The US Bureau of Labor Statistics provides an analysis of the annual salaries and hourly wages for speech-language pathologists in the three major cities and two rural areas of Oklahoma as of 2015:
High Levels of Job Growth for Speech-Language Pathologists in Oklahoma
The Oklahoma Employment Security Commission predicts that the number of jobs for SLPs will increase by 20.9% between 2014 and 2024—a rate much faster than that of occupations on average in the state. This rate of increase should result in 70 jobs for speech-language pathologists opening up on average each year during this time frame.
- Emerson College offers an online master’s in speech-language pathology with the same curriculum as its top-ranked* on-campus program. Students are prepared to pursue SLP certification in as few as 20 months. GRE Required.
*U.S. News & World Report, 2018 - NYU Steinhardt's online MS in Communicative Sciences and Disorders, Speech@NYU, offers a comprehensive curriculum that combines research and evidence-based clinical practice in a flexible online format. Speech@NYU prepares students across the country to become creative, collaborative, and effective speech-language pathologists. Students of this program will gain the experience needed to provide care to diverse populations across the life span. GRE Required. Request information.
- Baylor’s SLP master’s program online can be completed full time in 20 months or part time in 25 months. 100 percent of on-campus graduates pass the Praxis and become employed. Bachelor’s and GRE required.
Private outpatient clinics are one source of employment for SLPs. Oklahoma boasts a number of such clinics that offer the services of speech-language pathologists:
Oklahoma City:
- Baker Speech Clinic
- John W. Keys Speech and Hearing Center
- Therapitas
Tulsa:
- Faith Therapy Clinic
- Prohab Therapy Specialists
- Swallowing and Neurological Rehabilitation, LLC
- Tulsa Sunchine Center Pediatric Speech, OT, PT, and Counseling
Other Cities in Oklahoma:
- Guthrie: Guthrie Socttish Rite Clinic
- Jenks: Speech and Beyond, LLC
- McAlester: Rite Care Clinic
Salary Supplement for Nationally Certified SLPs in Oklahoma’s Schools
The state of Oklahoma showed great concern about the issue of having qualified speech-language pathologists and audiologists in its schools. The Oklahoma Board of Examiners for Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists produced a strategic plan for fiscal years 2014-2018 to address this issue.
The document notes that other states such as Arizona and Maryland offer bonuses to SLPs that have national certification. The Education Action Team of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association targeted Oklahoma as a state that would benefit from offering this type of bonus.
The national association worked in tandem with Oklahoma’s Speech-Language-Hearing Association to secure a salary supplement for school-based SLPs and audiologists who are nationally certified. Oklahoma’s Board of Examiners for SLPs and Audiologists supports these efforts, so the state can attract and retain qualified hearing specialists in its schools.
Salaries for Speech-Language Pathologists in Oklahoma and Its Regions
Oklahoma’s Employment Security Commission provides the salaries for SLPs in the state as of 2015. Experienced speech-language pathologists in the top 10% earned an average of $115,360 ($55.60 hourly) that year. SLPs earned $67,790 ($32.59 hourly) on average.
The Commission also provides comparable salary data for Oklahoma’s Workforce Investment Areas:
Northeast:
- Annual: $86,186 – $149,371
- Hourly: $41.44- $71.81
Southwest:
- Annual: $78,405 – $159,974
- Hourly: $37.69 – $76.91
Tulsa:
- Annual: $71,404 – $120,211
- Hourly: $34.33 – $57.79
Southcentral:
- Annual: $69,587 – $131,798
- Hourly: $33.46 – $63.36
Eastcentral:
- Annual: $67,103 – $117,314
- Hourly: $32.26 – $56.40
Central:
- Annual: $66,048 – $103,516
- Hourly: $31.75 – $49.77
Southern:
- Annual: $60,202 – $94,602
- Hourly: $28.94 – $45.48
Northwestern:
- Annual: $60,003 – $103,867
- Hourly: $28.85 – $49.94
Eastern:
- Annual: $58,604 – $86,251
- Hourly: $28.17 – $41.47
