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The differences between speech language pathologists and occupational therapists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 1-2 years to become a speech language pathologist, becoming an occupational therapist takes usually requires 6-12 months. Additionally, an occupational therapist has an average salary of $75,707, which is higher than the $62,340 average annual salary of a speech language pathologist.
The top three skills for a speech language pathologist include patients, SLP and speech-language pathology. The most important skills for an occupational therapist are patients, rehabilitation, and home health.
| Speech Language Pathologist | Occupational Therapist | |
| Yearly salary | $62,340 | $75,707 |
| Hourly rate | $29.97 | $36.40 |
| Growth rate | 21% | 14% |
| Number of jobs | 25,617 | 78,315 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 4 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 51% | Bachelor's Degree, 55% |
| Average age | 40 | 40 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 12 |
A speech-language pathologist specializes in diagnosing disorders in speech, language, and communication among children and adults. They are also responsible for devising and providing suitable treatments and therapeutic solutions that would improve a patient's condition. With each case varying from the rest, a speech-language pathologist must conduct an extensive assessment, research, analysis, and observation. Aside from providing treatments, a speech-language pathologist can also supervise other personnel in the same field, engage in various programs to share expertise, and provide consultations.
An occupational therapist specializes in treating patients who are recovering from illnesses or disabilities to help them adapt and overcome the physical and mental difficulties they face in their daily lives. The responsibilities of an occupational therapist revolve around examining a patient's medical history and conducting different kinds of assessments to determine what type of treatment a patient should receive. Furthermore, an occupational therapist must build rapport with a patient to make them feel at ease and coordinate with their guardian or family to discuss the recommended ways to help the patient adjust and recuperate.
Speech language pathologists and occupational therapists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Speech Language Pathologist | Occupational Therapist | |
| Average salary | $62,340 | $75,707 |
| Salary range | Between $43,000 And $89,000 | Between $58,000 And $97,000 |
| Highest paying City | Redwood City, CA | Salinas, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | Northeastern University | Waters |
| Best paying industry | Professional | Professional |
There are a few differences between a speech language pathologist and an occupational therapist in terms of educational background:
| Speech Language Pathologist | Occupational Therapist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 51% | Bachelor's Degree, 55% |
| Most common major | Communication Disorders Sciences | Occupational Therapy |
| Most common college | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill | Duke University |
Here are the differences between speech language pathologists' and occupational therapists' demographics:
| Speech Language Pathologist | Occupational Therapist | |
| Average age | 40 | 40 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 8.9% Female, 91.1% | Male, 16.8% Female, 83.2% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 4.8% Unknown, 3.8% Hispanic or Latino, 9.5% Asian, 4.5% White, 77.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% | Black or African American, 4.8% Unknown, 3.7% Hispanic or Latino, 6.2% Asian, 9.6% White, 75.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 14% |