Speech-language pathology is ranked among the top 50 careers in the country in the current issue of Money magazine.¹

The careers were chosen for having "great pay and growth prospects."

"In the midst of the worst job market in three decades, you might think the only thing people care about when it comes to their career is having a job and keeping it," the magazine reported. But when asked what makes a great job, an online survey of 35,000 people found that "intellectual challenge, a passion for the work, and flexibility [rated] just as highly as security. Perhaps the financial crisis has made many of us realize that we're going to be on the job a few extra years, so we might as well be doing work we can enjoy."

At the top of the list are systems engineer, physician assistant and college professor. Speech-language pathologist was ranked 27th. Other health care careers listed in the top 50 are nurse practitioner (4), physical therapist (7), anesthesiologist (11), occupational therapist (14), nurse anesthetist (15), physician in general practice (19), physician in obstetrics and gynecology (22), clinical psychologist (23), and psychiatrist (24).

The magazine gave the following job description for speech-language pathologists: "administer hearing, speech and language evaluations, tests and examinations to patients to develop, implement and monitor treatment plans for problems such as stuttering, delayed language, swallowing disorders and or voice problems."

The article listed the median salary for experienced therapists as $70,900, with a top pay of $116,000. (ADVANCE will publish its annual salary survey in the Dec. 14 print edition. There is still time to participate in this year's survey. Visit the Salary Center on our homepage and input your information. The more people who participate, the more accurate the results will be. If you take the salary survey by Dec. 1, you will be eligible to win a $100 gift certificate from the ADVANCE Healthcare Shop.)

Money listed the growth in speech-language pathology jobs over 10 years (2006-2016) as 11 percent and in online classified ads (April to August 2009) as 21 percent. In quality-of-life ratings the magazine awarded the profession an "A" for future growth and benefit to society, a "B" for personal satisfaction and job security, and a "C" for low stress. More than half (53 percent) of speech-language pathologists rate their job as having low stress, compared to 59.5 percent of physical therapists and 50 percent of occupational therapists.

On any given day, comments on the ADVANCE Facebook page reflect the high marks that speech-language pathologists give their profession, including the strong prospects for future growth. "We have a great field that gives us the opportunity to keep helping people," someone posted recently. "Everyone needs to go back to helping others instead of just helping themselves. It's more rewarding."

Clinicians on both coasts report plentiful job openings. A New Englander stated, "I'm in the schools and lovin' it, even though the money isn't as good as a medical position. The hours and time off can't be beat. I've been in the field for five years and have never seen a slowdown in job opportunities." A therapist in California, who also has been practicing for five years, agreed. "Honestly," she said, "I have not seen a decrease in the need for speech therapists."

Reference

1. Rosato, D. (2009). The 50 best jobs in America. Money. November.

Sherry Fox is Editor of ADVANCE.