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Side Gigs for Otolaryngologists (ENT Doctors)

  • Feb 27
  • 9 min read

Over the years, we’ve seen countless requests for side hustle ideas for doctors in specific specialties in our online physician community. We continue our series of unique side gigs by specialty with side gigs for ENT physicians. If you aren’t in otolaryngology and want to learn more about side gigs for your specialty, check out our page of side gig ideas for different specialties. If your specialty hasn’t been featured yet, follow the series on Instagram, where we’ve featured more specialties.


Disclosure/Disclaimer: Our content is for generalized educational purposes. While we try to ensure it is accurate and updated, we cannot guarantee it. You should do your own due diligence before making decisions based on this page. To learn more, visit our disclaimers and disclosures.


12 unique side gigs for otolaryngologists (ENT doctors), including consulting, owning an ASC, expert witness work, chart review, disability exams, content creation, and aesthetics


Side gigs for otolaryngologists (ENT doctors)


Locum tenens


Locum tenens work is a common side gig for otolaryngologists as it can provide compensation comparable to ENT doctors’ regular clinical pay rates. Compensation can be especially attractive for surgeons willing to take call or perform procedures due to procedural demand and specialist shortages in many regions.


Some physicians do occasional locum tenens shifts locally, while others take on more intensive short-term contracts, depending on their availability and the amount of side gig work they want.


This can be a great side gig if you’re looking to:

  • Pick up extra cash and don’t mind trading time for money

  • Pay down debt or save quickly

  • Test different practice environments

  • Transition between jobs or cut back on your regular full-time physician schedule


Of course, some physicians make locums their full time gig as well, and engaging in it as a side gig may be the start of a longer term transition to a new way of practicing medicine year round.


Related PSG resources:



Moonlighting and call services


Moonlighting and call services offer additional ways to increase your income in a clinical setting. Many hospitals and private groups need weekend or overnight call coverage for ENT services. This may include emergency department consults, inpatient rounding, trauma coverage, or urgent procedures.


Moonlighting can offer more flexibility and less time commitment than locums contracts while still offering rates competitive with what ENTs make through their main clinical role.


If you are a physician in private practice, offering call services can be a way to add an ancillary revenue stream for your practice, though this type of work certainly isn’t limited just to private practice physicians.


Related PSG resource:



Performing disability & eligibility exams, including C&P exams for the VA and QME exams


Otolaryngologists are often in demand to perform disability or eligibility examinations for government agencies and legal purposes, such as insurance claims. These exams can be a way for doctors to see more patients in a clinical setting without having ongoing treatment responsibilities.


These opportunities include:

  • Compensation & Pension (C&P) exams for veterans

  • Qualified Medical Evaluator (QME) exams (primarily in California)

  • Independent Medical Exams (IME)


While ENT doctors may be able to complete these exams at third-party sites, this side gig opportunity is particularly well suited for private practice physicians with a brick-and-mortar office where they can see patients for the physical evaluations. Scheduling of these evaluations and exams is often flexible and available around your existing clinical schedule, which can help fill gaps in your schedule for additional income.


Related PSG resources:



Buying into an ambulatory surgery center (ASC)


Ownership in an ambulatory surgery center can be one of the highest income opportunities available to procedural specialists. ENT physicians performing high case volumes may qualify for ownership stakes in single-specialty or multispecialty ASCs. By owning and operating in an ASC, you can increase profit margins for procedures already performed by capturing facility fees. Offering services at an ASC can also attract an additional patient population with lower costs and more flexible scheduling than at a hospital.


ASC ownership can require significant upfront capital and isn’t without business risks, but can be one of the most lucrative long-term investments while allowing ENTs to diversify their investment portfolio.


Related PSG resource:



Consulting and Medical Surveys


Many physicians enjoy participating in medical survey work for the flexibility and convenience. Otolaryngologists tend to be in demand for these and tend to get paid better than most specialties for these. No extra skills are needed.


For those looking to do more in depth engagements, otolaryngologists can serve as consultants in several industries, including:

  • Healthcare/health tech

  • Pharmaceuticals

  • Medical device development


Doctors have unique, hands-on clinical experience that can aid companies in research, development, and marketing. Consulting roles can include:

  • Clinical workflow expertise

  • Marketplace positioning

  • Product usability feedback

  • Educational content development


These side gigs are often paid on an hourly or per-project basis. Consulting opportunities may not offer ENTs with pay comparable to what they can get in the clinical setting, but can still be lucrative. Physicians in our online community on average requested a minimum of $395/hour for consulting opportunities.


Consulting opportunities can often open the door to future work, including advisory board positions.


Related PSG resources:



Becoming a physician advisor


Physician advisory roles are becoming an increasingly popular side gig as the startup space continues to thrive. These roles offer ENTs a way to leverage their clinical expertise at a higher-level influence point to help shape the future of healthcare and health tech developments. Through advisory roles, physicians can influence policies, optimize clinical operations, shape future technological advancements, and become an advocating voice for both patients and fellow clinicians.


Advisory roles are longer-term commitments, but still offer flexibility in scheduling and are typically remote opportunities. Many are part-time, allowing physicians to gain nonclinical experience while maintaining their clinical work with patients.


Compensation structures are typically either cash payments (such as an hourly compensation rate), an equity stake in the company, or a hybrid of the two. Equity in particular can provide significant financial benefits should the company do well, though there’s also the possibility a startup you’re advising doesn’t make it to market, so vet each opportunity carefully.


Related PSG resources:



Expert witness work


ENTs are commonly recruited for medicolegal cases involving:

  • Malpractice

  • Personal injury

  • Disability claims


Serving as an expert witness allows otolaryngologists to take their clinical expertise and apply it in a new field that can be rewarding both intellectually and financially. Expert witness work is a popular side gig choice as it is flexible. Case review, consultations, and reports are often all completed remotely. The only caveat is that if the case goes to trial, expert witnesses may be required to travel for a deposition or testimony.


Related PSG resources:



Chart review


Chart review work is also typically remote and flexible with little to no startup costs, making this a popular option for ENT doctors looking for lower-barrier and lower-lift options. Opportunities can include:

  • Utilization review

  • Quality assurance review

  • Insurance appeals

  • Case reviews for attorneys


Chart review may not offer as high of compensation as other options, such as consulting, but can be of particular interest to physicians looking to shift into a full-time nonclinical role in the future, as it can provide necessary experience outside of a clinical setting. These opportunities also provide networking with contacts at companies who may be looking to fill nonclinical roles.


Related PSG resources:



Medical device development


Otolaryngologists have a unique, inside perspective on unmet clinical needs, especially in surgical settings, making them great candidates for medical device innovation. Different ways ENT doctors get involved in medical device development include:

  • Advising early-stage companies

  • Participating in research and trials

  • Becoming an investor in a medical device startup company

  • Developing their own devices to market and sell


Working with a medical device startup, or creating your own, can lead to equity ownership and long-term financial upside, though timelines to profitability can be longer than many other side gigs and aren’t guaranteed.


Related PSG resources:



Influencer (or other educational content creator)


ENT physicians with an interest in education can reach a much wider audience online than in the clinical setting, and can create new income streams as an influencer. Some of these income opportunities can become passive over time. Niches an otolaryngologist may consider include:

  • Allergies

  • Hearing loss

  • Sinus issues and diseases

  • Sleep apnea and snoring


Popular platforms include social media such as Instagram and TikTok, podcasts, YouTube, and online courses.


Potential revenue streams can come from:

  • Affiliate income

  • Brand partnerships

  • Digital products

  • Sponsorships

  • Subscriptions for premium content


Building a following as an influencer or educator can take time, making this side gig a long-term play. A benefit of creating this following is brand/personal awareness, which can lead to additional opportunities such as speaking engagements, advisory board positions, and consulting opportunities.


Related PSG resources:



Hair transplants


ENT surgeons have a strong knowledge of the head and neck and often perform surgeries and other procedures, which can translate well into hair restoration procedures. Some physicians incorporate hair transplantation into their private practice as an ancillary income stream, while others work part time with established hair restoration clinics.


While specific, accredited courses are typically not required, it’s often recommended to undergo some sort of training or certification for these procedures. This can require a little an upfront commitment in time and capital, but can become a lucrative cash-pay service to offer existing and future patients.



Aesthetics


ENT doctors can expand their offerings to patients into cosmetic and aesthetic services such as:

  • Injectables

  • Laser treatments

  • Facial rejuvenation

  • Scar revision


These can be a natural extension for ENTs with a focus in facial plastics, but other ENTs can also provide these services with training.


ENT physicians can incorporate these into an existing practice as ancillary services or build out a separate business. These cash-pay services can be in high demand and can build into a lucrative side gig business.



Additional side gig resources for ENT physicians


While we’ve outlined above some common side gig ideas for otolaryngologists, there’s always room for creativity. If there’s something you’re passionate about and good at, look for ways to monetize it.


Sign up for our free side gig matching databases (physician only) and our PSG weekly newsletter for alerts on side gig opportunities related to your interests.


If you’re looking for office space as you establish and grow your side gig business, explore our medical office space directory with spaces available in our physician members’ practices. (This can be a great way to gain a referral network as well.)


Need inspiration? Join our Physician Side Gigs Facebook group and ask other ENTs what they’ve enjoyed.


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