What it is
Otolaryngologists (ENTs) diagnose and surgically treat conditions of the ears, nose, throat, and head and neck — hearing, sinus, airway, thyroid, and head-and-neck cancers.
What you do
They manage hearing and balance, sinus and airway disease, and perform head-and-neck surgery in clinics and operating rooms.
Training path & length
5-year residency, with fellowships.
Fellowship subspecialties
Fellowships include otology/neurotology, rhinology, laryngology, head & neck oncology, facial plastic & reconstructive surgery, and pediatric ENT.
Pay & job outlook
Physicians are among the highest-paid professionals. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a median wage of $275,930 for physicians and surgeons (May 2025), with employment projected to grow about 4% from 2025 to 2035. Pay varies by specialty — procedural and surgical fields generally earn more.
ENT surgeons earn well above the physician median.
How to get there
Become a physician first: earn an MD or DO, then match into this residency. Licensure requires completing residency and passing the board exams.
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Key facts
- Residency5 years
- TreatsEar, nose, throat, head & neck
- FellowshipsOtology, rhinology, head & neck onc, facial plastics
- PayWell above the physician median
- EntryMD or DO via the match