Is Otolaryngology a Good Career in 2026?
Treating diseases of the ear, nose, throat, and head & neck through surgical and medical management.
Based on 44 verified physician submissions
SalaryDr Career Intelligence
Based on 44 verified physician submissions
Score Breakdown
Otolaryngology Compensation & Earnings
Otolaryngology Compensation
$525,000
$475,000 – $565,000(P25–P75)
Otolaryngology Salary Progression
From medical school to senior attending — based on 44 verified submissions
3 submissions
16 submissions
25 submissions
3 submissions
+17% salary growth from early career ($467,500) to mid-career ($545,000)
Estimate Your Take-Home
Based on median Otolaryngology salary of $525K/yr
Select a state to see your estimated take-home pay
Take-Home Pay by State
How much a Otolaryngology physician actually keeps after federal, state, and FICA taxes
Highest Take-Home States
Lowest Take-Home States
Tax impact: A Otolaryngology physician keeps $48,300 more per year in Alaska vs. California — a 9.2% difference on gross income of $525,000.
Assumes single filer, standard deduction, W-2 employment. State rates from Tax Foundation 2025. Gross salaries from BLS OEWS May 2024. FICA includes Social Security (6.2% up to $168,600) and Medicare (1.45% + 0.9% above $200K). Actual take-home varies with deductions, filing status, and local taxes.
Negotiation Intel
Anonymized advice from Otolaryngology physicians who recently negotiated contracts.
💡 What to Negotiate
“Interview with a nearby job to the one you want the most and then let the job you want know in a subtle way. That way, if they want you, they will fight a little more fiercely.”
1 yrs experience · Private Practice
How does your compensation compare?
Benchmark yourself against 44 verified otolaryngology salaries — add yours in 2 minutes and see your percentile instantly.
Career Lifestyle
Career Reality: By the Numbers
Real data from 44 verified Otolaryngology physicians — not job board estimates.
What Physicians Actually Say
Thematic analysis of career insights from Otolaryngology physicians. Based on 6 anonymized responses.
About the Career (3 responses)
Procedural Work
33%1 physician mentioned this
“It’d be nice to have a scribe to minimize the charting burden. It’d be nice to have newer equipment in the operating room and clinic—most academic centers where training occurs get you acclimated to fancy/expensive stuff.”— Private Practice, 1 yrs
Patient Relationships
33%1 physician mentioned this
“I like the mix of acuity and the patient relationships”— Hospital Employed, 5 yrs
Administrative Burden
33%1 physician mentioned this
“It’d be nice to have a scribe to minimize the charting burden. It’d be nice to have newer equipment in the operating room and clinic—most academic centers where training occurs get you acclimated to fancy/expensive stuff.”— Private Practice, 1 yrs
Training Length
33%1 physician mentioned this
“It’d be nice to have a scribe to minimize the charting burden. It’d be nice to have newer equipment in the operating room and clinic—most academic centers where training occurs get you acclimated to fancy/expensive stuff.”— Private Practice, 1 yrs
About the Lifestyle (3 responses)
Call Impact
67%2 physicians mentioned this
“I work in a busy, but not life consuming, private practice. I am happy and excited to go to work both on operative and clinic days. Rarely do I miss family dinner. With advanced notice, I can plan to attend any family event. I have one in 4 call for nights and weekends, but it is light call. Not ...”— Private Practice, 1 yrs
“Clinic 3.5d, OR 1.5d. Predictable 8-5 schedule during clinic. OR days 7-3. 3-4 hours a week of after hours charting. 8-9k wRVUs annually. Rare but heavy call weekends. Limited day call.”— Hospital Employed, 5 yrs
Predictable Schedule
33%1 physician mentioned this
“Clinic 3.5d, OR 1.5d. Predictable 8-5 schedule during clinic. OR days 7-3. 3-4 hours a week of after hours charting. 8-9k wRVUs annually. Rare but heavy call weekends. Limited day call.”— Hospital Employed, 5 yrs
Family Time
33%1 physician mentioned this
“I work in a busy, but not life consuming, private practice. I am happy and excited to go to work both on operative and clinic days. Rarely do I miss family dinner. With advanced notice, I can plan to attend any family event. I have one in 4 call for nights and weekends, but it is light call. Not ...”— Private Practice, 1 yrs
Job Market & Future Outlook
How Hard Is It to Match Into Otolaryngology?
Otolaryngology is one of the most competitive specialties to match into, with only 81.9% of U.S. MD seniors successfully matching. There were 1.08 applicants per position (414 applicants for 382 spots). Students scoring >260 matched at 94%, compared to 60% for those scoring 231-240.
Match Rate by Step 2 CK Score
What Differentiates Matched Applicants
| Metric | Matched | Unmatched |
|---|---|---|
| Step 2 CK | 256 | 251 |
| Research Experiences | 7.1 | 5.5 |
| Publications | 20 | 16 |
| AOA Members | 34% | 17% |
| Programs Ranked | 14 | 7 |
Data from Charting Outcomes in the Match, National Resident Matching Program (NRMP), 2024. U.S. MD seniors. Used with permission. All rights reserved.
Training & Getting Started
4 years of post-medical-school training, with subspecialty fellowship options
Subspecialty Fellowships
Physicians Also Consider
Explore Otolaryngology
Take the Next Step in Your Otolaryngology Career
Real compensation data from verified physicians. Know your market value before your next contract negotiation.
Powered by SalaryDr Career Intelligence
Career Score methodology: salarydr.com/methodology
According to SalaryDr Career Intelligence data from 44 verified Otolaryngologist (ENT)s (as of August 2026), the Physician Career Score for Otolaryngology is 71/100. Median total compensation is $525,000, career satisfaction is 4.2/5, and 98% would choose the specialty again.