Any speech pathologists on the OT?

Lots of chicks do it. So there is that...

My wife is one. No pics.

She used to make good money in the health care sector. Now she is in the school system, which is half the money, but much better benefits. It allows her half the year off to spend with our son, which is worth the shortfalls of the income loss on that side of the road.

What information are you looking for?

I think this would have been my chosen field had I not become a musician and teacher.

to finding a rewarding and worthwhile occupation.

I considered this field before returning to graduate school. Job shadowed one in a hospital for a day. Looked like a lower stress job. I was surprised how involved they were with newborns--especially those in the NICU. Think they start off in the $50k-$60k in the hospital setting. I'd be cautious about the school setting. The SLPs seemed stretched thin with a heavy case load that required them to bring work home.

The problems I had with the career were: 1) Seemed like the job was kind of boring. 2) Some of the methodology/procedures didn't seem research supported, and treatment results were not always visible--thus a frequent state of uncertainty with practice. 3) And now, three, who knows what will happen in the healthcare field as Obamacare moves forward. I can see allied health professions like SLP and OT suffering a hit.

All in all, though, it seemed like a pretty good career. Especially for a male, who should enjoy ample opportunities.

i work with them often. solid profession.

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I went the 4 year Audiology route

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Talk about a career that's tough to find concrete information about! I looked into audiology as well, but a 4-year doctorate... just couldn't envision it. And, plus, states need to do away with all of those HIS people diluting the field and undermining professional salaries.

What have you found to be the career outlook for audiology?

Hearing Instrument Specialists

Tons of info at audiology.org or the ASHA website. Terrific career outlook. You can really do what you want in the field; there are so many areas you can "specialize" or focus in - hearing aids, vestibular, tinnitus, cochlear implants, diagnostics, CAPD,...etc. According to BLS, the job outlook between 2012 and 2022 is 34% which is much faster than average. You also have to think about this generation and their hearing hygiene- iPods and careless use of ear protection, which is going to have them in our offices before the age of 30.

Don't get discouraged by the average pay you see when you search Audiology, there are MANY MANY Audiologists that are part time- a good bit are women who upon graduation start having families, and their salaries bring down the average. I actually have a friend who is going into her fourth year and doing her externship in Colorado- she is being hired after the fourth year with a starting salary of $130k. Part time, 3 days a week start with 80k. If you plan on staying in Louisiana, don't. It's last in the country for pay. As for HIS, there is a push to get them out- obviously you know how bad it is for our profession and for the public to have them. They are nearly selling these hearing aids without properly fitting them which in turn have them crawling to our office for help and has them scared to make anymore purchases to improve their hearing.

Also, Career cast and Forbes have Audiology listed as #4 as best job of 2013. Didn't mean to write a novel, haha.

The amount of money you make is in your hands. I work with a couple that do PRN at like 4-5 places and pull in around 150k. Some don't care about the money though and still love it. Basically guaranteed to be a few of them hot in your class too