Occupational Therapists vs Speech-Language Pathologists
Median pay is about $2k higher for Occupational Therapists. Both usually start with the same education: master's.
marks the higher pay or growth. Education, difficulty and the AI rows depend on what you want, so they are not marked.
| Measure | Occupational Therapists | Speech-Language Pathologists |
|---|---|---|
| Pay | ||
| Median pay | $100,330, higher | $97,870 |
| Entry pay 25th percentile | $82,510, higher | $77,730 |
| Experienced pay 75th percentile | $116,670, higher | $114,570 |
| Outlook, 2025 to 2035 | ||
| Projected growth | +15% Growing fast | +17% Growing fast, higher |
| Openings a year | 10,000 | 12,500 |
| Getting in | ||
| Typical education | Master's | Master's |
| Difficulty modeled | 3.8 / 5 | 3.8 / 5 |
| AI | ||
| Displacement risk modeled | Low | Low |
| AI exposure modeled, percentile | 43rd pct | 51st pct |
Where the skills differ
Only Occupational Therapists
- Monitoring
Only Speech-Language Pathologists
- Critical Thinking
Both lean on active listening, speaking, reading comprehension, learning strategies, writing.
More comparisons
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Pay and outlook: BLS (OEWS 2025, Employment Projections 2025-2035). Skills: O*NET 30.3. Difficulty, displacement risk and AI exposure are modeled estimates. How these numbers are made.