Updated April 15, 2026
Audiologist
Also known as: Audiologist, Audiology Doctor (AUD), Audiology Extern
Audiologists diagnose hearing loss, fit hearing aids, and treat balance disorders — often the first person to tell someone they need amplification or discover a vestibular condition. You'll spend your days in clinics running hearing tests, programming devices, and counseling patients through life-changing diagnoses.
Getting Started
How to Become a Audiologist
You can start working as an audiologist in 8.3 years with $162k-$336k in training — that is significantly longer and more expensive than most doctoral-level health care careers.
Bachelor's Degree (Prerequisite)
4 years · $40,000-$80,000
Doctor of Audiology (Au.D.) Program
4 years · $90,000-$115,000
State Licensure Examination
1-3 months · $200-$500
Entry-Level Audiologist
2-3 years
Continuing Education Requirements
Ongoing · $500-$1,500/year
Optional Specialty Certification
6-12 months · $500-$1,000
Experienced Audiologist
Ongoing
Start
Year 4
Year 8
Year 8
Bachelor's Degree (Prerequisite)
4 years
Doctor of Audiology (Au.D.) Program
4 years
State Licensure Examination
1-3 months
Entry-Level Audiologist
2-3 years
| Step | Duration | Cost | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
Bachelor's Degree (Prerequisite) | 4 years | $40,000-$80,000 | Complete a 4-year bachelor's degree with prerequisite courses in subjects like anatomy, biology, chemistry, and physics. This serves as the foundation for admission to a Doctor of Audiology program. |
Doctor of Audiology (Au.D.) Program | 4 years | $90,000-$115,000 | Complete a 4-year Doctor of Audiology (Au.D.) program from an accredited institution. The program includes extensive didactic coursework in hearing science, diagnostics, and rehabilitation, along with supervised clinical practicum experiences. |
State Licensure Examination | 1-3 months | $200-$500 | Pass the state licensure examination and fulfill any additional state-specific requirements. All states require audiologists to be licensed to practice independently. |
Entry-Level Audiologist | 2-3 years | — | Begin professional practice as a licensed audiologist in clinical, hospital, educational, or private practice settings. Conduct hearing assessments, fit hearing aids, provide aural rehabilitation, and counsel patients on hearing health.Starting salary: $92,120/yr |
Optional Specialty Certification | 6-12 months | $500-$1,000 | Pursue optional board certification through the American Board of Audiology (ABA) or specialty certifications in areas such as pediatric audiology, cochlear implants, or vestibular assessment to enhance credentials and expertise. |
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Overview
What Does a Audiologist Do?
Audiologists work primarily in ENT clinics, hospitals, and private practices, splitting time between diagnostic testing and patient counseling. You'll conduct hearing evaluations, program hearing aids and cochlear implants, assess balance disorders, and educate patients on hearing protection.
- Maintain patient records at all stages, including initial evaluations, follow-up visits, and treatment activities.
- Evaluate hearing and balance disorders to determine diagnoses and appropriate treatment plans.
- Fit, dispense, and repair assistive devices such as hearing aids.
- Administer hearing tests and examine patients using specialized instruments and electronic equipment to determine the type and severity of hearing loss.
- Monitor patients' progress and provide ongoing observation of their hearing or balance status.
- Instruct patients, parents, teachers, or employers in communication strategies to improve their ability to understand spoken language.
- 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 when needed.
Tasks from O*NET OnLine
Requirements
Licensing & Certification
You must have a state license to practice audiology — there are no unlicensed positions in this field. Most states require the AuD degree and passing the Praxis exam, though some accept ASHA certification as an alternative pathway.
| Credential | Status | Cost | Renewal |
|---|---|---|---|
| State Licensure | Required | $100-$500 | 12-24 months |
| AuD (Doctor of Audiology) | Required | $60,000-$120,000 | — |
| CCC-A (Certificate of Clinical Competence in Audiology) | Recommended | $221 | Every 3 yr |
State Licensure (State licensing board (varies by state)) — Mandatory license required in all 50 states to practice audiology independently
- Exam: Praxis Audiology Exam (5342) required for initial licensure in most states; $146
- Cost: $100-$500 (varies by state)
- Renewal: Continuing education hours (typically 10-30 per cycle), renewal fee, active practice or supervision
AuD (Doctor of Audiology) (ACAE or CAA-accredited university program) — Required clinical doctorate demonstrating advanced knowledge in hearing and balance disorders
- Exam: 4-year doctoral program including clinical rotations
- Cost: Varies by program ($60,000-$120,000 total)
CCC-A (Certificate of Clinical Competence in Audiology) (American Speech-Language-Hearing Association) — Widely recognized voluntary credential signaling clinical excellence; many employers prefer or require it
- Exam: Praxis Audiology Exam (5342): 120 multiple-choice questions, 2.5 hours; $146
- Cost: $221/year (certification maintenance) + $146 (Praxis exam)
- Renewal: 30 professional development hours per 3-year cycle, annual certification fee ($221)
All states require licensure for audiologists, typically through the AuD degree and Praxis exam. Some states accept ASHA certification instead of state-specific requirements, and hearing aid dispensing rules vary — in some states you can dispense directly, while others require additional permits or supervision.
The Audiology & Speech-Language Pathology Interstate Compact lets you practice in 37 states with one license starting in October 2025. You'll pay a $50 fee per additional state plus any local administrative costs — much simpler than applying for separate licenses if you move or provide telehealth services.
Compensation
Audiologist Salary
At $92k, audiologists earn less than physician assistants ($133k) but significantly more than most master's-level health care careers. Salaries vary considerably by setting — ENT practices and hospitals typically pay more than retail hearing aid chains.
$92k/yr
median annual salary
You will spend $162k-$336k and 8.3 years to start earning $92k — that is roughly 21-44 months to pay back your training costs. The long education timeline makes this a challenging financial proposition compared to shorter health care paths.
Salaries vary by location and setting. Audiologists in metropolitan areas and specialty practices typically earn more than the national median.
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2024
HealthJob Analysis
Is It Worth It? 20-Year ROI
Your 20-year net earnings are $827k with an 11-year break-even point. This is a below-average ROI for health care careers because of the high education costs and long training timeline. Physician assistants break even in 7 years with similar earnings, making audiology financially challenging despite stable demand.
Audiologist ROI
Net earnings over 20 years
$827k
Pre-tax 20-year estimate after required education and training costs; taxes and living expenses excluded.
How the 20-year estimate is calculated
Audiologist Career ROI (20-year net earnings)
Track how education costs and earnings typically accumulate from enrollment through year 20.
Cumulative net earnings (USD)
The full chart keeps 20-year context. The detail chart below zooms in on early pathway years.
Sources: BLS, BLSSee Sources and methods.
Early-years detail
Years 0-11
Years 0-11. Scaled to early-year values. Black markers show key checkpoints.
Quick answers
- Is becoming a Audiologist financially worth it?Typical 20-year net estimate: $827k (pre-tax, living expenses excluded).
- How much does training cost for a Audiologist?Estimated required education and licensing cost to become a Audiologist: $164k (range used: $131k-$197k). Breakdown: Bachelor's Degree (Prerequisite): $60k; Doctor of Audiology (Au.D.) Program: $103k; State Licensure Examination: $350; Optional Specialty Certification: $750.
- How long does it take to become a Audiologist?Typical time to first paycheck is about 8.3 years. Typical time to enter the target Audiologist role is about 8.3 years.
- How do you become a Audiologist?See How to Become for pathway steps, timing, and credential requirements.
Detailed math
How 20-year net is built from each training and career phase.
| Phase | Time window | Gross earnings | Education/training cost | Net contribution | Sources |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Bachelor's Degree (Prerequisite) Education | Years 0-3 (m0-m47) | $0 | -$60,000 | -$60,000 | |
Doctor of Audiology (Au.D.) Program Education | Years 4-7 (m48-m95) | $0 | -$102,500 | -$102,500 | |
State Licensure Examination Training/Licensing | Year 8 (m99-m99) | $0 | -$350 | -$350 | |
Entry-Level Audiologist Career | Years 8-11 (m99-m134) | $276,372 | $0 | $276,372 | |
Optional Specialty Certification Training/Licensing | Years 11-12 (m135-m146) | $0 | -$750 | -$750 | |
Model reconciliation Reconciliation | Years 0-20 (m0-m239) | $713,918 | $0 | $713,918 | None |
| 20-year totals | $990,290 | -$163,600 | $826,690 | Matches 20-year ROI formula | |
Sources and methods
Assumptions
- Pathway sequence and timing follow the cited training and licensing pathway for this role.BLSBLS
- Earnings benchmarks come from cited occupation wage references.BLSBLS
- Education and training cost uses College Scorecard tuition and cited pathway fees when needed.Source unavailable
- Cost allocation follows a model rule: short completed steps post in completion year; longer tuition steps are spread across phase years.Model ruleBLSBLS
- Taxes and living expenses are excluded from this estimate.Model rule
Audiology ranks in the bottom third of doctoral health care careers by ROI. Physician assistants and nurse practitioners both break even faster despite similar lifetime earnings.
Future-Proofing
Audiologist Job Outlook (2024–2034)
Demand is growing 10% through 2033 as the aging population experiences more hearing loss and balance disorders. Expanding awareness of hearing health and improved insurance coverage for hearing aids are also driving job growth.
10-Year Growth
10%
Much faster than average
Current Employment
14,730
jobs nationwide
HealthJob Analysis
Will AI Replace Audiologist?
AI assists with hearing aid fitting algorithms and some diagnostic pattern recognition, but cannot replace the clinical judgment needed for complex cases. You still perform hands-on vestibular testing, counsel patients through emotional hearing loss diagnoses, and troubleshoot device problems that require human problem-solving. Real-time AI tools like advanced audiometry software may improve efficiency but won't eliminate the need for audiologist expertise.
AI-driven hearing aid fitting algorithms assist; audiologist performs diagnosis, counseling, and vestibular assessment.
AAA: Technology in Audiology Practice · BLS: Audiologists +10% (2023-2033)
Based on evidence-based AI impact methodology
Explore
Careers Similar to Audiologist
These careers require similar doctoral-level education timelines but offer different patient populations and earning potential.
| Occupation | Median Salary | Training Time |
|---|---|---|
| Physician Assistant | $133k/yr | 6.5 yr |
| Internal Medicine Physician | $239k/yr | 11 yr |
| Cardiologist | $239k/yr | 14 yr |
Learn More
Related Guides
Sources & Data
These references are used to build salary, training-path, and job-outlook estimates shown on this page.
- •Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook
- •O*NET OnLine
- •ASHA
- •ACAE
- •ASHA
- •HealthJob AI Impact Analysis
- •BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook - Audiologists
Data last refreshed: April 2026