Audiologist
Also advertised as: audiological scientist, Audiological Scientist, Audiologist, audiology expert, audiology scientist, audiology specialist
Assesses hearing and balance problems and fits hearing aids.
What the job involves
Audiologists test hearing across all ages, diagnose balance disorders and fit and adjust hearing aids for patients ranging from newborns to elderly adults. The role combines technical testing equipment with patient counselling, since hearing loss affects communication and confidence. Both the NHS and private hearing aid retailers employ audiologists.
Typical responsibilities
- Carry out hearing and balance assessments
- Fit and programme hearing aids
- Counsel patients on hearing loss management
- Screen newborn hearing
- Refer complex cases to ENT
Common employers
- NHS audiology departments
- Private hearing aid retailers
- ENT clinics
Pay, hours and working environment
Typical pay
£27,000 – £31,000 a year
With experience
£35,000 – £44,000 a year
Typical hours
37.5 hours, mostly daytime
Working environment
Clinics and testing rooms
Remote working
on_site
Demand for this work
steady
Pay ranges are indicative guidance drawn from advertised UK vacancies and published careers information. They are not an offer, and actual pay varies by employer, location and experience.
Skills and qualifications
Core skills
- Diagnostic testing
- Technical equipment use
- Patient counselling
- Attention to detail
- Communication
Transferable skills you may already have
- Technical and patient-facing balance
- Explaining results clearly
- Working with older adults
Requirements employers ask for
- Diagnostic testing
- Technical equipment use
- Patient counselling
- Attention to detail
- Communication
- BSc Audiology degree or equivalent
- Registered Scientist status (RCCP or AHCS)
- RCCP or AHCS registration
- Enhanced DBS check
- empathise with the healthcare user
- adjust cochlear implants
- human physiology
- apply health sciences
- listen actively
- conduct health related research
- physiology of balance
- use special hearing equipment for tests
- instruct on the use of hearing aids
- apply organisational techniques
- counsel patients on improving hearing
- refer healthcare users
Useful but not essential
- Technical and patient-facing balance
- Explaining results clearly
- Working with older adults
- Experience with paediatric audiology
- Balance assessment training
- pedagogy
- geriatrics
- speech techniques
- employ foreign languages in care
- employ foreign languages for health-related research
- supervise audiology team
- conduct research on hearing topics
- human psychological development
Helpful qualifications
- Experience with paediatric audiology
- Balance assessment training
Licences and checks
- RCCP or AHCS registration
- Enhanced DBS check
Ways into this career
A degree is only one route. Where an apprenticeship, work-experience or qualification route exists, it is listed here alongside the academic option.
Apprenticeships and work-based routes
- Healthcare Science Practitioner - Audiology (Degree Apprenticeship)
Degree and college routes
- Related subject: Biology
- Related subject: Physics
- Related subject: Psychology
Where this career can lead
next
Senior Audiologist
next
Audiology Team Lead
next
Clinical Scientist
The good parts and the hard parts
What people enjoy
- Good work-life balance with daytime hours
- Growing private sector opportunities
- Technical role with real patient impact
What people find hard
- Limited university places for the degree route
- Repetitive testing routines
Common questions
- Do you need a degree to become a audiologist?
- No. As well as degree routes, this career can be entered through an apprenticeship or by building experience and qualifications on the job. required
- How much does a audiologist earn in the UK?
- Typical advertised pay runs from £27,000 to £31,000 a year, rising towards £44,000 with experience. Figures are indicative guidance rather than an offer.
- What skills transfer into this career?
- Skills that transfer well include Technical and patient-facing balance, Explaining results clearly, Working with older adults.
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Where this information comes from
- National Careers Service
- Institute for Apprenticeships
Last reviewed 14 September 2026.
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