Hearing aid specialists salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $38,400 | $18.46 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $65,160 | $31.33 |
| Mean (average) | $66,370 | $31.91 |
| 90th percentile | $94,020 | $45.20 |
These wages describe everyone employed in the occupation, from new entrants to experienced workers. They are not starting salaries and not earnings of graduates from any particular program. Verified data
Hearing aid specialists pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 43 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $46,530 | $31,040 | $80,680 | 50 | 0.29 |
| Alaska | $75,300 | $60,390 | $81,990 | 30 | 1.48 |
| Arizona | $76,750 | $63,720 | $84,820 | 110 | 0.48 |
| California | $80,060 | $50,770 | $97,010 | 990 | 0.75 |
| Colorado | $77,540 | $52,760 | $94,990 | 140 | 0.66 |
| Connecticut | $74,520 | $52,760 | $84,090 | 110 | 0.9 |
| Delaware | $59,160 | $35,430 | $64,050 | ||
| Florida | $67,010 | $44,930 | $82,510 | 1,150 | 1.6 |
| Georgia | $56,010 | $36,370 | $84,110 | 320 | 0.9 |
| Hawaii | $74,800 | $38,280 | $113,090 | 90 | 1.91 |
| Idaho | $75,300 | $44,290 | $91,000 | 160 | 2.5 |
| Illinois | $63,050 | $31,200 | $82,890 | 360 | 0.81 |
| Indiana | $60,900 | $37,010 | $100,380 | 310 | 1.34 |
| Iowa | $59,550 | $38,400 | $94,530 | 200 | 1.81 |
| Kansas | $46,820 | $34,760 | $80,680 | 100 | 0.94 |
| Kentucky | $75,200 | $36,970 | $104,590 | 100 | 0.67 |
| Louisiana | $64,580 | $47,280 | $133,270 | 80 | 0.59 |
| Maryland | $77,460 | $58,240 | $90,770 | 50 | 0.26 |
| Massachusetts | $75,310 | $46,290 | $80,020 | ||
| Michigan | $55,100 | $35,120 | $105,560 | 460 | 1.45 |
| Minnesota | $61,390 | $35,110 | $80,230 | 530 | 2.47 |
| Missouri | $51,680 | $36,860 | $79,500 | 210 | 0.97 |
| Montana | $75,300 | $49,620 | $88,680 | 60 | 1.66 |
| Nebraska | $45,660 | $40,250 | $77,930 | 90 | 1.21 |
| Nevada | $81,800 | $44,660 | $97,880 | 60 | 0.57 |
| New Jersey | $75,720 | $44,310 | $96,960 | 470 | 1.51 |
| New Mexico | $74,510 | $36,740 | $81,920 | 40 | 0.59 |
| New York | $82,990 | $47,710 | $136,580 | 380 | 0.54 |
| North Carolina | $75,810 | $52,110 | $94,000 | 240 | 0.67 |
| Ohio | $62,680 | $43,680 | $80,880 | 260 | 0.66 |
| Oklahoma | $47,840 | $32,340 | $75,300 | 80 | 0.67 |
| Oregon | $66,350 | $50,390 | $87,510 | 170 | 1.16 |
| Pennsylvania | $58,080 | $39,150 | $89,840 | 870 | 1.97 |
| South Carolina | $47,190 | $33,610 | $76,850 | 220 | 1.31 |
| South Dakota | $54,910 | $37,430 | $79,490 | ||
| Tennessee | $78,270 | $34,760 | $110,800 | 190 | 0.8 |
| Texas | $59,140 | $35,310 | $79,210 | 970 | 0.95 |
| Utah | $57,940 | $44,570 | $81,740 | 200 | 1.6 |
| Vermont | $57,850 | $57,840 | $79,750 | ||
| Virginia | $75,300 | $37,390 | $82,800 | 210 | 0.72 |
| Washington | $77,510 | $53,000 | $97,510 | 280 | 1.07 |
| West Virginia | $35,110 | $26,910 | $105,740 | 50 | 0.89 |
| Wisconsin | $76,750 | $51,530 | $117,630 | 170 | 0.81 |
A location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in that state than in the nation overall.
Metro areas with the most jobs
Highest paying metro areas
Job outlook for hearing aid specialists
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 900. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
- Share of workers who are self-employed (2025): 0.5%.
These are official BLS projections. ConnectPrep does not alter them or present its own forecasts as official statistics.
Education and training for hearing aid specialists
- Typical entry education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Related work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
- O*NET Job Zone
- Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed
Highest education of people working in this occupation
O*NET describes this preparation level as: Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
Degrees and programs that lead to this career
Programs officially mapped to this occupation in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. A mapping means the program commonly prepares students for the occupation, not that every graduate works in it. Official crosswalk
- Hearing Instrument Specialist CIP 51.0918
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
Typical tasks
- 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.
- Perform basic screening procedures, such as pure tone screening, otoacoustic screening, immittance screening, and screening of ear canal status using otoscope.
- Create or modify impressions for earmolds and hearing aid shells.
- Read current literature, talk with colleagues, and participate in professional organizations or conferences to keep abreast of developments in audiology.
Technology skills
- Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- HIMSA Noah
- Otometrics OTOsuite
Transferable skills for career changers: Service Orientation, Instructing, Social Perceptiveness, Persuasion, Complex Problem Solving, Judgment and Decision Making.
Common job titles: Audioprosthologist, Hearing Aid Consultant, Hearing Aid Specialist, Hearing Care Practitioner, Hearing Care Specialist, Hearing Instrument Dispenser, Hearing Instrument Specialist (HIS), Hearing Specialist, Licensed Hearing Instrument Specialist (Licensed HIS), National Board Certified Hearing Instrument Specialist (National Board Certified HIS).
Is it worth it? Model the cost of getting there
Use the ROI calculator to compare the cost of the education this career usually requires against staying on your current path. It starts from the official wage distribution above, and you can change every assumption.
Frequently asked questions
How much do hearing aid specialists make?
The national median annual wage for hearing aid specialists was $65,160 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $38,400 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $94,020. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do hearing aid specialists need?
BLS lists high school diploma or equivalent as the typical education needed to enter this occupation, with none of related work experience and moderate-term on-the-job training on-the-job training typically needed to become competent.
Is hearing aid specialists a growing career?
BLS projects employment of hearing aid specialists to change +19.4% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 900 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay hearing aid specialists the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were New York ($82,990), Nevada ($81,800), California ($80,060). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.