Otorhinolaryngology (ear, nose and throat (ENT) surgery)
Ear, nose and throat (ENT) surgeons diagnose, evaluate and manage diseases of the head and neck.
Their formal title is otorhinolaryngologist or otolaryngologist.
Life as an ENT surgeon
You’ll treat people of all ages with a wide range of diseases which is what makes being an ENT surgeon so interesting and rewarding. You’ll see more children than most other surgeons apart from those in paediatrics.
You’ll treat conditions that affect the senses such as hearing and balance disorders or smell and taste problems. You’ll also treat patients with conditions that affect their voice, breathing and swallowing as well as those with head and neck tumours.
ENT has possibly the widest range of operations of any speciality. You could treat ear conditions such as hearing loss, childhood ‘glue ear’ (where the middle ear is blocked with fluid), dizziness, ear infections and perforated ear drums.
You’ll treat nose conditions such as sinus infections, nasal injuries, tumours and disorders of the sense of smell and throat conditions ranging from tonsillitis through breathing problems to cancers of the mouth or throat.
You’ll also be involved in facial cosmetic surgery, for example on ears and noses and facial reconstruction following trauma or cancer. You will work closely with a range of other specialists including plastic surgeons, maxillofacial surgeons and ophthalmologists.
You will spend a higher proportion of your time in outpatient clinics seeing day cases and less time in surgery than other surgeons. You will not be on-call as much as in other surgical specialities, making it easier to achieve a work-life balance.
You will make use of the latest technology including robots and lasers to treat patients which often means minimally invasive surgery and faster recovery times. Advances in care mean than you can often deliver life-changing treatment, for example helping a profoundly deaf person gain a sense of hearing and sound for the first time after cochlear implant surgery.
How much can I earn?
You’ll first earn a salary when you start your foundation training after medical school. Find out details of current salary ranges for foundation and specialty training, SAS doctors and consultants on the 'Pay for doctors' page.
How about the benefits?
- make a difference
- flexible and part-time working
- high income early in your career
- work anywhere in the world
- excellent pension scheme
- good holiday entitlement
- NHS discounts in shops and restaurants
Must-have skills
- excellent communication skills to manage a wide range of relationships with colleagues, and patients and their families
- emotional resilience, a calm temperament and the ability to work well under pressure
- teamwork and the capacity to lead multidisciplinary teams
- problem-solving and diagnostic skills
- outstanding organisational ability and effective decision-making skills
- first-class time and resource management for the benefit of patients
- a high degree of manual dexterity
- superb hand-eye co-ordination, excellent vision, and visuospatial awareness
- physical stamina to cope with the demands of surgery
Entry requirements
Your first step is medical school. Typically, you’ll need excellent GCSEs and three A or A* passes at A level including chemistry for a five-year undergraduate degree in medicine. Many medical schools also ask for biology and others may require maths or physics.
If you already have a degree, you could study for a four-year postgraduate degree in medicine.
You’ll need to pass an interview and admissions test. You’ll be asked to show how you demonstrate the NHS values such as compassion and respect.
Some medical schools look to recruit a mix of students from different backgrounds and geographical areas, so your educational and economic background and family circumstances could be considered as part of your application.
"The crossover and interaction with other specialties is vast in ENT, including neurosurgery, plastics [plastic surgery], oral and maxillofacial surgery. We work in multidisciplinary teams with physician colleagues and other specialists including speech and language therapists and physiotherapists, which is hugely enjoyable."
Read Charles' story.
What are my chances of starting a career in ENT?
In 2020 there were 131 applications for 23 specialty training places (a competition ratio of 5.70).
How to become an ENT surgeon
After medical school, you’ll join the paid two-year foundation programme where you’ll work in six placements in different settings.
After your foundation programme, you can apply for paid specialty training to become an ENT surgeon, which will take a minimum of seven years.
You may be able to train part time, for example for health reasons or if you have family or caring responsibilities.
Where a career as an ENT surgeon can take you
You could:
- specialise or conduct research in areas such as conditions of just the ear, nose or throat, paediatric ENT, skull base surgery or facial plastics
- teach medical students or postgraduate students in training
- get involved in research at universities, the NHS or private sector
-
Consultant ENT Surgeon
Luton, LU4 0DZ
- Salary :
- £105504.00 to £139882.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
-
Consultant ENT Surgeon Specialising in Otology
Peterborough, PE3 9GZ
- Salary :
- £109725.00 to £145478.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- North West Anglia NHS Foundation Trust
-
Consultant ENT Surgeon with an interest in Otology or Paediatrics
Plymouth, PL6 8DH
- Salary :
- Negotiable
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust
-
ENT Consultant Surgeon with a Special Interest in Laryngology
London, SE1 9RS
- Salary :
- £105504.00 to £139882.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust
-
ENT Doctor
Worthing, BN11 3BN
- Salary :
- Negotiable
- Type :
- Bank
- Employer :
- CHEC
-
ENT Consultant
Chester, CH2 1UL
- Salary :
- £105504.00 to £139882.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
-
ENT Consultant
Brighton, BN1 3XP
- Salary :
- Negotiable
- Type :
- Locum
- Employer :
- 18 Week Support Limited
-
ENT Doctor
Canterbury, CT1 1BN
- Salary :
- Negotiable
- Type :
- Bank
- Employer :
- CHEC
-
Consultant - ENT
Hastings, TN37 7RD
- Salary :
- £109725.00 to £145478.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust
-
Locum ENT Consultant Surgeon with specialist interest in Paeds Otology
London, E9 6SR
- Salary :
- £109725.00 to £145478.00
- Type :
- Fixed-Term
- Employer :
- Homerton Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
-
Locum ENT Consultant Surgeon with a specialist interest in Otology
London, E9 6SR
- Salary :
- £109725.00 to £145478.00
- Type :
- Fixed-Term
- Employer :
- Homerton Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
-
ENT Consultants & Registrars
Hereford, HR1 1BB
- Salary :
- Negotiable
- Type :
- Locum
- Employer :
- HealthHarmonie
-
ENT Healthcare Professionals
Edinburgh, EH1 1BL
- Salary :
- Negotiable
- Type :
- Locum
- Employer :
- Partnering Health Ltd
-
ENT Clinic Assistant
Holloway, N7 8EG
- Salary :
- £25000.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Islington GP Federation
-
ENT Consultants & Registrars
Oldham, OL2 5QL
- Salary :
- Negotiable
- Type :
- Locum
- Employer :
- HealthHarmonie
-
ENT Administrator/Secretary
Sevenoaks, TN15 8RQ
- Salary :
- Negotiable
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Borough Green Medical Practice
-
ENT Healthcare Assistant
Gloucester, GL1 3PX
- Salary :
- £26000.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- HealthHarmonie
-
ENT Healthcare Professionals
Edinburgh, EH1 1BL
- Salary :
- Negotiable
- Type :
- Locum
- Employer :
- Partnering Health Ltd
-
ENT Consultants & Registrars
Barnsley, S71 1TH
- Salary :
- Negotiable
- Type :
- Locum
- Employer :
- HealthHarmonie
-
ENT Consultants & Registrars
Birmingham, B15 3DP
- Salary :
- Negotiable
- Type :
- Locum
- Employer :
- HealthHarmonie
-
ENT Consultants & Registrars
Kidderminster, DY11 6SF
- Salary :
- Negotiable
- Type :
- Locum
- Employer :
- HealthHarmonie
-
ENT Consultants & Registrars
Tonbridge, TN12 0LB
- Salary :
- Negotiable
- Type :
- Locum
- Employer :
- HealthHarmonie
-
Trust Registrar - Otology ENT
London, W6 8RF
- Salary :
- Negotiable
- Type :
- Fixed-Term
- Employer :
- Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust
-
Consultant in Paediatric ENT
Leeds, LS1 3EX
- Salary :
- £109725.00 to £145478.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Leeds Teaching Hospitals
-
Specialty Doctor in ENT
Wakefield, WF14DG
- Salary :
- £61542.00 to £99216.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- The Mid Yorkshire Teaching NHS Trust
-
Trust Grade Doctor in ENT
London, NW1 2BU
- Salary :
- £52656.00
- Type :
- Fixed-Term
- Employer :
- University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
-
Consultant in Paediatric ENT surgery
Liverpool, L12 2AP
- Salary :
- £105504.00 to £139882.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Alder Hey Children's NHS Foundation Trust
-
Locum Consultant in Paediatric ENT Surgery
Cambridge, CB2 0QQ
- Salary :
- £105504.00 to £139882.00
- Type :
- Fixed-Term
- Employer :
- Cambridge University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
-
Otology Fellow - ENT (Aug 2026 commencement)
Birmingham, B15 2TH
- Salary :
- £65048.00
- Type :
- Fixed-Term
- Employer :
- University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust
-
Highly Specialist Speech and Language Therapist ENT
Nottingham, NG72UH
- Salary :
- £47810.00 to £54710.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trusts
-
Consultant in ENT with special interest in Otology
Ipswich, IP4 5PD
- Salary :
- £105504.00 to £139882.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust
-
Consultant Radiologist with interests in Thoracic and ENT Imaging
Coventry, CV2 2DX
- Salary :
- £109725.00 to £145478.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust
-
Locum Consultant in ENT with Specialist Interest in Otology
Telford, TF1 6TF
- Salary :
- £109725.00 to £145478.00
- Type :
- Fixed-Term
- Employer :
- The Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust
-
Locum Consultant in ENT with Specialist Interest in Rhinology
Telford, TF1 6TF
- Salary :
- £109725.00 to £145478.00
- Type :
- Fixed-Term
- Employer :
- The Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust
-
ENT (Ear, Nose and Throat) Enhanced Clinical Practitioner -Band 7
Poole, BH15 2JB
- Salary :
- £47810.00 to £54710.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust
-
Locum Consultant in Otolaryngology
Coventry, CV2 2DX
- Salary :
- £109725.00 to £145478.00
- Type :
- Fixed-Term
- Employer :
- University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust
-
Locum Consultant in Paediatric Otolaryngology - Surgical
Liverpool, L12 2AP
- Salary :
- £105504.00 to £139882.00
- Type :
- Fixed-Term
- Employer :
- Alder Hey Children's NHS Foundation Trust
-
OMFS Consultant Surgeon
Plymouth, PL6 8DH
- Salary :
- Negotiable
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust
-
Consultant Urological Surgeon
Newcastle upon Tyne, NE7 7DN
- Salary :
- £109725.00 to £145478.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
-
Consultant Hand Surgeon
Doncaster, DN40TG
- Salary :
- Negotiable
- Type :
- Locum
- Employer :
- HealthHarmonie
-
Consultant Plastic Surgeon
Coventry, CV2 2DX
- Salary :
- £109725.00 to £145478.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust
-
Consultant Colorectal Surgeon
Plymouth, PL6 8DH
- Salary :
- £109725.00 to £145478.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust
-
Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon
Shepton Mallet, BA4 4LP
- Salary :
- Negotiable
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Practice Plus Group
-
Consultant Prostate Surgeon
Southampton, SO16 6YD
- Salary :
- £109725.00 to £145478.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- University Hospital Southampton NHS Trust
-
Consultant Dermatology Surgeon
Grimsby, DN31 2BH
- Salary :
- £105000.00 to £139882.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- HCRG Care Group
-
Consultant Urological Surgeon
Torquay, TQ2 7AA
- Salary :
- £105504.00 to £139882.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust
-
Consultant Urological Surgeon
London, E11 1NR
- Salary :
- £109725.00 to £145478.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Barts Health NHS Trust
-
Consultant Cleft Surgeon
London, SE1 7EH
- Salary :
- £105504.00 to £139882.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust
-
Consultant Vascular Surgeon
London, SE5 9RS
- Salary :
- £105504.00 to £139882.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
-
Consultant Spinal Surgeon
Sheffield, S11 8UX
- Salary :
- Negotiable
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- One Health Group
-
ToP Surgeon (Rotherham)
Rotherham, S60 1FL
- Salary :
- £78488.17 to £109691.14
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- MSI Reproductive Choices
-
Consultant Cardiac Surgeon
Brighton, BN2 5BE
- Salary :
- £105504.00 to £139882.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust (279)
-
Consultant Colorectal Surgeon
King's Lynn, PE30 4ET
- Salary :
- £105504.00 to £139882.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- The Queen Elizabeth Hospital King's Lynn NHSFT
-
Consultant Urological Surgeon
London, E1 4DG
- Salary :
- £105504.00 to £139882.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Barts Health NHS Trust
-
Consultant Oncoplastic Breast Surgeon
Worthing, BN11 2DH
- Salary :
- £109725.00 to £145478.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust (279)
-
Consultant Colorectal & General Surgeon
Basildon/Broomfield/Southend, CM1 7ET
- Salary :
- £105504.00 to £139882.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust
-
Locum Consultant Breast Surgeon
Bristol, BS10 5NB
- Salary :
- £109725.00 to £145478.00
- Type :
- Locum
- Employer :
- North Bristol NHS Trust
-
Locum Consultant Plastic Surgeon
Middlesbrough, TS4 3BW
- Salary :
- £109725.00 to £145478.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
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These organisations have further information about being an ENT surgeon, particularly as your career progresses. Take a look.
British Association of Head and Neck Oncologists
British Association of Paediatric Otolaryngology
British Association of Otorhinolaryngologists (ENT UK)
Joint Committee on Intercollegiate Examinations