Hearing Aid Specialists vs Prosthetists & Orthotists
Median pay is about $16k higher for Prosthetists & Orthotists. The usual entry education is postsecondary plus license for Hearing Aid Specialists and master's plus cert for Prosthetists & Orthotists.
marks the higher pay or growth. Education, difficulty and the AI rows depend on what you want, so they are not marked.
| Measure | Hearing Aid Specialists | Prosthetists & Orthotists |
|---|---|---|
| Pay | ||
| Median pay | $65,160 | $81,110, higher |
| Entry pay 25th percentile | $48,390 | $61,290, higher |
| Experienced pay 75th percentile | $80,010 | $99,990, higher |
| Outlook, 2025 to 2035 | ||
| Projected growth | +19% Growing fast, higher | +13% Growing fast |
| Openings a year | 900 | 700 |
| Getting in | ||
| Typical education | Postsecondary plus license | Master's plus cert |
| Difficulty modeled | 3 / 5 | 3.8 / 5 |
| AI | ||
| Displacement risk modeled | Moderate | Low |
| AI exposure modeled, percentile | 69th pct | 34th pct |
Skills
Both lean on the same top skills: active listening, speaking, reading comprehension, writing, critical thinking, active learning.
More comparisons
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Pay and outlook: BLS (OEWS 2025, Employment Projections 2025-2035). Skills: O*NET 30.3. Difficulty, displacement risk and AI exposure are modeled estimates. How these numbers are made.