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The differences between speech language pathologists 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 speech language pathologist and a speech pathologist. Additionally, a speech pathologist has an average salary of $62,640, 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 a speech pathologist are patients, language, and speech.
| Speech Language Pathologist | Speech Pathologist | |
| Yearly salary | $62,340 | $62,640 |
| Hourly rate | $29.97 | $30.12 |
| Growth rate | 21% | 21% |
| Number of jobs | 25,617 | 22,779 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 51% | Bachelor's Degree, 54% |
| Average age | 40 | 40 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
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.
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.
Speech language pathologists and speech pathologists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Speech Language Pathologist | Speech Pathologist | |
| Average salary | $62,340 | $62,640 |
| Salary range | Between $43,000 And $89,000 | Between $43,000 And $89,000 |
| Highest paying City | Redwood City, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | Nevada |
| Best paying company | Northeastern University | Mayo Clinic |
| Best paying industry | Professional | Health Care |
There are a few differences between a speech language pathologist and a speech pathologist in terms of educational background:
| Speech Language Pathologist | Speech Pathologist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 51% | Bachelor's Degree, 54% |
| Most common major | Communication Disorders Sciences | Communication Disorders Sciences |
| Most common college | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill |
Here are the differences between speech language pathologists' and speech pathologists' demographics:
| Speech Language Pathologist | Speech Pathologist | |
| Average age | 40 | 40 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 8.9% Female, 91.1% | Male, 11.9% Female, 88.1% |
| 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, 4.9% Unknown, 3.8% Hispanic or Latino, 9.5% Asian, 4.5% White, 77.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 6% |