Audiologists
Also called: Audiologist, Audiology Doctor (AUD), Audiology Extern, Certificate of Clinical Competence in Audiology Licensed Audiologist (CCC-A Licensed Audiologist), Clinical Audiologist, Dispensing Audiologist, Educational Audiologist, Forensic Audiologist
Assess and treat persons with hearing and related disorders.
What audiologists do
Typical tasks
- Maintain patient records at all stages, including initial and subsequent evaluation and treatment activities.
- Evaluate hearing and balance disorders to determine diagnoses and courses of treatment.
- Fit, dispense, and repair assistive devices, such as hearing aids.
- Administer hearing tests and examine patients to collect information on type and degree of impairment, using specialized instruments and electronic equipment.
- Monitor patients' progress and provide ongoing observation of hearing or balance status.
- Instruct patients, parents, teachers, or employers in communication strategies to maximize effective receptive communication.
- Counsel and instruct patients and their families in techniques to improve hearing and communication related to hearing loss.
- Refer patients to additional medical or educational services, if needed.
- Participate in conferences or training to update or share knowledge of new hearing or balance disorder treatment methods or technologies.
- Examine and clean patients' ear canals.
- Recommend assistive devices according to patients' needs or nature of impairments.
- Advise educators or other medical staff on hearing or balance topics.
Typical path into the job (BLS)
Audiologists salary
The median annual wage for audiologists is $95,780 (BLS OEWS May 2025; BLS Employment Projections 2025–35, national). The lowest 10 percent earn less than $64,610 and the highest 10 percent earn more than $133,120. The mean annual wage is $97,740.
The mean hourly wage of $46.00 is 6.3× the federal minimum wage of $7.25. State minimums are higher in most large states. Minimum wage by state →
How does your pay compare with people your age?
Your numbers are not sent or stored. The comparison uses this occupation's BLS wage percentiles, adjusted for age with BLS median weekly earnings by age group (Q3 2026).
Pay by percentile
Annual wage percentiles from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS). Percentiles are a good proxy for pay by experience.
Projected pay for Audiologists (3, 5 and 10 years)est.
Today $95,780 → in 3 years $106,000 → in 5 years $113,300 → in 10 years $134,100 (10-year range $115,400–$155,700). The model assumes pay growth of +3.4% 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 (BLS projected employment growth), wage momentum and AI replacement risk for each occupation. Projections are not guarantees. How it is calculated →
Outlook score for Audiologists
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 Audiologists? 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 O*NET 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 Audiologists
Employment projections are from the BLS Employment Projections program (2025–35). Annual openings include both new jobs and replacement of workers who leave the occupation.
Skills, education and requirements for Audiologists
Key skills
O*NET skill level ratings (0–7).
Key knowledge areas
What the work involves
Important abilities
Education of workers
Training before entry
Related work experience
Job Zone 5 — extensive preparation needed (O*NET)
Difficulty of entry: ★★★☆☆ Moderate (from education, training, experience and Job Zone)
How to become audiologists
A step-by-step guide for this occupation is being prepared. The education, training and experience data above show the typical path.
Career path and how to earn more as audiologists
Career-path guidance is being prepared. Pay by percentile is shown in the Pay section.