Post job

Audiologist vs dispensing audiologist

The differences between audiologists and dispensing audiologists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both an audiologist and a dispensing audiologist. Additionally, a dispensing audiologist has an average salary of $56,996, which is higher than the $55,657 average annual salary of an audiologist.

The top three skills for an audiologist include patients, rehabilitation and patient care. The most important skills for a dispensing audiologist are test results, listening devices, and CFY.

Audiologist vs dispensing audiologist overview

AudiologistDispensing Audiologist
Yearly salary$55,657$56,996
Hourly rate$26.76$27.40
Growth rate10%10%
Number of jobs1,121861
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 48%Bachelor's Degree, 45%
Average age4343
Years of experience22

Audiologist vs dispensing audiologist salary

Audiologists and dispensing audiologists have different pay scales, as shown below.

AudiologistDispensing Audiologist
Average salary$55,657$56,996
Salary rangeBetween $25,000 And $121,000Between $25,000 And $129,000
Highest paying CityRedwood City, CA-
Highest paying stateAlaska-
Best paying companyGundersen Lutheran Medical Foundation Inc.-
Best paying industry--

Differences between audiologist and dispensing audiologist education

There are a few differences between an audiologist and a dispensing audiologist in terms of educational background:

AudiologistDispensing Audiologist
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 48%Bachelor's Degree, 45%
Most common majorSpeech-Language PathologySpeech-Language Pathology
Most common collegeUniversity of North Carolina at Chapel HillUniversity of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Audiologist vs dispensing audiologist demographics

Here are the differences between audiologists' and dispensing audiologists' demographics:

AudiologistDispensing Audiologist
Average age4343
Gender ratioMale, 23.2% Female, 76.8%Male, 46.2% Female, 53.8%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 1.0% Unknown, 5.5% Hispanic or Latino, 5.0% Asian, 5.1% White, 82.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%Black or African American, 0.8% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 2.9% Asian, 5.0% White, 85.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%
LGBT Percentage23%23%

Differences between audiologist and dispensing audiologist duties and responsibilities

Audiologist example responsibilities.

  • Select and fit hearing instruments, and provide counseling and aural rehabilitation for hearing impair veterans and their families.
  • Conduct basic diagnostic testing procedures including pure tone audiometry, play audiometry, VRA, immittance, and DP OAE testing.
  • Administer aural rehabilitation to geriatric-psychiatric patients.
  • Involve in several FDA clinical trials of new cochlear implant devices.
  • Administer and interpret electrophysiologic testing including ABR & ECOG, and balance testing using VNG and VHIT.
  • Perform sedated threshold ABR testing in the audiology clinic, NICU, PACU, and operating room.
  • Show more

Dispensing audiologist example responsibilities.

  • Perform standard audiometry tests, ABR, ENG, and Otoacoustic Emmissions.
  • Organize, update and maintain medical information database; prepare written and communicate verbally relative to patients' histories.
  • Research and develop vestibular evoke myogenic testing (VEMP) protocol currently in use at JFK.
  • Administer aural rehabilitation to geriatric-psychiatric patients.

Audiologist vs dispensing audiologist skills

Common audiologist skills
  • Patients, 31%
  • Rehabilitation, 13%
  • Patient Care, 12%
  • Hearing Loss, 8%
  • Test Results, 8%
  • Listening Devices, 3%
Common dispensing audiologist skills
  • Test Results, 31%
  • Listening Devices, 24%
  • CFY, 9%
  • Hearing Aid Sales, 9%
  • Private Practice, 9%
  • Rehabilitation, 6%

Browse healthcare practitioner and technical jobs