real: you're on your feet, using your hands, and moving bodies all day. Burnout can come from the dual pressures of clinical care and business management.
HIM professionals often enjoy more predictable schedules, particularly in corporate or remote settings. The work is mentally demanding but physically low-impact. For people who value the ability to work from anywhere — or who need schedule flexibility for family or personal reasons — HIM offers significant advantages.
I wanted to include a regional perspective here because we see job seekers searching for healthcare roles in specific communities — including searches like "vet Johnson City TN" and other localized healthcare queries. While that particular search relates to veterinary care, it signals something broader: Johnson City and the broader Tri-Cities region of Tennessee represent a growing healthcare market worth paying attention to.
Johnson City is home to East Tennessee State University, which has a strong health sciences program, and the Ballad Health system, a major regional employer. Both chiropractors and HIM professionals can find opportunity in markets like this — chiropractors through private practice in communities with limited provider options, and HIM professionals through hospital system employment or remote roles that don't require relocation.
If you're exploring healthcare careers in smaller metro areas, I encourage you to look at both the local employer landscape and remote-friendly roles. We list opportunities in regions like Johnson City, TN on healthcareers.app, and the combination of lower cost of living and growing healthcare infrastructure makes these markets compelling.
After walking through both careers in detail, here's how I'd frame the decision:
It's uncommon but entirely possible. A chiropractor who becomes interested in data, compliance, or healthcare administration could pursue HIM certification. The clinical knowledge you bring from chiropractic practice can be a significant asset in coding, documentation improvement, or clinical informatics roles.
This depends heavily on your practice model, location, and business acumen. Chiropractic programs are expensive, and the income potential is variable. I always advise candidates to research the average debt-to-income ratio in their target market before committing. If you plan to open your own practice in an underserved area, the math may work out favorably.
Not necessarily, though clinical knowledge helps enormously — especially in medical coding and clinical documentation improvement roles. Many HIM programs include coursework in anatomy, physiology, and pathology for exactly this reason.
Chiropractic care is inherently hands-on, so direct patient care cannot be done remotely. However, some chiropractors supplement their income through telehealth consultations, online wellness coaching, or content creation — though these are ancillary to the core practice.
Smaller metro areas across the Southeast — including Johnson City, TN — are seeing growth across primary care, allied health, behavioral health, and health information management. Regional health systems in these markets are actively hiring, and remote-eligible HIM roles mean you can work for a major employer from anywhere. We track these opportunities on healthcareers.app and encourage candidates to explore beyond the largest metro areas.
Comparing a chiropractor to a HIM professional might seem unconventional, but that's precisely the point. Healthcare is vast, and the right career for you might not be the one you first imagined. Whether you're drawn to the tactile, patient-centered world of chiropractic care or the analytical, systems-oriented realm of health information management, both paths offer meaningful work, strong demand, and room for growth. I built healthcareers.app to help you explore all of these options in one place — so wherever your interests lead, we're here to connect you with the opportunities that match.
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