speech language pathologist salary

speech language pathologist salary

Speech Language Pathologist Salary

1. Overview of Speech Language Pathology

A speech language pathologist (SLP) assists in determining that a person’s delays or disorders qualify him for special education services. The education team, which includes the SLP, is charged with the responsibility of distinguishing the student’s delays or disorders from the normal process of second language acquisition or from cultural differences. If the student does qualify, the SLP becomes part of the team that writes an Individualized Educational Plan (IEP). This plan is a blueprint of goals and objectives that will target the student’s specific needs. The SLP takes these goals and with input from teachers and parents decide upon a course of action that is direct, explicit and systematic. This type of therapy is essential in helping students to close the gap between themselves and their classmates. Therapy can take place in the classroom or on a pull-out basis. At a later date special educators may seek out the SLP to help determine if a child will qualify for special education services. In this case, the SLP will help teacher to distinguish between a specific learning disability and a language disorder.

2. Factors Influencing Speech Language Pathologist Salaries

Such a range in salary among speech therapy professionals raises questions about the factors that influence these wages. There are many factors affecting the salary you can expect to earn as a speech-language pathologist. Some of these factors can be controlled, some that cannot. Non-controllable factors are those that are fixed or out of the control of the individual SLP. Fixed factors include things such as regional wage differences and cost of living. This causes a major variation in both entry-level and experience-level SLP salaries. Normally states that fall into the category of higher cost of living will pay more for their speech therapy professionals. Age is another factor that is beyond the speech therapy professionals control. Older individuals will make more due to their increased experience, tenure and knowledge of the field. A controllable factor that will affect salary is career setting and/or work environment. This is great for SLP’s just entering the field because they will have the opportunity to dictate their salary by deciding which career setting(s) tend to pay more. Other controllable factors that influence salary include: experience, education, and productivity.

3. Average Salary Range for Speech Language Pathologists

SLPs have earned a median salary of $66,920 in 2009, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). The middle 50 percent earned between $53,230 and $83,380. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $42,970, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $102,230. In an ASHA survey conducted in 2010, the average salary for CCCs was $70,000. SLPs working in the health care environment earned the highest median wage of $72,000 compared to those working in an educational environment with a median wage of $58,000. SLPs working in schools reported an average salary of $58,000 for 10-month contracts and SLPs with 11-month contracts reported an average salary of $63,000. SLPs with advanced degrees, such as a Master’s degree or higher and/or the Certificate of Clinical Competence, reported earning an average salary of $79,270. Other factors that affect SLP wage are geographic location and years of experience. ASHA survey results indicated that SLPs working in a non-metro location made an average salary of $66,000 compared to the average metro location salary of $65,000. An article published in The Hearing Review states that “speech-language pathology is highly rewarding work but it does not pay well. Expect a high starting wage only if you live in an area with a high cost of living, assuming you can find work at all; many areas have few openings”. While SLP salary is not comparable to that of other health care professions requiring a master’s degree, such as physical and occupational therapy, the general consensus is that SLPs find their salaries to be satisfactory in relation to the amount of education and training required to enter the field.

4. Benefits and Perks for Speech Language Pathologists

According to the National Council of State Boards of Nursing, there remains a market demand for SLPs due to the high turnover rate in the field. This organization states that the demand for SLPs in school settings remains high and is fueled by disabilities legislation and new special education laws. While about 34% of SLPs work in educational settings, this percentage may increase as the employment of SLPs working in schools aligns with the growing caseloads. SLPs with the Certificate of Clinical Competence (CCC) will have the best job prospects. This is the reason why many professionals are receiving large sign-on bonuses to work in some public schools and other work settings.

The provided sources indicate that the median hourly wage for speech-language pathologists was $31.70 in 2002. The middle 50 percent earned between $25.97 and $38.78. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $20.77, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $45.89. Median annual earnings in the industries employing the largest numbers of speech-language pathologists in 2002 were as follows: nursing care facilities ($52,000), individual and family services ($49,500), general medical and surgical hospitals ($48,410), offices of other health practitioners ($47,880), and elementary and secondary schools ($40,000).

5. Tips for Negotiating a Higher Salary as a Speech Language Pathologist

One of the most important things to remember about negotiating a higher salary is to remain professional and respectful. If you have worked for a company for several years, have excellent job evaluations and feel you are being underpaid, you can provide documentation of the average SLP salary in your area and various work settings. Showing that you are being paid lower than what a typical SLP makes, despite your skills and experience, might present your employer with a good argument for a raise. Be sure to provide your employer with enough notice of your work. Dropping a raise request at the last minute on your supervisor’s way out the door to an important meeting will not win you any favors in being taken seriously with your desire of a higher salary. Email your supervisor and request a brief meeting at his or her earliest convenience to discuss your work, and possible raises in your salary. Remember to remain polite and professional. Coming across as too aggressive can do more harm than good. Make a list of accomplishments you have made during your time as an SLP. Did you help increase the number of patients at your facility? Help streamline therapy procedures to be more time and cost efficient? Advance treatments for a variety of speech and language disorders? Improve the quality of your facility’s SLP department? These are things to consider in negotiating a higher salary and can be discussed with your employer at your meeting. Make it known that a higher salary can be considered a motivation in maintaining or improving the quality of your work. Finally, in some cases an SLP can make more money by working with companies providing home health services or in patients’ homes called off-site services. If you do not already work in this setting it can sway your current employer to increase your salary to maintain your employment at their facility.