by our College Data Analytics TeamA 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]. Continue reading for the essential details every hearing instrument specialist major should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering hearing instrument specialist programs.
In the U.S., hearing instrument specialist draws strong interest, with 12 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Hearing Instrument Specialist Schools ranking analyzes these 1 schools to determine the best overall colleges for hearing instrument specialist students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of hearing instrument specialist programs later in this article.
Programs in Hearing Instrument Specialist develop a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations hearing instrument specialist graduates commonly enter.
Skills built by a hearing instrument specialist program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Per O*NET surveys, a hearing instrument specialist major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several hearing instrument specialist degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 12 |
People currently working in careers related to hearing instrument specialist tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| 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% |
See the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in hearing instrument specialist careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
A degree in hearing instrument specialist opens doors to numerous career paths. Here are some of the most common occupations related to hearing instrument specialist.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to hearing instrument specialist.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Hearing Aid Specialists | 411,019 | 12.0% |
College Scorecard reports median earnings of hearing instrument specialist graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Wages typically rise as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $67,845 |
| 4 years | $61,295 |
| 5 years | $69,015 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for hearing instrument specialist graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers hearing instrument specialist grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Hearing Aid Specialists | $96,168 |
With 1 different hearing instrument specialist programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased hearing instrument specialist school rankings to help you.
Students interested in hearing instrument specialist, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
