[Site name]

Complementary therapist

Also called naturopath, holistic therapist, traditional therapist

Complementary therapists use a range of complementary and alternative therapies to work simultaneously with the clients` body, mind, and spirit in a holistic approach. They offer practices and services for holistic wellbeing, health maintenance, health education, health promotion and prevention of illness, along with the sustainable treatment of certain illnesses, especially chronic illnesses. Their practices include but are not limited to acupuncture, aromatherapy, banotherapy, homeopathy, and herbal medicine.

Will there be jobs?Yes, good prospects37 jobs to fill by 2035 for every 100 people doing this work today.Health professionalsWhat does it pay?Well above averageFrom about €1,800 (Bulgaria) to €9,700 (Luxembourg) a month, depending on the country.Estimate · Health professionalsWhat do I need to study?Usually a degree9 in 10 have a degree.Health professionalsWill AI change it?LittleLevel 2 of 6. AI could help with only small parts of the tasks.Traditional and complementary medicine professionals · ILO

What you'd do

Traditional and complementary medicine professionals · ILO
  • Conducting physical examinations of patients and interviewing them and their families to determine their health status
  • Developing and implementing treatment plans for physical, mental and psychosocial ailments using applications such as acupuncture, ayurvedic, homeopathic and herbal medicine
  • Evaluating and documenting patients' progress through treatment plans
  • Providing health, nutrition and lifestyle advice to individuals, families and communities
  • Prescribing and preparing traditional medicines, such as herbal, plant, mineral and animal extracts, to stimulate the body's capacity for self-healing
  • Exchanging information about patients with other health care workers as needed to ensure continuing and comprehensive health care
  • Conducting research into traditional and complementary medicines and treatments and disseminating findings such as through scientific papers and reports
Carry out preventative internal medicine interventionsFollow-up on healthcare users' treatmentDevelop therapeutic relationshipsEnsure safety of healthcare usersAccept own accountability
What the work is like
  • Indoors
  • A mix of sitting and standing
  • Constant contact with people, including the public
  • Good freedom to decide
  • Usually 40 hours a week
  • Deadlines most weeks
  • Some repetitive tasks
US data: based on the O*NET profile of the US job "Naturopathic Physicians"

Will there be jobs?

Yes, good prospects

Many jobs will need filling by 2035.

People working as health professionals in the EU
5.11m6.39m7.07m 201520232035

Solid: measured. Dashed: forecast.

Jobs to fill, 2026–2035
549,000 new jobs 1,888,000 replacing leavers
Jobs to fill per 100 people working now
Health professionals37
All jobs29
Right now
2 of 27 countries report a shortage of traditional and complementary medicine professionals, 5 a surplus.
Traditional and complementary medicine professionals · EURES

What does it pay?

Well above average

Pay depends a lot on the country: from about €1,800 a month (Bulgaria) to €9,700 (Luxembourg), before tax.

Pick a country at the top of the page to see typical pay there, for people under 30, and compared with all jobs.

Among professionals in the EU, women earn 21% less per hour than men. Professionals · Eurostat

What do I need to study?

Usually a degree

A degree in traditional and complementary medicine and therapy is the usual route.

Highest qualification of health professionals (EU, 2025)
Degree 86%Vocational 12%General secondary 1%Basic schooling 1%
Fields that teach it
Traditional and complementary medicine and therapy · Therapy and rehabilitation
Vocational route, EU
3 in 10 trainees in this field
Health and welfare graduates in a matching job
81% in the EU

946 institutions in the EU offer health and welfare bachelor's degrees. Pick a country at the top of the page to see where to study and the official course finders.

Will AI change it?

Little

AI could help with only small parts of the tasks.

How exposed is this job? ILO scale
Very low
Low
Some tasks
Moderate
Significant
High

Average task score 0.32 on a scale from 0 (AI can't do it) to 1 (AI could do it fully).

See the score for each of the 7 tasks
Conducting research into traditional and complementary medicines and treatments and disseminating findings such as through scientific papers and reports0.49
Providing health, nutrition and lifestyle advice to individuals, families and communities0.39
Exchanging information about patients with other health care workers as needed to ensure continuing and comprehensive health care0.37
Evaluating and documenting patients' progress through treatment plans0.36
Prescribing and preparing traditional medicines, such as herbal, plant, mineral and animal extracts, to stimulate the body's capacity for self-healing0.27
Developing and implementing treatment plans for physical, mental and psychosocial ailments using applications such as acupuncture, ayurvedic, homeopathic and herbal medicine0.21
Conducting physical examinations of patients and interviewing them and their families to determine their health status0.18

Based on what AI could technically do when assessed in 2025. It is not a forecast for a future year, and not a forecast of job losses. Scores for traditional and complementary medicine professionals. Source: ILO (2025), adapted (credits).