The Average Salary for Speech Therapy in Idaho

Speech therapists, also called speech-language pathologists, train patients in the activity of talking. Speech therapists work with clients who have had injuries, problems resulting from surgery and patients looking to overcome stutters, accents and other impairments. Employed in schools, hospitals, private businesses and research facilities, speech therapists in Idaho earned considerably lower than the national average.

Facts

In 2009, the average salary for a speech-language pathologist across the United States was approximately $68,350, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' survey on wages. Idaho's 310 speech therapists earned significantly under the national wage, with an annual median salary of $59,380.

Ranges

While the middle 50 percent of Idaho's speech therapist earned under the national average, salaries across the state varied widely. At the bottom 10th percentile, speech therapists in Idaho earned $27,480 per year while those in the 90th percentile earned $93,710 per year.

Considerations

Attaining a career as a speech therapist begins with an undergraduate degree and master's degree in speech pathology or speech-language pathology. The Council on Academic Accreditation accredits 240 graduate programs in the field, including Idaho State University's Master of Science in speech-language pathology (the only accredited program in the state). Prospective speech therapists must also take the Praxis Series of the Educational Testing Service exam and have up to 375 hours of supervised clinical experience.

Outlook

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a 19 percent rise in employment of speech therapists, adding 22,100 jobs to the field across the country through 2018. The BLS recommends candidates for speech therapy salaries look into remote and rural areas of Idaho, as regional areas may have trouble attracting qualified applicants.

References

• U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics: Speech-Language Pathologists
• U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Employment and Wages
• American Speech-Language-Hearing Association: Master's Program Search
• State University: Speech-Language Pathologist Job Description