by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 1 U.S. colleges awarded 4 degrees and certificates in Hearing Instrument Specialist. Graduates earn a median $68,190 one year after completing, rising to $77,808 after four years.
A degree in Hearing Instrument Specialist explores Hearing Instrument Specialist. A Program That Prepares Individuals To Test The Hearing Of, And To Select, Fit And Dispense Appropriate Hearing Aids For, Patients. Includes Instruction In Acoustics, Anatomy And Physiology Of The Ear, Hearing Testing, Hearing Aid Fitting And Technology, Health Promotion And Rehabilitation, Counseling And Communication, Business Management, And Professional Ethics. Examples: [Hearing Aid Technician].
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
In the U.S., hearing instrument specialist draws strong interest, with 4 degrees awarded annually. 1 colleges award hearing instrument specialist degrees, an average of 4 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 4.
All 4 of the awards are associate degrees, the only level colleges reported.
Women earned 50% of hearing instrument specialist degrees and certificates in the latest year (2 of 4). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (2) and Hispanic or Latino (2).
O*NET rates Active Listening the most important skill for jobs related to hearing instrument specialist, at 3.9 out of 5. The key knowledge areas are Customer and Personal Service, Sales and Marketing and Therapy and Counseling. The most important abilities are Oral Comprehension, Oral Expression and Speech Clarity.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
Top knowledge areas, rated 0–5:
How long a hearing instrument specialist degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 4 |
Doctoral degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to hearing instrument specialist, at 44.0%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Doctoral degree | 44.0% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 22.1% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 12.0% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 11.9% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 9.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 0.4% |
| Master’s degree | 0.4% |
Source: O*NET Online.
1 occupations are related to Hearing Instrument Specialist, with an average median salary of $96,168; the strongest outlook belongs to Hearing Aid Specialists, at 12.0% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Hearing Care Specialist, Hearing Aid Attendant, Audiology Technician and Hearing Health Technician (Hearing Health Tech).
That occupation also has the most projected jobs of any related to hearing instrument specialist, at 411,019.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Hearing Aid Specialists | 411,019 | 12.0% |
Hearing Instrument Specialist graduates earn a median $68,190 one year after completing their program, $77,808 after four years and $70,516 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $68,190 |
| 4 years | $77,808 |
| 5 years | $70,516 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The same occupation is also the highest-paying one related to hearing instrument specialist, with a median salary of $96,168.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Hearing Aid Specialists | $96,168 |
Hearing Instrument Specialist has 21 similar majors in the Health Professions field, which together award 98,470 degrees a year; the largest are Emergency Medical Technology/Technician (EMT Paramedic) (32,528), Physician Associate/Assistant (13,743) and Radiologic Technology/Science - Radiographer (13,037). Browse all Health Professions majors or the full list of college majors.
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