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Speech pathologist vs psychologist

The differences between speech pathologists and psychologists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a psychologist has an average salary of $97,803, which is higher than the $62,640 average annual salary of a speech pathologist.

The top three skills for a speech pathologist include patients, language and speech. The most important skills for a psychologist are patients, crisis intervention, and rehabilitation.

Speech pathologist vs psychologist overview

Speech PathologistPsychologist
Yearly salary$62,640$97,803
Hourly rate$30.12$47.02
Growth rate21%6%
Number of jobs22,77912,516
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 54%Bachelor's Degree, 47%
Average age4047
Years of experience2-

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 a psychologist do?

Sales managers are responsible for leading the organization's sales team. They oversee the progress and performance of the whole team, set area assignments to team members, and set weekly or monthly quotas. Sales managers oversee training team members during onboarding and providing further coaching to help them achieve their goals. They manage the challenges that team members may meet and help mitigate any problems that come along the way. Sales managers also set the strategic direction of the sales team and follow through by ensuring that the team's activities are in line with the goals.

Speech pathologist vs psychologist salary

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

Speech PathologistPsychologist
Average salary$62,640$97,803
Salary rangeBetween $43,000 And $89,000Between $68,000 And $139,000
Highest paying CitySan Francisco, CASan Francisco, CA
Highest paying stateNevadaCalifornia
Best paying companyMayo ClinicSierra Corporation
Best paying industryHealth CareHealth Care

Differences between speech pathologist and psychologist education

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

Speech PathologistPsychologist
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 54%Bachelor's Degree, 47%
Most common majorCommunication Disorders SciencesPsychology
Most common collegeUniversity of North Carolina at Chapel HillNorthwestern University

Speech pathologist vs psychologist demographics

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

Speech PathologistPsychologist
Average age4047
Gender ratioMale, 11.9% Female, 88.1%Male, 35.2% Female, 64.8%
Race ratioBlack 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, 5.1% Unknown, 3.6% Hispanic or Latino, 10.8% Asian, 4.2% White, 75.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2%
LGBT Percentage6%20%

Differences between speech pathologist and psychologist 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.
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Psychologist example responsibilities.

  • Supervise mental health staff, including the overseeing of the provision of mental health services in a correctional facility.
  • Provide EMDR therapy for clients with trauma and anxiety.
  • Perform tests to diagnose autism in children or tests for the detection of autism at an early age.
  • Provide supervision and mentoring for APA Pre-Doctoral interns.
  • Supervise clinical activities of doctoral level psychology interns in APA accredit internship program.
  • Evaluate veterans for psychological disorders that may have resulted secondary to their military service for compensation purposes.
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Speech pathologist vs psychologist skills

Common speech pathologist skills
  • Patients, 18%
  • Language, 17%
  • Speech, 17%
  • Patient Care, 8%
  • Rehabilitation, 7%
  • Home Health, 6%
Common psychologist skills
  • Patients, 18%
  • Crisis Intervention, 7%
  • Rehabilitation, 6%
  • Mental Illness, 5%
  • Clinical Supervision, 5%
  • APA, 4%

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