How to Become an Audiologist

Derrick Mbabazi

Derrick Mbabazi

— 4 min read
How to Become an Audiologist
Photo by Mark Paton / Unsplash

An audiologist is a healthcare worker who helps people with hearing loss, ringing in the ears (called tinnitus), or balance problems. They test your hearing, explain the results, and help you find the best way to fix or manage the problem.

They might:

  • Fit you with hearing aids
  • Teach you how to protect your ears from loud noise
  • Show you exercises to help with dizziness or balance
  • Help babies and kids who can’t hear well
  • Support older adults who are losing their hearing

They also talk to patients and their families to help them understand what’s happening and how to adjust to hearing loss. Audiologists are kind, patient, and good at solving problems.

What Do Audiologists Do?

Here’s what you might see an audiologist doing on the job:

  • Giving hearing tests
  • Fitting hearing aids and showing people how to use them
  • Helping patients who feel dizzy or off-balance
  • Teaching kids and parents how to deal with hearing loss
  • Giving tips to workers who need to protect their hearing at loud job sites
  • Talking with doctors, nurses, or speech therapists to make sure each patient gets the care they need

Where Do Audiologists Work?

In 2023, there were about 14,400 audiologists working in the U.S.

They worked in places like:

Place % of Audiologists
Hearing and speech clinics 30%
Doctors’ offices 25%
Hospitals 14%
Schools and colleges 10%

Some audiologists work in more than one place—like going from school to school. They also team up with other healthcare workers like nurses, doctors, or speech-language pathologists.

What’s the Work Schedule Like?

Most audiologists work full time—around 40 hours a week. Some work weekends or evenings to fit patients’ schedules. If they work for schools or on contracts, they may travel and have more flexible hours.

To do well in this job, you need:

  • Patience – some patients take longer to understand or respond
  • Kindness – people might feel upset or scared about losing their hearing
  • Focus – you need to pay close attention during tests
  • Teamwork – you’ll often work with other doctors or therapists
  • Problem-solving – sometimes, the first solution doesn’t work, and you’ll need to try something else

How to Become an Audiologist

1. Get a Bachelor’s Degree

First, go to college and get a 4-year degree. You can study things like:

  • Biology
  • Psychology
  • Communication science
  • Health science

2. Get a Doctor of Audiology (Au.D.) Degree

After college, you’ll need to go to a special school for about 4 more years to earn a Doctor of Audiology (Au.D.) degree. You’ll learn how to test hearing, use special tools, and help patients of all ages.

You’ll also work with real patients in a clinic as part of your training.

3. Get a License

Every U.S. state requires audiologists to have a license. To get one, you usually need to:

  • Finish your Au.D. program
  • Pass a national exam (called the Praxis test)
  • Get supervised work experience

4. Earn Certification (Optional)

Some audiologists get certified to show they meet national standards. One popular certificate is the CCC-A from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA). It’s not required, but it can help you get better jobs.

How Much Do Audiologists Make?

In May 2024, the average pay for audiologists in the U.S. was $92,120 a year. That’s much more than the average job.

Here’s what they earned in different places:

Place of Work Average Pay
Hospitals $101,020
Schools $93,170
Doctors’ offices $91,540
Clinics $84,400

The lowest 10% earned less than $61,930, and the top 10% earned more than $129,830.

Job Outlook: Are Audiologists in Demand?

Yes! Audiology is growing fast. Jobs for audiologists are expected to grow by 11% from 2023 to 2033—that’s faster than most other jobs.

Each year, about 800 new audiologist jobs will open up, either because new positions are created or people retire or switch careers.

Why is demand growing?

  • More older people are losing their hearing
  • More babies are being tested early for hearing problems
  • New hearing aids are smaller and work better, so more people want them
  • People are more aware of hearing health and getting help sooner

Jobs Like Audiology

Here are other jobs that are similar and also help people with health or communication needs:

Job Title What They Do Education Needed Average Pay (2024)
Speech-Language Pathologist Helps with speech or swallowing problems Master’s degree $95,410
Physical Therapist Helps people move better after injury Doctoral degree $101,020
Optometrist Helps with eye problems and vision Doctoral degree $134,830
Psychologist Studies and helps with behavior and mental health Doctoral degree $94,310
Nurse Practitioner Diagnoses and treats patients Master’s degree $132,050

Where Can You Find Audiologist Jobs?

You can find jobs in:

  • Hospitals
  • Clinics
  • ENT (ear, nose, and throat) offices
  • Schools
  • Veterans Affairs (VA) hospitals
  • Government agencies

Good websites to search include:

Quick Summary

Topic Info
Average Pay $92,120 per year
Education Needed Doctor of Audiology (Au.D.)
Job Growth 11% (faster than average)
Where They Work Hospitals, clinics, schools, offices
Good Skills to Have Patience, focus, kindness, teamwork, problem-solving

Final Thoughts

If you enjoy science, like working with people, and want to make a difference in their lives, becoming an audiologist could be the perfect job. You’ll help kids hear for the first time, support older adults who feel left out due to hearing loss, and solve real health problems every day.

It takes time and effort—but it’s a job with great pay, growing demand, and real meaning.

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