Speech pathologist vs audiologist

The differences between speech pathologists and audiologists 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 pathologist and an audiologist. Additionally, a speech pathologist has an average salary of $62,640, which is higher than the $55,657 average annual salary of an audiologist.

The top three skills for a speech pathologist include patients, language and speech. The most important skills for an audiologist are patients, rehabilitation, and patient care.

Speech pathologist vs audiologist overview

	Speech Pathologist	Audiologist
Yearly salary	$62,640	$55,657
Hourly rate	$30.12	$26.76
Growth rate	21%	10%
Number of jobs	22,779	1,121
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 54%	Bachelor's Degree, 48%
Average age	40	43
Years of experience	2	2

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.

What does an audiologist do?

An audiologist is responsible for conducting hearing examinations with patients, diagnosing their hearing problems, and identifying treatment plans for immediate recovery. Audiologists operate advanced technologies and devices to determine the patients' hearing abilities and limitations. They also evaluate results accurately, respond to the patients' inquiries and concerns, and advise patients on proper ways to take care of their hearing balances. An audiologist must have excellent communication skills, especially extensive knowledge of the medical industry, to discuss the patients' condition properly.

Speech pathologist vs audiologist salary

Speech pathologists and audiologists have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Speech Pathologist	Audiologist
Average salary	$62,640	$55,657
Salary range	Between $43,000 And $89,000	Between $25,000 And $121,000
Highest paying City	San Francisco, CA	Redwood City, CA
Highest paying state	Nevada	Alaska
Best paying company	Mayo Clinic	Gundersen Lutheran Medical Foundation Inc.
Best paying industry	Health Care	-

Differences between speech pathologist and audiologist education

There are a few differences between a speech pathologist and an audiologist in terms of educational background:

	Speech Pathologist	Audiologist
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 54%	Bachelor's Degree, 48%
Most common major	Communication Disorders Sciences	Speech-Language Pathology
Most common college	University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill	University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Speech pathologist vs audiologist demographics

Here are the differences between speech pathologists' and audiologists' demographics:

	Speech Pathologist	Audiologist
Average age	40	43
Gender ratio	Male, 11.9% Female, 88.1%	Male, 23.2% Female, 76.8%
Race ratio	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%	Black or African American, 1.0% Unknown, 5.5% Hispanic or Latino, 5.0% Asian, 5.1% White, 82.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%
LGBT Percentage	6%	23%

Differences between speech pathologist and audiologist duties and responsibilities

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.

Audiologist example responsibilities.

Select and fit hearing instruments, and provide counseling and aural rehabilitation for hearing impair veterans and their families.
Conduct basic diagnostic testing procedures including pure tone audiometry, play audiometry, VRA, immittance, and DP OAE testing.
Administer aural rehabilitation to geriatric-psychiatric patients.
Involve in several FDA clinical trials of new cochlear implant devices.
Administer and interpret electrophysiologic testing including ABR & ECOG, and balance testing using VNG and VHIT.
Perform sedated threshold ABR testing in the audiology clinic, NICU, PACU, and operating room.

Speech pathologist vs audiologist skills

Common speech pathologist skills

Patients, 18%
Language, 17%
Speech, 17%
Patient Care, 8%
Rehabilitation, 7%
Home Health, 6%

Common audiologist skills

Patients, 31%
Rehabilitation, 13%
Patient Care, 12%
Hearing Loss, 8%
Test Results, 8%
Listening Devices, 3%

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Speech Pathologist vs Audiologist

Updated January 8, 2025

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