Speech Language Pathologist Salary
by Antony Dee Updated August 04, 2011A speech language pathologist is the one who helps those patients who have problems with language and speech. It is caused by physical deformity or impairment of the cognitive function of the brain such as developmental delay. This is an interesting job. In fact, the demand for this job is relatively high. Job opportunities are in great numbers. According to the 2008 survey, the average salary of a speech pathologist is from $50,000 to $60,000.
The nature of work of a speech language pathologist, also referred as speech therapist includes diagnosing as well as treating those patients with speech and language barrier. Speech therapist conducts evaluation with the use of different factors like social, medical, psychological, mental, and educational factors. The speech therapist is also responsible for planning, directing, as well as coming up with a suitable rehabilitative treatment program. Their approach is always patient centered care. The expertise of care of a speech therapist varies from one case to another. There are those therapists that work with patient having swallowing disorders or often referred to as dysphagia, memory impairment such as inability to recall, attention deficit disorders, and stuttering. A speech therapist works hand in hand with physical therapist, psychologist, physicians, and teachers.
The type of work and geographical distribution affects the speech language pathologist salary. Almost half of the population of speech pathologist works in the public elementary and secondary schools. The rest of the population works in universities, clinics, hospitals, nursing homes, and other health care facilities. There are also portion of the population that runs a business of their own, and some are contractual. The starting salary of a speech pathology is $44,000. It will gradually increase depending on the level of experience in the field. Those who are working in the pediatric service have a speech pathologist salary of $90,000. There are also those who work on as needed basis. They are receiving a salary of $90,000 to $110,000. There are also speech pathologists that specialized in technical writing. They are enjoying a speech pathologist salary of $70,000 annually. The salary of speech therapist is relatively low at nonprofit agencies and school districts. They are earning an average salary of $50,000. Multi lingual speech therapists and self-employed are in demand and in fact, has a higher salary. They are earning $65,000.
There are plenty of works available for speech therapist at different industries. They can either work in hospital settings, rehabilitative, as well as other health care facilities. Their job is complex and is challenging in comparison to other health related jobs. Speech language pathologist need to be expert in the field of therapy. Those who are receiving higher salary are those that have been in the speech pathology field for several years. The majority of the clients are children. This is the stage where the level and ability to speak is being assessed. Typically, the patients are those with hearing impairments, physical disabilities, traumatic brain injury, stuttering, motor speech disorder, and learning difficulties. Most of the adult patients are those who have cerebral palsy, stroke, and voice disorders. Degenerative diseases like dementia, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, mental health disorders, cancer involving the vocal cords also need the service of a speech language therapist.
If you want to pursue your career in speech pathology you have to take a bachelor's degree in communication sciences majoring in disorder program. There are many universities and colleges that offer the program. You also need to take Graduate Records Examination. You also need to have a 700 hour clinical experience. The licensing requirements may vary on the state policy.
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