Audiologists: Job Description
Assess and treat persons with hearing and related disorders. May fit hearing aids and provide auditory training. May perform research related to hearing problems.
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What Tasks Do Audiologists Take On?
The day-to-day responsibilities of audiologists cover:
- 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.
What Audiologists Need to Know
Top audiologists rely on a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Key Skills
The competencies most important for this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Top Knowledge Areas
Other Audiologists Job Titles
Common job titles for this role include:
- 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
How Many Audiologists Are There?
There are about 816,778 audiologists working in the United States today. Demand is forecast to grow by +5.4% over the projection horizon.
How Much Do Audiologists Make?
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $54,746 |
| Hourly median | $26.32 |
| 10th percentile | $35,612 |
| 25th percentile | $45,179 |
| 75th percentile | $64,314 |
| 90th percentile | $73,881 |
Wages vary widely based on experience, location, and industry.
Audiologists Salary by State
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| California | $123,600 |
| District of Columbia | $118,250 |
| Alaska | $109,700 |
| Washington | $105,120 |
| New Jersey | $103,510 |
| Texas | $103,460 |
| South Dakota | $102,310 |
| Arizona | $102,130 |
| Georgia | $101,920 |
| Maryland | $101,700 |
| Arkansas | $99,330 |
| New York | $98,750 |
| Massachusetts | $98,620 |
| Minnesota | $98,410 |
| Connecticut | $96,610 |
| Utah | $96,520 |
| Oregon | $95,000 |
| Colorado | $94,670 |
| Iowa | $93,790 |
| North Dakota | $91,440 |
| Kentucky | $90,950 |
| Wisconsin | $90,380 |
| Tennessee | $89,670 |
| New Hampshire | $88,410 |
| West Virginia | $87,980 |
| Missouri | $87,840 |
| Michigan | $87,530 |
| Pennsylvania | $87,210 |
| Nevada | $86,290 |
| Nebraska | $85,820 |
| Virginia | $85,590 |
| Illinois | $84,520 |
| Maine | $84,400 |
| Florida | $83,290 |
| Kansas | $83,120 |
| Montana | $82,350 |
| Rhode Island | $80,530 |
| North Carolina | $79,460 |
| Delaware | $78,770 |
| Oklahoma | $77,770 |
| New Mexico | $77,440 |
| Alabama | $76,900 |
| Ohio | $76,720 |
| South Carolina | $75,980 |
| Louisiana | $75,740 |
| Indiana | $75,080 |
| Mississippi | $61,150 |
Top-Paying U.S. Regions
Earnings for audiologists differ across the country. Top regions by median wage:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Far Western US | $114,819 | 13.6% | 0.82 |
| Southwest | $98,607 | 10.2% | 0.91 |
| Middle Atlantic | $95,914 | 14.8% | 1.00 |
| Rocky Mountains | $95,096 | 4.7% | 1.61 |
| New England | $94,855 | 3.2% | 0.72 |
| Plains States | $91,871 | 9.1% | 1.38 |
| Southeast | $87,725 | 26.5% | 1.20 |
| Great Lakes | $81,385 | 17.8% | 1.76 |
Top Metro Areas
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | CA | $133,350 | |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | CA | $131,540 | 200 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | CA | $129,330 | 70 |
| Fresno, CA | CA | $124,230 | 30 |
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | TX | $121,490 | 70 |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | TX | $120,720 | 70 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | PA | $119,540 | |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | WA | $119,190 | 130 |
Industry Breakdown
Most audiologists are found across these industries:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Health Care and Social Assistance | 11,590 | $93,490 |
| Retail Trade | 1,330 | $81,510 |
| Educational Services | 1,320 | $93,170 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 150 | n/a |
| Manufacturing | 60 | $98,550 |
The table below shows some of the most common industries where those employed in this career field work.
Software Audiologists Use
- Medical software: eClinicalWorks EHR software (hot technology)
- Medical software: Epic Systems (hot technology)
- Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Office suite software: Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Electronic mail software: Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Presentation software: Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Word processing software: Microsoft Word (hot technology)
What the Workplace Is Like
Daily working conditions for audiologists reflects the following characteristics:
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Telephone Conversations
- Contact With Others
- Deal With External Customers or the Public in General
How to Become Audiologists
This career aligns with Extensive Preparation Needed (Job Zone 5), signaling the level of preparation typically expected.
Related Careers
Similar Occupations
- Chiropractors (Supplemental)
- Optometrists (Primary-Short)
- Occupational Therapists (Primary-Long)
- Speech-Language Pathologists (Primary-Long)
- Nurse Practitioners (Supplemental)
- Cardiologists (Supplemental)
- Dermatologists (Supplemental)
- Emergency Medicine Physicians (Primary-Long)
Degree Programs
Aspiring audiologists often complete programs in:
Health Professions and Related Programs
4 programs across 1 majors
References
This profile draws on the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 29-1181.00 (Audiologists).
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