Athletic Trainers
Median wage · national
$62,520
Range: $55K – $75K
Employed
31K
Openings/yr
2K
Typically: master's degree
HEALTH
Hearing Aid Specialists
Hearing Aid Specialists is one of the fastest-growing occupations in the country, projected to grow +18.4% through 2034. Median pay sits at $65,160 nationally, a strong return for the training investment.
About Hearing Aid Specialists
Select and fit hearing aids for customers. Administer and interpret tests of hearing. Assess hearing instrument efficacy. Take ear impressions and prepare, design, and modify ear molds.
- Median Wage
- $65,160
- Employed Nationally
- 11K
- Openings / Year
- 1,000
- Entry Education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Job Zone
- Zone 3: Medium Preparation
Also known as:
Audiology Assistant
Audiology Technician
Audioprosthologist
Board Certified Hearing Instrument Specialist (Board Certified HIS)
Hearing Aid Attendant
How Much Do Hearing Aid Specialists Make?
Hearing Aid Specialists earn $65,160 nationally, near the national median for college graduates. The middle 50% of earners fall between $48,390 and $80,010. Actual pay varies by employer, specialization, and location.
$65,160
National Median (Annual)
Near the national median for college graduates.
$48K–$80K
Middle 50% Range
25th to 75th percentile. Most workers earn within this band.
Earnings Range
$48,390
Entry-level
$65,160
Median
$80,010
Experienced
What Do Hearing Aid Specialists Do?
O*NET data identifies 5 core activities and 5 measurable skills for Hearing Aid Specialists roles. Use this section to judge whether the day-to-day reality aligns with what you actually want to spend time doing.
What You'll Do
- Train clients to use hearing aids or other augmentative communication devices.
- Counsel patients and families on communication strategies and the effects of hearing loss.
- Select and administer tests to evaluate hearing or related disabilities.
- Administer basic hearing tests including air conduction, bone conduction, or speech audiometry tests.
- Maintain or repair hearing aids or other communication devices.
Core Skills Employers Look For
Active Listening
Service Orientation
Instructing
Speaking
Reading Comprehension
Who Thrives Here
S
Social
Working closely with people, teaching, advising, or helping others navigate challenges is a defining feature of this career's daily work.
I
Investigative
This career demands analytical thinking: researching problems, interpreting data, and applying logical reasoning to find practical solutions.
C
Conventional
Success depends on precision and structured processes, where detail-oriented people who work consistently within established systems perform best.
Where Do Hearing Aid Specialists Work?
What the physical and mental conditions of this job actually look like day to day, based on O*NET Work Context data collected from people working in this occupation.
Work Setting
Mixed
Split between indoor and outdoor or field settings.
Physical Demands
Light
Mix of sitting and movement throughout the day.
Stress Level
Moderate
Moderate pressure. Regular deadlines exist but are generally manageable with experience.
What Is the Job Outlook for Hearing Aid Specialists?
The BLS projects +18.4% employment change for Hearing Aid Specialists through 2034, well above the national average of +5%. About 1,000 openings per year keep the field accessible to new entrants.
↗ +18.4%
10-Year Growth (2024–2034)
Much faster than average.
1,000
Annual Openings
New positions plus replacements for retirees and career-changers.
11K
Currently Employed
Total US employment as of BLS May 2024.
Source: BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034 and Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2024.
Where the Jobs Are
The five states below employ the most Hearing Aid Specialists professionals nationwide. State-level wages can differ significantly from the $65,160 national median. Research your specific market before committing to a program.
| # | State | Jobs | Median Wage | vs. National |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Florida | 1,730 | $62,120 | -4.7% |
| 2 | Illinois | 660 | $49,090 | -24.7% |
| 3 | California | 610 | $78,830 | +21.0% |
| 4 | Michigan | 500 | $46,680 | -28.4% |
| 5 | Pennsylvania | 490 | — | — |
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024. Employment figures rounded. Read our methodology →
How to Get Here
Most Hearing Aid Specialists positions require a high school diploma or equivalent to qualify. The program below is the most common academic pathways into this field, ranked by how many graduates they produce each year.
Typical Entry Education
High school diploma or equivalent
Job Zone
Zone 3: Medium Preparation
A medium amount of preparation is required, often an associate degree, certificate program, or apprenticeship, plus some related experience.
Degree Programs That Lead Here
| # | Program | Graduates/yr | 4yr Median | Colleges |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Allied Health Diagnostic | 85,413 | $70,786 | 1,768 |
Top Colleges for Aspiring Hearing Aid Specialists
Colleges offering the degree programs that lead to this career, ranked by UCD Score. A strong program plus solid outcomes is a good place to begin your search.
| # | College | UCD Score | Net Price | Salary 10yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Florida Gainesville, FL | 93 | $6,541 | $71,588 |
| 2 | Stanford University Stanford, CA | 92 | $13,807 | $124,080 |
| 3 | North Florida College Madison, FL | 91 | $804 | $33,929 |
| 4 | University of Michigan-Ann Arbor Ann Arbor, MI | 91 | $13,138 | $83,648 |
| 5 | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Chapel Hill, NC | 90 | $11,655 | $72,200 |
| 6 | California State University-Long Beach Long Beach, CA | 90 | $10,440 | $64,403 |
Plan Your Path
Once you've sized up Hearing Aid Specialists, these tools turn the numbers into a plan. Estimate the real cost of a degree that leads here, weigh the long-term payoff, compare specific colleges side-by-side, and find programs that match your profile.
College ROI Calculator
See if the degree that leads to Hearing Aid Specialists pays off. Weighs each college's cost against the earnings graduates see.
College Cost Calculator
Enter a budget and see the colleges whose net price fits, with the out-of-pocket cost and likely loan load for each.
Compare Colleges
Put any 2–4 colleges side-by-side. Admissions, cost, outcomes, and earnings, all on one screen, no tab-hopping.
College Match Quiz
Answer six quick questions and see your best-fit colleges ranked by budget, field of study, and what matters most to you.
Hearing Aid Specialists Pros & Cons
The data on Hearing Aid Specialists shows 3 measurable strengths and 1 real trade-offs. All points are drawn from BLS wage data, employment projections, and IPEDS program completions.
PROS
- Competitive salary $65,160 median wage puts this career near or above the national average for bachelor's degree holders.
- Exceptional job growth The BLS projects +18.4% employment growth through 2034, one of the fastest rates across all occupations. Demand for qualified candidates should remain elevated for a decade.
- Accessible entry path The typical entry requirement is a high school diploma or equivalent, lower than many comparable-paying careers. This creates a shorter path from training to first paycheck.
CONS
- Entry-level pay well below the national median The 25th percentile wage of $48,390 is considerably below the $65,160 median. Early-career workers typically spend 5 or more years building toward typical pay. Factor this into any program ROI calculation.
Hearing Aid Specialists Frequently Asked Questions
How much do Hearing Aid Specialists professionals earn?
The national median annual wage for Hearing Aid Specialists is $65,160, near the national median for full-time workers. The middle 50% of earners fall between $48,390 and $80,010. Pay varies by employer size, industry sector, specialization, and geography. National figures are a starting point, not a guarantee.
Is Hearing Aid Specialists a good career?
For people genuinely interested in the work, yes. At $65,160 median, with +18.4% projected growth through 2034, there is a real financial case and a stable market for new entrants. Compare program net price against local salary outcomes (not just the national median) before committing.
How do I become a Hearing Aid Specialists?
Most Hearing Aid Specialists positions require a high school diploma or equivalent as the minimum credential. a medium amount of preparation is required, often an associate degree, certificate program, or apprenticeship, plus some related experience. Programs like Allied Health Diagnostic are common starting points.
How fast is the Hearing Aid Specialists field growing?
Very fast. The BLS projects +18.4% growth for Hearing Aid Specialists through 2034, well above the roughly 5% national average and among the fastest rates across all occupations. Demand is being driven by structural forces, not cyclical ones. About 1,000 job openings per year are expected as the field expands and existing workers move on. From a current base of 11K workers, sustained growth creates real hiring volume, though fast-growing fields also attract more new graduates competing for entry-level roles.
What skills do Hearing Aid Specialists professionals need?
O*NET data identifies the core skills employers consistently prioritize for Hearing Aid Specialists roles: Active Listening, Service Orientation, Instructing, Speaking, and Reading Comprehension. These develop through formal education and hands-on work. Programs with internship or co-op requirements give you a meaningful head start on the ones that take time to build.
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- Master's degree
- Bachelor's degree
- Median wage
- Graduate school
- Career outcomes
-
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- Median wage
- High-paying careers
- Job outlook
- Career change
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