Speech-Language Pathologists vs Physical Therapists
Median pay is about $5k higher for Physical Therapists. The usual entry education is master's for Speech-Language Pathologists and doctoral (DPT) for Physical Therapists.
marks the higher pay or growth. Education, difficulty and the AI rows depend on what you want, so they are not marked.
| Measure | Speech-Language Pathologists | Physical Therapists |
|---|---|---|
| Pay | ||
| Median pay | $97,870 | $102,760, higher |
| Entry pay 25th percentile | $77,730 | $86,160, higher |
| Experienced pay 75th percentile | $114,570 | $121,160, higher |
| Outlook, 2025 to 2035 | ||
| Projected growth | +17% Growing fast, higher | +12% Growing fast |
| Openings a year | 12,500 | 13,400 |
| Getting in | ||
| Typical education | Master's | Doctoral (DPT) |
| Difficulty modeled | 3.8 / 5 | 4.2 / 5 |
| AI | ||
| Displacement risk modeled | Low | Low |
| AI exposure modeled, percentile | 51st pct | 39th pct |
Where the skills differ
Only Speech-Language Pathologists
- Learning Strategies
Only Physical Therapists
- Monitoring
Both lean on reading comprehension, active listening, critical thinking, writing, speaking.
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.