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Graduate student clinician vs speech pathologist

The differences between graduate student clinicians and speech pathologists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a graduate student clinician and a speech pathologist. Additionally, a speech pathologist has an average salary of $62,640, which is higher than the $59,667 average annual salary of a graduate student clinician.

The top three skills for a graduate student clinician include motor speech disorders, patients and autism. The most important skills for a speech pathologist are patients, language, and speech.

Graduate student clinician vs speech pathologist overview

Graduate Student ClinicianSpeech Pathologist
Yearly salary$59,667$62,640
Hourly rate$28.69$30.12
Growth rate21%21%
Number of jobs39,70922,779
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 80%Bachelor's Degree, 54%
Average age4040
Years of experience22

What does a graduate student clinician do?

Graduate student clinicians can be a nurse practitioner, pharmacist, or doctor whose primary job is to work with patients and assist patients in managing their medical condition or illness. They perform varied duties and responsibilities that include maintaining a good relationship with patients, discussing the treatment progress to patients, and documenting patients' medical history. Additionally, they are also responsible for assisting physicians on non-surgical procedures, updating the medical information of patients on charts, and giving diagnostic tests.

What does a speech pathologist do?

The job of speech pathologists is to diagnose, treat, and prevent speech, social communication, language, swallowing, and cognitive-communication disorders in both children and adults. They are responsible for providing aural rehabilitation for people with hearing impairment and hearing loss, and alternative and augmentative systems for people with severe language comprehension disorders such as progressive neurological disorders and the autism spectrum. Speech pathologists may also work with individuals without language, swallowing, or speech disorders, but are eager to know how to communicate more effectively.

Graduate student clinician vs speech pathologist salary

Graduate student clinicians and speech pathologists have different pay scales, as shown below.

Graduate Student ClinicianSpeech Pathologist
Average salary$59,667$62,640
Salary rangeBetween $41,000 And $85,000Between $43,000 And $89,000
Highest paying City-San Francisco, CA
Highest paying state-Nevada
Best paying company-Mayo Clinic
Best paying industry-Health Care

Differences between graduate student clinician and speech pathologist education

There are a few differences between a graduate student clinician and a speech pathologist in terms of educational background:

Graduate Student ClinicianSpeech Pathologist
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 80%Bachelor's Degree, 54%
Most common majorCommunication Disorders SciencesCommunication Disorders Sciences
Most common collegeUniversity of North Carolina at Chapel HillUniversity of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Graduate student clinician vs speech pathologist demographics

Here are the differences between graduate student clinicians' and speech pathologists' demographics:

Graduate Student ClinicianSpeech Pathologist
Average age4040
Gender ratioMale, 9.7% Female, 90.3%Male, 11.9% Female, 88.1%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 4.8% Unknown, 3.8% Hispanic or Latino, 9.4% Asian, 4.4% White, 77.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%Black or African American, 4.9% Unknown, 3.8% Hispanic or Latino, 9.5% Asian, 4.5% White, 77.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%
LGBT Percentage6%6%

Differences between graduate student clinician and speech pathologist duties and responsibilities

Graduate student clinician example responsibilities.

  • Provide evaluation and treatment of communication disorders including autism, language disorders, and phonology disorders for preschool-age children through adult.
  • Participate in development and execution of treatment activities targeting expressive/receptive language, articulation, fluency, and AAC.
  • Complete bedside swallow evaluations, dysphagia management, and speech-language assessment and treatment for individuals within the inpatient acute care department.
  • Learned to use ArcMap (GIS software) on site and utilize as primary tool for analysis.
  • Work with patients that have tracheostomy tubes, ventilators, alternative means for communication, traumatic brain injuries, and strokes.
  • Participate and present information to parents and professionals at various IEP meetings.
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Speech pathologist example responsibilities.

  • Manage staff development activities including sensory integration and IEP goal writing.
  • Provide speech and language therapy under the supervision and guidance of assign SLP supervisor.
  • Administer and interpreting diagnostic evaluations on children with a variety of speech and language disorders in an out-patient facility.
  • Develop specific treatment plans and family education plans for rehabilitation patients in anticipation of discharge home or to appropriate rehabilitation facilities.
  • Participate as a member of the acute care and outpatient rehabilitation team in diagnostic and therapeutic services to neurologically impair adults.
  • Develop policies and procedures to secure Medicare and Medicaid provider numbers.
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Graduate student clinician vs speech pathologist skills

Common graduate student clinician skills
  • Motor Speech Disorders, 15%
  • Patients, 11%
  • Autism, 10%
  • Dysphagia, 7%
  • Traumatic Brain Injury, 5%
  • Group Therapy Sessions, 3%
Common speech pathologist skills
  • Patients, 18%
  • Language, 17%
  • Speech, 17%
  • Patient Care, 8%
  • Rehabilitation, 7%
  • Home Health, 6%

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