Here’s a snapshot from our 2024 State of the Therapies Guide: Insights from the Rehabilitation Professionals.
Speech-language pathologists work with patients of all ages to improve their communication skills and chewing and swallowing techniques. They may work with infants who have a weak swallow, children struggling with a stutter, adults with apraxia, or people rehabilitating from head and facial injuries.
Download the 2024 State of the Rehabilitation Therapies Guide
Demographics
The SLPs included in our survey come from a variety of backgrounds, ethnicities, ages, specialties, and years of experience.
Of the respondents, 72.7% were women and only 6.5% reported being men. 18.2% did not specify their gender. Respondents were between 25 and 74 years old at the time of the survey. Most respondents (64.3%) are White/Caucasian. 4.6% are Hispanic and 3.9% are Asian/Pacific.
Employment profile
75% of speech-language pathologists in our survey are either somewhat concerned or extremely concerned about the state of their profession. The most common concerns include artificial intelligence taking over the jobs of SLPs, and a lack of support from the speech-language pathology credentialing agency, the American Speech Language Hearing Association.
While SLPs express concern about artificial intelligence, with one stating that “we love the human side to our profession and begin relying on technology too much to conduct therapy for us,” others argue that AI could help solve staffing problems within the profession and help overwhelmed SLPs complete their documentation. As one therapist put it “paperwork involved made the job overwhelming. Less paperwork would allow more time spent with students.”
57% of our survey respondents state that they do not feel that their workplace has adequate staffing. AI may help alleviate some of these problems.
Burnout among SLPs
Burnout is a big problem among SLPs, with 66.4% reporting that they had experienced burnout within the last 12-18 months. Therapists working in schools report the highest levels of burnout (71%), while those in private practice report the lowest levels of burnout (45%). Speech-language pathologists who work over 40 hours a week are much more likely to experience burnout.
In addition to problems with staffing and concerns regarding artificial intelligence, many SLPs report feeling unsupported by the American Speech Language Hearing Association. Complaints include feeling that “ASHA does not fight for their SLP,” “ASHA costs,” and “ASHA makes too many political statements.”
54% of our survey respondents agree with the statement “I am less satisfied today with my profession than I was when I first started my career.” However, 48% of speech-language pathologists agreed that they would recommend new graduates join the profession.
Workplace satisfaction
Despite many challenges, most survey respondents report being at least somewhat satisfied in their current role. In fact, 75% of respondents working in private practice reported feeling “extremely satisfied” with their jobs. In the least satisfied group, those working in home health, 23% reported feeling extremely unsatisfied.
One way that employers may be able to improve work satisfaction for SLPs is to give them more recognition and help the rest of the healthcare team understand the importance of the SLP. Nearly 30% of respondents state that they do not feel valued in their workplace. While some therapists seem to feel undervalued and worry that artificial intelligence will take over their jobs, speech language pathologists have a fantastic job outlook.
According to the BLS, job opportunities for speech-language pathologists are expected to increase by 19% between 2023 and 2032, with over 33,000 jobs predicted to open up in the next ten years.
Salary guide
Our survey respondents reported earning between $75,000 per year and $90,000 per year. Those with 1-9 years of experience were much more likely to have received a pay increase in the last year than those with 20 years or more. 68% of SLPs with 1-9 years of experience reported pay increases, while only 33% of those with more than 40 years had been given a pay raise.
Opinions varied greatly on current salary satisfaction. Those with 20-29 years of experience had the most negative feelings about their pay, with 29% reporting feeling extremely dissatisfied and 22% reporting feeling somewhat dissatisfied with their salary. Those with 30-39 years of experience had the most positive feelings about their pay, with 48% reporting feeling somewhat satisfied and 10% feeling extremely satisfied.
Data from the BLS shows that speech language pathologists earn an average of $89,290 per year, or $42.93 per hour. Those working in nursing facilities earned the most money, while those working in education tended to earn the least. The BLS does mention that schools may pay less per year due to their 2-month summer break.