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Hospitals and health systems
Mayo Clinic, Cleveland Clinic, Johns Hopkins Medicine
Audiologists
Audiologists test hearing and balance, diagnose what is going wrong, and help patients choose treatments or devices that fit their lives. The work is distinct because it mixes careful testing with a lot of coaching and counseling, but the tradeoff is a long education path and mostly hands-on work that is hard to do remotely.
Also known as Clinical AudiologistStaff AudiologistLicensed AudiologistAudiology SpecialistDoctor of Audiology
Median Salary
$92,120
Mean $95,320
U.S. Workforce
~15K
0.7K openings per year
10-Year Growth
+9.5%
15.8K to 17.3K
Entry Education
Doctoral or professional degree
+ None experience
What This Role Looks Like in Practice
Audiologists sits in the Healthcare category. In practical terms, this role combines day-to-day execution, cross-team coordination, and consistent decision-making under real business constraints.
U.S. employment is currently about ~15K workers, with a median annual pay of $92,120 and roughly 0.7K openings each year. Based on BLS projections, total employment is expected to grow from 15.8 K in 2024 to 17.3K in 2034.
Most hiring paths start with Doctor of Audiology (Au.D.), and employers typically expect none of related experience. Many careers in this track begin around Audiology Assistant and can progress toward Clinic Director or Practice Owner. High-value skills usually include Pure-Tone Audiometry, Speech Testing & Diagnostic Procedures, Hearing Aid Fitting, Programming & Verification, and Tympanometry, OAE Testing & Vestibular Assessment, paired with soft skills such as Active Listening, Clear Communication, and Empathy.
Core Responsibilities
- Test hearing and balance with specialized equipment, then explain what the results mean.
- Figure out whether a patient has hearing loss or another ear-related problem and recommend the next step.
- Fit, program, and adjust hearing aids or other devices so they work properly for each person.
- Show patients and families how to cope with hearing loss and communicate more easily day to day.
Keep exploring: more Healthcare careers or browse all job titles.
A Day in the Life
01 Test hearing and balance with specialized equipment, then explain what the results mean.
02 Figure out whether a patient has hearing loss or another ear-related problem and recommend the next step.
03 Fit, program, and adjust hearing aids or other devices so they work properly for each person.
04 Show patients and families how to cope with hearing loss and communicate more easily day to day.
05 Set up hearing screenings and coordinate follow-up with schools, doctors, or other health staff.
06 Keep detailed records, train students or staff in some settings, and handle research or marketing tasks in private practices.
Industries That Hire
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Private audiology clinics
Beltone, Miracle-Ear, HearUSA
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Schools and educational services
New York City Public Schools, Los Angeles Unified School District, Chicago Public Schools
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Hearing aid manufacturers and medical devices
Sonova, Starkey, GN Hearing
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Universities and research centers
Harvard University, Northwestern University, Johns Hopkins University
Pros and Cons
Advantages
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Pay is strong for a specialized healthcare job, with a mean annual wage of $95,320 and a median of $92,120.
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The work is very direct and personal, so you often see the payoff quickly when someone hears speech more clearly or feels less frustrated.
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Employment is projected to grow 9.5% by 2034, adding about 1.5K jobs and roughly 700 openings a year.
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No prior work experience or on-the-job training is required, so the path is straightforward once you finish school and licensing.
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You can work in very different settings, from hospitals and schools to private practices and research programs.
Challenges
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The entry barrier is high: the typical starting point is a doctoral or professional degree, and 95.45% of workers in the field have a doctorate.
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The field is small, with only about 14.7K current jobs, so openings are limited and competition can be tight.
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Most of the job has to be done in person with specialized equipment, so remote work is limited.
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Career growth can level off unless you move into management, teaching, research, or ownership, because there are not many layers above staff audiologist roles.
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Some private-practice work includes marketing, scheduling, and insurance-related paperwork, which can pull time away from patient care.
Career Progression
Audiology Assistant
0-2 years
$38K-$50K
Supports patient intake, room setup, basic screening, and equipment prep while learning the clinic workflow.
Audiologist
3-7 years
$84K-$106K
Performs hearing and balance testing, explains results, fits devices, and helps patients manage hearing loss.
Senior Audiologist THIS ROLE
8-12 years
$107K-$128K
Handles more complex cases, mentors newer staff, and often takes on program coordination or specialty services.
Clinic Director or Practice Owner
13+ years
$129K-$165K
Leads a clinic or private practice, manages staff and budgets, and balances patient care with business decisions.
Education Paths
Doctor of Audiology (Au.D.)
The standard route into the field, held by 95.45% of workers in this occupation.
Post-Doctoral Clinical Training
A smaller pathway, used by 4.55% of workers, that adds advanced supervised experience after the doctorate.
State Licensure and Board Certification
Not a degree path, but audiologists still need to meet licensing rules and may pursue board certification to strengthen their credentials.
Key Skills
Technical
Pure-Tone Audiometry, Speech Testing & Diagnostic Procedures 81%
Hearing Aid Fitting, Programming & Verification 80%
Tympanometry, OAE Testing & Vestibular Assessment 79%
NOAH, Otosuite & Hearing Aid Software 78%
EMR/EHR Documentation & Clinical Records 76%
Soft Skills
Active ListeningClear CommunicationEmpathyCritical ThinkingAttention to DetailPatient Education Job Outlook and Trends
+9.5%
Projected growth (2024-2034)
0.7K
Annual job openings
Employment is projected to rise from 15.8K to 17.3 K over the next decade, representing 9.5% growth. Around 0.7 K openings per year include both newly created roles and replacement hiring from turnover.
Remote availability is currently Limited. Demand remains strongest where employers need practical domain knowledge plus modern workflow and data skills.