Occupational therapists help patients perform daily life activities and work tasks, while speech-language pathologists focus specifically on communication and swallowing disorders. Both require master’s degrees, but OTs earned a median $96,370 in 2024 compared to SLPs’ $95,410. The two professions frequently collaborate in healthcare settings on shared patient concerns, such as feeding, cognition, and post-stroke recovery.
Many speech-language pathologists are familiar with occupational therapy before they even enter their own profession. Often, SLPs seriously consider going into occupational therapy before deciding to pursue speech-language pathology, and vice versa.
Although there are differences between the two professions, the common thread is clear: a desire to help patients improve their lives. Understanding how these careers complement each other can help you make an informed decision about your educational and professional path.
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What Is an Occupational Therapist?
Occupational therapists (OTs) help individuals do the things they want and need to do through the therapeutic use of daily activities. By promoting health and preventing or managing disability, illness, or injury, OTs help individuals of all ages live fulfilling lives.
Occupational therapists provide training for the “job of living.” They help individuals engage in self-care and basic life skills that might otherwise be difficult or overwhelming due to disability, illness, or injury.
Services provided by OTs may include:
- Reviewing medical history to understand patient needs and limitations
- Performing individualized evaluations to assess functional abilities
- Developing customized interventions targeting specific daily living goals
- Demonstrating exercises and adaptive techniques to improve motor function
- Educating families and employers on how to support patient progress
- Assessing outcomes and modifying treatment plans as needed
OTs work in diverse settings, including hospitals, schools, rehabilitation centers, nursing homes, and patients’ homes. Their focus extends beyond physical health to include mental and emotional well-being as they relate to daily functioning.
What Is a Speech-Language Pathologist?
Speech-language pathologists (SLPs) are communication experts who work with individuals to address communication barriers. The primary goal of SLPs is to improve individuals’ ability to communicate and swallow safely using evidence-based therapeutic practices.
SLPs focus on speech-related issues, including:
- Feeding and swallowing (dysphagia) affect safe nutrition
- Fluency disorders like stuttering and cluttering
- Language comprehension and expression
- Social communication and pragmatic skills
- Speech sounds and articulation
- Voice disorders and vocal quality
Becoming a speech-language pathologist is a specialized career dedicated to helping others. It requires specialized education, which can be obtained through accredited in-person or online graduate programs.
Can Occupational Therapists Help With Speech?
Yes. While speech-language pathologists focus solely on communication and swallowing, occupational therapists often incorporate speech-language therapies into their practice. Speech is a functional goal for many patients looking to improve their quality of life and work on their “job of living.”
The key difference is scope and specialization. Speech-language pathologists practice in a more specialized field with greater expertise in communication disorders. Still, there are many ways in which the practice of speech-language pathology benefits from occupational therapists’ assistance.
For example, an OT might work on jaw strengthening and oral motor control as part of a feeding therapy plan. At the same time, an SLP provides the specialized swallowing assessment and targeted dysphagia treatment. This collaborative approach often yields better patient outcomes than either discipline working alone.
How Do OTs and SLPs Work Together?
There’s considerable overlap between speech and occupational therapy, and the two professionals collaborate in several settings. The complementary nature of careers for speech-language pathologists and occupational therapists is reflected in the fact that many hospitals, clinics, and assisted-living facilities employ both.
It’s common for SLPs and OTs to work closely together on many cases, though SLP therapies are typically delivered one-on-one. At the same time, OTs are more likely to work with groups or collaborate more closely with physical therapists and other therapy providers.
Both SLPs and OTs may work with patients who have problems with:
- Cognition following stroke or traumatic brain injury
- Feeding mechanics and oral motor function
- Language learning difficulties in children with developmental delays
- Posture affecting breathing and vocal production
- Swallowing safety and efficiency
Many of their treatment approaches are similar as well. The strategies that any SLP or OT might use in treating an eating problem rooted in myofunctional disorder, for example, will likely revolve around teaching the patient improved resting postures of the facial and tongue muscles, strengthening and retraining exercises for the affected muscles, and modification of eating habits and techniques to accommodate the remaining disability.
Key Differences Between OT and SLP
Although some treatments may be similar, there are primary differences between occupational therapy and speech-language pathology, including differences in therapeutic focus, required education and training, and career outlook.
Therapeutic Focus
Speech-language pathology focuses on communication issues and problems arising from upper gastrointestinal tract disabilities. SLPs address the mechanics of speech production, language processing, and safe swallowing.
Occupational therapy takes a big-picture perspective, analyzing the individual’s problems as a set of interrelated issues and developing treatments for each. OTs look at how various factors affect a person’s ability to function in daily life.
For example, an SLP working with an autistic child is likely to focus primarily on language-learning skills, teaching the child how to form sounds correctly and build them into words and sentences.
An OT presented with the same patient might incorporate larger considerations of autistic disability into their treatment. They might recognize that the primary obstacle to learning sounds is not necessarily a mechanical deficiency in the auditory or speech function, but rather a dramatically shortened attention span and social dysfunction. Their treatment options could extend well beyond teaching sound creation skills, instead verging into socialization exercises and sensory integration therapy.
It’s in this big-picture perspective that occupational therapy offers the most to speech-language pathologists. No amount of sound drill repetition will correct a short attention span. These are called executive function skills—the ability to comply with training directed by specialists such as SLPs.
OTs can also help improve postural stability, which is critical for some swallowing and speech patients. They have a comprehensive understanding of how the body’s neuromuscular systems tie together, whereas SLPs typically have a more specific focus on the throat and face.
OTs can provide alternative or complementary treatments that enable SLPs to exercise their own expertise more effectively.
Required Education and Training
Another area where speech and occupational therapy overlap is in education and training. In fact, many professionals followed identical paths through their undergraduate programs, making the final decision only when it was time to select a master’s program in speech-language pathology.
Key educational similarities and differences:
- Both fields require master’s degrees for licensing and certification
- SLPs must complete programs accredited by the Council on Academic Accreditation (CAA)
- SLPs have mandatory license programs that they must comply with in all 50 states
- OTs must be licensed in most states, but many states also require strong certification even where licensure isn’t required.
- SLPs must complete a clinical fellowship year after graduation
- OTs complete fieldwork requirements during their graduate programs
More professionals in both fields are turning to doctoral-level education instead of stopping at a master’s degree. OTs are seeking out OTD programs (Doctor of Occupational Therapy degrees), while SLPs are increasingly obtaining clinical doctorates in speech-language pathology or PhD programs focused on research.
As the standard of care for both types of therapists increases, doctoral degrees are likely to become more common in both professions.
Side-by-Side Career Comparison
Understanding the similarities and differences between occupational therapy and speech-language pathology can help you make an informed decision about your career path.
| Feature | Occupational Therapy | Speech-Language Pathology |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Focus | Daily life activities, motor skills, functional independence | Communication disorders, swallowing difficulties, and language development |
| Education Required | Master’s in OT (OTD increasingly common) | Master’s in SLP required, clinical doctorate optional |
| Median Salary (2024) | $96,370 nationally | $95,410 nationally |
| Job Growth (2023-2033) | 12% (faster than average) | 19% (much faster than average) |
| Licensure | Required in most states | Required in all 50 states |
| National Certification | OTR (Occupational Therapist Registered) | CCC-SLP (Certificate of Clinical Competence) |
| Work Settings | Hospitals, schools, homes, workplaces, and rehabilitation centers | Schools, hospitals, clinics, private practice, telepractice |
| Typical Session Style | Individual or group therapy, often collaborative with PT | Primarily, one-on-one therapy sessions |
| Patient Age Groups | All ages, from infants to the elderly | All ages, from infants to the elderly |
| Professional Organization | American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) | American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) |
Salary and Job Outlook
Both SLPs and OTs are in-demand professions with attractive salaries and strong job growth projections. Understanding the compensation and career outlook for each field can help inform your decision.
Speech-Language Pathologist Salary and Growth
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual wage for speech-language pathologists was $95,410 in May 2024. The lowest 10% earned less than $60,480, while the highest 10% earned more than $132,850.
SLP employment is projected to grow 19% between 2023 and 2033, which is much faster than the average for all occupations. This growth is driven by an aging population that’s living longer and experiencing more age-related communication and swallowing disorders.
Top-paying states for SLPs in 2024 included:
- California: $116,000 median annual wage
- Colorado: $108,070 median annual wage
- Hawaii: $108,230 median annual wage
- District of Columbia: $106,950 median annual wage
- Oregon: $104,230 median annual wage
Occupational Therapist Salary and Growth
Occupational therapists earned a median annual wage of $96,370 in May 2024, according to BLS data. The lowest 10% earned less than $63,060, while the highest 10% earned more than $135,820.
OT employment is projected to grow 12% between 2023 and 2033, which is faster than average but slower than the growth expected for SLPs. The aging baby boomer population drives demand for both professions, as older adults experience more injuries and conditions affecting daily function.
Work Environment Comparison
Both professions offer flexibility in work settings and schedules. SLPs and OTs can work in:
- Schools: Working with children during academic year, summers off
- Healthcare facilities: Hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, rehabilitation centers
- Private practice: Self-employment with flexible scheduling
- Home health: Traveling to patients’ homes
- Telepractice: Providing services remotely (especially for SLPs)
The typical work week for both professions is 40 hours, though many clinicians work part-time or have flexible schedules. School-based positions typically follow the academic calendar, while healthcare settings may require evening or weekend hours.
Which Career Is Right for You?
Choosing between occupational therapy and speech-language pathology depends on your interests, strengths, and career goals. Consider these factors when making your decision:
You Might Prefer Occupational Therapy If You:
- Enjoy taking a holistic approach to patient care
- Want to work on physical and cognitive aspects of function
- Like helping people adapt their environment to their needs
- Are interested in adaptive equipment and assistive technology
- Prefer working with groups or teams of patients
- Want to address sensory processing and motor skills
You Might Prefer Speech-Language Pathology If You:
- I am fascinated by communication and language
- Want to specialize in a focused area of practice
- Enjoy working one-on-one with patients
- Are interested in the anatomy and neurology of speech systems
- Want to help people with swallowing disorders
- Like working with voice and fluency issues
Common Ground
Both careers offer:
- The satisfaction of helping people improve their quality of life
- Strong job security and growth potential
- Competitive salaries and benefits
- Diverse work settings and patient populations
- Opportunities for specialization and advancement
- Work-life balance with flexible scheduling options
Frequently Asked Questions
Can occupational therapists help with speech development?
Yes, occupational therapists can support speech development by addressing underlying factors like oral motor skills, sensory processing, and attention span. However, OTs don’t replace SLPs for communication disorders. Instead, they work collaboratively with SLPs to address the broader functional context affecting a patient’s ability to communicate effectively.
What’s the main difference between OT and speech therapy?
The main difference is focus. Speech-language pathologists specialize in communication disorders and swallowing difficulties, while occupational therapists take a broader approach to help patients perform daily life activities and work tasks. SLPs address speech, language, and swallowing, while OTs focus on motor skills, sensory processing, and functional independence.
Which pays more, occupational therapy or speech pathology?
Salaries are very similar. In 2024, occupational therapists earned a median annual wage of $96,370, while speech-language pathologists earned $95,410. Both professions offer competitive compensation that varies by location, work setting, and experience level. Top earners in either field can exceed $130,000 annually.
Do OTs and SLPs work together?
Yes, OTs and SLPs frequently collaborate in healthcare settings. They often work together on cases involving feeding difficulties, cognitive impairments, developmental delays, and post-stroke rehabilitation. Their complementary skills enable them to address different aspects of a patient’s recovery and functional improvement, resulting in better overall outcomes.
Which career has better job growth prospects?
Speech-language pathology has stronger growth projections at 19% (2023-2033) than occupational therapy’s 12%. Both rates are faster than average for all occupations. The aging population drives demand for both professions, but SLPs are particularly needed for age-related communication and swallowing disorders.
Can I switch from OT to SLP or vice versa?
Yes, but you’ll need to complete the required graduate program for your new field. Your bachelor’s degree in communication sciences or a related field may satisfy prerequisites. However, you’ll still need to earn a master’s degree in your chosen profession and complete all clinical requirements and licensing exams. Many professionals have successfully transitioned between these related fields.
What undergraduate degree do I need to become an OT or SLP?
For SLP, a bachelor’s degree in communication sciences and disorders is ideal but not required. For OT, many students major in psychology, biology, or kinesiology. Both professions have prerequisite coursework requirements that vary by graduate program. Focus on strong grades in sciences, psychology, and any communication or rehabilitation courses available during your undergraduate studies.
Key Takeaways
- Different focus areas: SLPs specialize in communication and swallowing disorders, while OTs take a holistic approach to daily living activities and functional independence.
- Similar salaries: Both professions offer competitive compensation with median annual wages around $95,000-$96,000 in 2024, with top earners exceeding $130,000.
- Strong job growth: SLP employment is projected to grow 19% through 2033, while OT is expected to grow 12%, both faster than average for all occupations.
- Collaborative practice: OTs and SLPs frequently work together on cases involving feeding, cognition, and developmental delays, with their complementary skills improving patient outcomes.
- Master’s degree required: Both careers require graduate education; SLPs need programs accredited by CAA and licensure in all 50 states, while OTs require licensure in most states.
- Choose based on your interests: Consider whether you prefer a specialized focus on communication (SLP) or a broader approach to functional daily activities (OT).
Ready to Start Your Career Journey?
Whether you’re drawn to speech-language pathology or occupational therapy, pursuing either career means making a meaningful difference in people’s lives. Explore accredited graduate programs and take the first step toward a rewarding healthcare career.
2024 US Bureau of Labor Statistics salary and job market figures for Speech-Language Pathologists and Occupational Therapists reflect national data, not school-specific information. Conditions in your area may vary. Data accessed November 2025.
