travel slp pay

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Unlocking the Speech Therapy Travel Job Market

Table of Contents

The world of speech therapy provides multiple avenues for passionate practitioners. Amongst these, the role of a Travel Speech Language Pathologist (SLP) has emerged as a notable path for many. Is it the allure of working in new environments, or does it have more to do with earning potential? In this in-depth discussion, we'll review the salary, work environment, unique characteristics, and educational requirements of a Travel versus Regular Speech Language Pathologist. Plus, we'll compare this career with others in the allied medical travel professions. Join us as we delve into the exciting career of a Travel SLP.

What Does the Speech Therapist Travel Job Outlook & Salary Look Like?

The career outlook for speech-language pathologists in general is quite positive, with the Bureau of Labor Statistics projecting 23% job growth between 2020 and 2030. This is much faster than average across all occupations. However, the prospects for travel speech therapists are even more promising due to the high demand for their flexible, temporary services.

Travel SLPs can expect to earn a higher salary than traditional speech therapists. The average pay for a travel SLP ranges from $60,000-$80,000 per year, sometimes over $100,000 for experienced therapists willing to take on extra assignments. Compare this to the median salary for all speech-language pathologists of around $80,480 per year according to 2021 BLS data.

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What is the Average Salary for a Travel SLP?

The average salary for a travel speech therapist falls between $60,000 and $80,000 annually. However, there is a wide range based on experience, certifications, types of facilities worked, and geographic regions.

For example, a travel SLP just starting out can expect to earn around $60,000 per year if working at schools and outpatient clinics. More experienced travel therapists who take on hospital and skilled nursing assignments may earn over $80,000. Those willing to travel to very remote or undesirable locations can make over $100,000.

How Does the Career Outlook for a Travel SLP Compare to a Regular Speech Pathologist?

The career outlook for travel speech therapists is extremely strong. While the overall job growth for speech pathologists is projected at 23% through 2030, the demand for travel SLPs in particular is rapidly increasing.

Healthcare facilities need the flexible support travel therapists provide to fill in for leaves, vacations, and staffing shortages. Many travel companies report the number of assignments for SLPs has doubled in recent years. There is no expectation of this demand decreasing anytime soon.

What Factors Influence the Earning Potential for a Speech Therapist?

There are several key factors that impact how much a travel SLP can earn:

• Years of experience - more experienced SLPs earn higher pay
• Types of facilities - hospitals pay more than schools
• Geographic region - higher pay for less desirable locations
• Certifications - specialized certs increase pay
• Flexibility - taking on more assignments means more pay
• Contract negotiations - higher pay for longer contracts

The top earning travel speech therapists are those with 5+ years experience, willing to take on hospital contracts in locations with staff shortages, for longer periods of time (13 week+ contracts). Specialized certifications like dysphagia expertise also command higher pay in travel roles.

Why Choose a Career as a Travel Speech Language Pathologist?

What are the unique work environment aspects of travel slps.

There are several unique work environment factors for travel speech therapists compared to traditional permanent roles:

• Get to work in new facilities and locations frequently
• Experience new cities and towns as part of the job
• Typically no duties outside of patient care (no meetings, paperwork)
• Greater autonomy and independence
• Flexible schedule as assignments end
• Higher pay for less predictable work

Travel SLPs need to be comfortable with the uncertainty of changing locations frequently. However, this provides the advantage of continual new experiences without being tied down.

Why would a Speech Therapist Choose the Path of a Travel SLP?

There are many potential motivations for a speech pathologist to pursue travel therapy roles:

• Earn a higher salary
• Gain experience in different settings
• Have a flexible schedule with time off between contracts
• Work in new cities/states across the country
• Try out different locations before settling down
• Advance clinical skills with exposure to new cases
• No workplace politics or bureaucracy

Travel allows SLPs to explore while advancing their career and earning great pay. It provides a change of pace from the limitations of permanent jobs.

How is a Travel Speech Language Pathologist Job Different from Regular Speech Therapy Roles?

There are some key differences between being a travel SLP versus working a permanent job:

• Travel between assignments, don't have one set workplace
• Temporary 13 week contracts rather than permanent employment
• Typically no administrative duties
• Greater flexibility and autonomy
• Higher pay to compensate for travel
• Less stability but more adventure
• New experiences instead of set routines

The life of a travel therapist allows more freedom and much higher pay, but requires comfort with frequent changes and flexibility. It's ideal for SLPs who crave new experiences and challenges.

What Educational Pathways Lead to a Career in Travel Speech Therapy?

To become a travel speech-language pathologist (SLP), you must first earn a master's degree in speech-language pathology. There are several educational pathways that can lead to this career:

Complete an undergraduate degree in communication sciences and disorders or speech-language pathology. Many universities offer bachelor's degrees specifically tailored for students interested in eventually pursuing a master's in the field. Coursework typically includes classes in linguistics, anatomy, physiology, and introductory topics in speech disorders.

Major in a related field and minor in communication sciences. Some students choose to major in a field like psychology, human development, or education, while minoring in communication sciences. This provides a strong liberal arts background while still completing prerequisites for a graduate program.

Complete prerequisite coursework as a post-baccalaureate student. If you hold a bachelor's degree in an unrelated field, look for schools that offer leveling coursework for non-majors. You can complete any prerequisite classes you're missing before applying to master's programs.

Once you've completed an undergraduate education, you'll apply to accredited master's programs in speech-language pathology. Graduate courseworkdeepens your knowledge in areas like language disorders, motor speech disorders, swallowing disorders, and clinical methods. Most programs include clinical rotations where you'll get hands-on experience evaluating and treating patients under supervisor.

After earning a master's degree and completing a clinical fellowship, you'll be eligible for national certification and state licensure as an SLP. From there, you can search for travel therapy jobs that allow you to provide speech therapy services while traveling across the country!

What are the Requirements of an Online Master's in Speech Pathology for a Career as a Travel SLP?

An online speech pathology master's program must meet the same academic and clinical standards as traditional programs to prepare you for national certification. Here are some key requirements to look for:

Accreditation by the Council on Academic Accreditation. Make sure any graduate program you consider holds valid accreditation for training speech-language pathologists.

Extensive coursework in assessment and intervention. Your classes should cover diagnosis and treatment for a wide variety of communication and swallowing disorders across different age groups.

At least 400 hours of supervised clinical rotations. You'll need to complete clinical hours across various settings like schools, hospitals, and clinics.

Capstone research project. Most programs require completion of a data-driven research study and paper under the guidance of a faculty mentor.

Student teaching opportunities. Look for a program that can help arrange local school placements for any required student teaching assignments.

One benefit of an online program is the flexibility to complete your degree while working. This can help offset costs and provide exposure to clinical settings in your area.

How Does Online Education Support Career Growth in Speech Therapy?

Pursuing online education as a speech therapist provides several advantages for career advancement:

Convenient access to continuing education. Online CEUs allow working SLPs to stay updated on emerging research and best practices without extensive travel.

Opportunities to specialize. Post-graduate online certificates and doctorates offer the chance to gain expertise in niche areas like voice disorders, bilingual speech therapy, dysphagia, and more.

Networking and collaboration. Digital learning platforms connect you to peers and mentors across the country to share knowledge and experiences.

Job mobility. The flexibility of online education allows you to continue advancing your education and career while relocating or working as a travel SLP.

No disruption to work. The remote format prevents having to take time off for education - you can study and complete assignments outside of working hours.

From clinical fellowships to PhDs, online options make continuing education more accessible for speech therapists at any stage of their career. This supports increased earning potential and leadership opportunities in the field.

How can Applied Behavior Analysis Enrich the Career Path of a Speech Therapist?

Pursuing training in applied behavior analysis (ABA) can expand a speech therapist's skill set and job opportunities. Here are some of the benefits:

Tools to improve communication and language skills. ABA utilizes reinforcement, prompting, and other techniques that can complement speech therapy when working with children with autism or developmental delays.

Assessment of challenging behaviors. Training in functional behavior assessments allows SLPs to analyze and modify behaviors that interfere with communication progress.

Collaboration with behavioral analysts. Shared knowledge of ABA facilitates effective interface with behavior therapists as part of an interdisciplinary care team.

Employer demand. ABA training provides an advantage for SLP jobseekers, as more facilities want clinicians cross-trained in both disciplines.

Dual credentialing. SLPs can pursue certification as Board Certified Behavior Analysts to provide standalone ABA therapy.

Career advancement. Supervisory and leadership roles in ABA may become available to experienced SLPs with this augmented expertise.

While graduate programs are adding ABA coursework, SLPs can also obtain training through certificates, seminars, and supervised fieldwork. Expanding your capabilities with applied behavior analysis enhances clinical practice and job prospects.

How Does a Career as a Travel SLP Compare to Other Allied Travel Careers?

What are the average annual salaries in allied travel professions like occupational therapy and nurse practitioner.

Here are average salary ranges for some of the top allied healthcare travel professions:

• Travel speech-language pathologist: $60,000 - $80,000
• Travel occupational therapist: $70,000 - $90,000
• Travel physical therapist: $75,000 - $100,000
• Travel nurse practitioner: $90,000 - $120,000
• Travel physician assistant: $100,000 - $130,000

*Salaries are influenced by factors like certifications, work setting, geographic region, and years of experience.

Working as a travel SLP can be one of the more lucrative paths early in your career. With a lowerbarrier to entry than some clinical doctorate professions, combined with high demand, travel speech therapy offers strong earning potential right out of graduate school.

How Does the Job Growth Forecast Look for Other Travel Jobs in the Medical Field?

The latest employment projections bode well for increased opportunities in travel healthcare roles:

• Occupational therapist jobs expected to grow 16% from 2020-2030
• Physical therapist jobs expected to grow 18% from 2020-2030
• Nurse practitioner jobs expected to grow 45% from 2020-2030
• Physician assistant jobs expected to grow 31% from 2020-2030

All of these fields are predicted to grow much faster than the average across all occupations. The rapidly expanding healthcare sector, aging population, and clinical staffing shortages signal strong continued demand for travel allied health professionals.

How Does the Work Environment in Travel Speech Therapy Compare to that of a Travel Nurse or Other Allied Travels Professions?

There are some key differences in the typical work settings and conditions between travel SLPs and other traveling health providers:

• Travel SLPs often work in school settings rather than hospitals or medical clinics.
• The patients of travel SLPs are more commonly pediatric versus adult.
• Travel SLPs tend to work daytime hours rather than shifts on nights/weekends.
• Travel nurses deal with more urgent acute illnesses and hospital politics.
• Travel physical and occupational therapists may face higher productivity quotas.

However, travel SLPs share the same benefits as other allied travelers when it comes to schedule flexibility, freedom in choosing assignments, and variety of locations. Overall, travel speech therapy offers a great balance of career growth and enhanced quality of life.

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Travel speech language pathologist salary in the united states.

How much does a Travel Speech Language Pathologist make in the United States? The salary range for a Travel Speech Language Pathologist job is from $80,381 to $98,342 per year in the United States. Click on the filter to check out Travel Speech Language Pathologist job salaries by hourly, weekly, biweekly, semimonthly, monthly, and yearly.

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Highest Paying Cities for Travel Speech Language Pathologist in the United States

States with higher salaries for travel speech language pathologist, how much do similar professions get paid in the united states, how much should you be earning, what does a travel speech language pathologist do.

Waiting for speech-language pathology services: A randomised controlled trial comparing therapy, advice and device.

Applicants for the Certificate of Clinical Competence in Speech-Language Pathology (CCC-SLP) must earn a graduate degree, successfully complete the required clinical experiences, and pass a national examination.

The Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology (CAA) requires that student outcome data are made available for the three most recently completed academic years.

USAHS’ Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology program is rooted in our student-FIRST philosophy: Everything we do is focused on student success.

As the trimester begins, USAHS is offering speech-language pathology sessions via teletherapy to Texas residents who have a suspected communication or swallowing difficulty.

View Job Skills and Competency Data for more than 15,000 Job Titles, 18 Industries, and 26 Job Families.

Most Common Benefits for Travel Speech Language Pathologist

Related companies for travel speech language pathologist in the united states, frequently asked questions, do i receive fair pay as a travel speech language pathologist currently, what are the responsibilities of a travel speech language pathologist, how much do similar jobs to travel speech language pathologist make.

• Speech Language Pathologist
• School Speech Language Pathologist
• Bilingual Speech Language Pathologist
• Pediatric Speech Language Pathologist
• Speech Language Pathologist Assistant
• CF Speech Language Pathologist
• Teletherapy Speech Language Pathologist
• Virtual Speech and Language Pathologist
• Virtual Speech Language Pathologist

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How to Make 100k as an SLP

If you have ever considered becoming a speech-language pathologist , chances are that you also heard a thing or two about pay rates for SLPs. Depending on who you are speaking with about pay, it could be a highly positive or negative conversation. To cut to the chase, many people considering speech-language pathology as a career want to know if and how to make $100K. Is it even possible to make 6-figures as an SLP?

Short answer: Yes. It is 100% possible to make $100K as an SLP. Long answer: Those opportunities are few and far between and something that you shouldn’t count on when entering the field. 

However, if you are willing to step outside of the box, there are ways to make $100K or more in this field. Personally, I’ve been a 6-figure earning SLP for many years. In this blog, I am sharing some of my personal tips and strategies with you here. 

What is an SLP and How Do I Become One?

To be brief, a speech pathologist works in evaluating and treating all areas of speech, language, cognition, and swallowing disorders. They can be employed by schools, hospitals, skilled nursing facilities (SNFs), clinics, the government, and more. 

A master’s degree is required to practice as an SLP along with 400 hours of supervised clinical hours, and a 9-month supervised clinical fellowship.

To learn more about becoming an SLP read this article : SLP Basics .

I also highly recommend learning more about the Pros and Cons of Being a Speech-Language Pathologist.

Average SLP Salary

First let’s talk about what is an average salary for an SLP. Making $100K as an SLP is not considered average by any means, it is absolutely above average ( but not impossible! ) 

Determining an average SLP salary depends on so many factors. Two of the biggest factors are geographic location and setting type (e.g. schools vs SNF). We will talk about those two factors in this piece and how they can hopefully help you to cross that $100K line to become a high-earning SLP.

In this blog, I’m going to reference two sources quite frequently. The ASHA 2022 Schools Survey and the ASHA 2021 SLP in Health Care Survey . These two sources have, in my opinion, the best and most comprehensive data available regarding SLP pay rates. 

From these reports, the median SLP school salary for a 9-month year is reported to be $64,000 per year and the median school salary for 11-12 months is $80,000. 

The median salary for SLPs working in the clinical setting is reported to be $82,000/year . SNFs have the highest-paying clinical setting with an average salary of $97,100/year.

Of note : this data is self-reported and we don’t exactly know how many hours people work when reporting their salary. e.g. is overtime or PRN factoring into these rates at all? I acknowledge that when I report my SLP income I include all of the PRN and SLP-related side hustles. People like me could potentially skew the data.

While $100K is not typical SLP pay, let’s talk about how to get there. 

How to Make $100K as an SLP

Negotiate your slp pay.

First and foremost, as an SLP you can and should absolutely negotiate your pay. I’ll be honest and say this is hard when you are starting out as a clinical fellow, but see below (job hop every 1 to 3 years). This is why we job hop: negotiating gets a lot easier with a few years of experience.

Tips for Negotiating Your SLP Pay:

• Research average SLP pay for your area and setting, and have an appropriate pay rate set to start negotiations.
• Research how long the job was sitting open for and if a traveler was needed to fill the position while it was open (you are in a better place to negotiate if the position was sitting open longer).
• Understand the supply and demand of the area. If there are more SLP job openings than SLPs in the area, you have the upper hand in negotiating. 
• Set talking points based on how you will help the facility by being on staff. Make the negotiation about the facility and their needs, versus you and your needs. Highlight the value that having you will bring to them.
• Sometimes you just have to say no. Don’t be afraid to say no to a bad offer. Sometimes they might turn around to meet your offer, other times not. 

Job Hop Every 1-3 years if in Healthcare

This advice is somewhat controversial but I’m going to say it. If you’re an SLP, especially in healthcare, you need to job hop. Raises are low to non-existent in healthcare and most SLPs do not make more money through loyalty. We make more money by leaving a job and negotiating a higher pay rate at our next job. 

A simple example of this is when I was a CF in a SNF in 2009; I earned $30/hour. My first annual raise I got a pay increase of 25 cents an hour to make a whopping $30.25/hour. When I left to travel, my pay immediately doubled in rate and I went from making $750/week take home to $1,550/week take home. Then, when I settled down in a permanent job two years later, I negotiated to start at $40/hour. 

I tell this story to say that it benefits you to job hop. Had I stayed at that first SNF job, I would probably barely be making $33/hour, more than 10 years later. Because I left the job and took a new position, I was able to significantly increase my pay. 

Can you job hop to 100K? This is going to depend mostly on your location and setting. In the SNF setting, with a couple of years’ experience, across most states, I see it completely reasonable to ask for and receive $50/hour. This comes out to a job above $100K for the year. 

Relocate to a Higher Demand Area that Pays Higher 

As mentioned above, supply and demand are everything when it comes to SLP pay. Certain states and geographic areas just pay us higher. Traditionally, the Pacific West Coast pays SLPs the best, with California being the highest.

According to ASHA’s School Survey data, SLPs in the Pacific states made a median of $99,437/year working in the schools while SLPs in the schools of Louisiana made $51,000/year. That’s a huge difference! 

According to the ASHA Healthcare survey data, in 2023 SLPs on the West Coast in healthcare averaged $96,500/year while SLPs in the Midwest and South averaged $85,000.

Since I’ve been an acute care SLP, hospitals have paid as much as $97/hour to have me in the facility as an SLP and have paid as little as $40/hour.

So what’s the difference between $97 and $40? Supply and demand. 

The hospital that paid $97/hour to have me in-house did it during COVID when there was an extreme shortage of staff to begin with. Plus, they were in a very rural area of California (which is already a high paying state) that had a hard time attracting talent. While that $97 is high and a contracted rate (so my agency took 25% of it), I will add that I’ve been regularly offered between $60-$70/hour to work permanently in the hospitals across California.

The $40/hour was in the greater Boston area where four grad schools produce some of the nation’s best SLPs each year and the talent pool is extremely large. 

I share my personal data to reinforce that supply and demand and geographic area are everything in our jobs. Unfortunately, while we all have the same education and licenses, some places just pay higher for us than others. Boston and California have similar costs of living, but as you can see, the place that was more desperate for SLPs paid significantly higher.

Take Travel Speech Therapy Contracts

By landing on this website, you likely noticed it is about all things travel therapy . Travel therapy is when you take short-term 13-week to 9-month contracts to fill staffing shortages. Travel therapy contracts tend to be high risk, high reward, meaning they can pay very well, but you take on the risk of being an at-will employee, being canceled at any time, and moving to a new place to start a new job every few months. 

If this kind of lifestyle excites you, then read on. 

Travel pay varies, but you can typically make a take-home pay of anywhere from $1,600/week after taxes to $2,200/week after taxes as a traveler. On the high end, you can make over $3,000 net take home a week. As a travel therapist myself, I’m happy to boost that I have made over $3,000/week in my higher earning contract. These numbers can easily put your take home at over $100K a year. However, it is important to note that not all of the travel pay rate is your actual wage. 

Travel pay packages are a combination of 3 things

• Your taxable hourly wage (usually something like $25-$35/hour)
• A non-taxable housing stipend
• A non-taxable meals and incidentals stipend

So, while you might be actually banking over $100K a year, you will have to use that money to pay for expenses as you travel the country. Also, since only your taxable hourly wage is reported to the government, your income will be lower and this could be an issue if you are trying to maximize your pay for things like securing a mortgage, loan, or Social Security. 

Open a Private Practice or Independently Contract

Perhaps the most lucrative SLP setting is to be your own boss as a private practice owner or independent contractor. As an independent contractor you can contract directly with schools or clinics to utilize your services. 

As a private practice business owner, with considerations to what is allowed by insurance, you can bill insurance directly and/or take cash-based clients and set your own rates. You could also potentially run groups, do tele therapy, or do home-based visits.

I could not find any current information suggesting what SLP private practice owners make. An ASHA wire report from 2015 reported that median private practice salary pay was $77,240/year. I expect that number has increased since then. 

The only SLPs I know personally who make multiple six-figures a year are private practice owners or they own an SLP-related business. While owning a business comes with a lot of risks, it also comes with the opportunity to set rates and scale your business to earn greater income.

Advance to a Full-Time Management Position

While most SLPs don’t go into the field to manage others, create and maintain budgets, write schedules, and then shuffle the schedule around when a clinician calls out at 5am, management might be an option for some SLPs. The ASHA Health Care survey reports that the median salary for full-time management positions is $113,000/year. 

My advice is to take that number with caution. Go into management if you want to be in management and enjoy the tasks of being a manager. Don’t go into it for the money. Most managers are salaried and end up working far more than you would as a treating clinician. If your only goal is to make more money – especially if you are in a SNF – then consider the next point. 

Work Multiple SLP Clinical Jobs (not the answer that most want to hear)

This definitely is not the answer that most people want to hear, but if your goal is to top $100K/year, this is one solid way to do it. I’ve exceeded 100K a year as an SLP working permanently and with a side PRN job.

One of the reasons why working multiple SLP jobs can be so lucrative is because you only need to get benefits from one job. The other job(s) are per diem or part-time. Because you don’t need benefits, you can negotiate a higher hourly rate. For example, if your perm SLP job pays $45/hour, you could negotiate $55 to $65+/hour as a per diem employee. 

If you work a full 9-5 SLP job and then pick up two extra shifts a month on the weekend, you could make an extra $800-950/month doing per diem work. That is around an extra $10K/year. If you pick up more time at night, you can increase from there. If you make $45/hour from your perm job, which brings in around $93,000/year, that extra 10K from working PRN can move you over that 100K mark.

You could also work a permanent job and see patients independently on the side, which can be some better side income. 

Become an Expert in the Field

The more that you invest in yourself and your skills, the more valuable that you can be to an employer. I say this with some caution because, of course, not all employers see the value in increasing skills. But, for example, the more specific skills you have that will help a facility fill their staffing needs, and increase the caseload of clients that they are able to take on, the more that you could negotiate with them to pay you a higher salary. 

As an expert in the field, you could also find lucrative, non-clinical opportunities such as paid speaking opportunities, creating continuing education courses, guest lecturing at universities, paid podcast and writing opportunities, and paid consulting. 

Create Income from a Side Hustle

Speech therapists tend to be intelligent, driven, and creative people by nature. It’s no surprise that many SLPs create lucrative side hustles outside of their clinical practice. The side hustles could be SLP related (such as making materials to sell on Etsy or Teachers Pay Teachers ), or they could be completely non SLP related. 

One of the nice things about being an SLP is that there is an abundance of jobs available and those jobs range anywhere from a few hours a week up to over 40 hours a week. If you get started on a side hustle and want to grow it out to something bigger, SLP is a great job for you to scale down your hours with. 

Personally, I’ve almost fully left SLP to pursue a career in digital marketing. My time as a digital marketer started out as a very small side hustle in 2014. Next, I started cutting my hours from 40 to 32 a week as the workload that I was taking on grew. Then I was down to 20. Now, I pick up a few SLP shifts a month or occasionally take a travel assignment.

Work 25+ years at a job

Last but not least, there is the longest, most time consuming way to make six figures. That is to find a job with a pay scale that increases every year that will eventually get you to that coveted 100K mark. While this isn’t for everybody, it can be a solid choice if you want stability in a job and don’t want to job hop or work outside of your 40-hour work week.

Conclusions

Again, the TLDR (too long, didn’t read) of this piece is that you can make 100K a year as an SLP. While this is not the norm for 2023, it is something that you can accomplish with some long-term goal planning. Whether you move geographic regions, take on extra PRN work, start a business, a side hustle, or go into management, there are ways to increase your salary to over 100K. 

Related posts:

• Top 5 Speech Therapy Materials for Adults
• Practical Ways to Use a Deck of Cards For Speech Therapy
• Speech Therapy Group Ideas For SNFs
• Pros and Cons of Being an SLP in an SNF

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• Healthcare Jobs
• Allied Health
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• Speech Language Pathologist

Travel speech-language pathologist (SLP) jobs

Travel speech-language pathology, or SLP, jobs are popular allied health jobs with Nomad Health. The demand for these professionals continues to grow due to an aging population requiring more speech-language services for conditions such as dementia, stroke, and swallowing problems, along with an increasing need for pediatric SLP services for conditions such as autism or developmental delays. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics , the demand for speech-language pathologists is expected to grow 19% by 2032, making these jobs a high priority for healthcare facilities to fill and ultimately creating more opportunities for travel speech-language pathologists to fill those gaps.

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Jobs by Specialty

What is a travel speech-language pathologist.

A travel speech-language pathologist , or travel SLP, is an allied health clinician who helps patients of all ages with cognitive and/or social communication disorders, in addition to swallowing disorders. Travel SLPs work temporary assignments, typically for 8-13 weeks, in different locations and facilities.

Travel speech-language pathologist job duties and responsibilities

Travel speech-language pathologist job duties range from detailed clinical assessments to educating and guiding patients through exercises. Each travel speech-language pathologist job on Nomad Health comes with unique duties and responsibilities based on the facility's needs. However, travel speech-language pathologists generally have the following duties and responsibilities:

Perform assessments

A core responsibility of a travel speech-language pathologist is to evaluate levels of speech, language, or swallowing difficulty in their patients. Aside from a deep understanding of anatomy and physiology, they may utilize a number of modalities to achieve this, such as:

• Videofluoroscopic instrumental swallow studies
• Endoscopic assessments of swallowing function
• Pulmonary testing
• Scintigraphy

Recommend a plan of care

Once a thorough assessment of the patient’s condition is performed, travel SLPs may create and carry out an individualized treatment plan that addresses specific functional needs. For example, for premature infants who may have swallowing issues, a travel SLP may create a plan to safely transition the child from parenteral feeding to oral feeding, based on the etiology of the condition and the overall progression of the child's development.

For adults with neurological deficits resulting from a stroke, a travel SLP may perform a swallow screen early on to determine the need for rehabilitative services. As the patient’s neurological deficits become apparent, the travel SLP may work over a specific duration of time to help the patient regain the ability to swallow as safely as possible.

Teaching and education

Travel speech-language pathologist jobs involve quite a bit of teaching. It’s important for travel SLPs to be aware of the different learning styles of patients based on personal preference, age, and medical conditions.

Teaching young children may require a different approach to achieve an optimal result, as opposed to older patients who have dementia or neurological deficits. In some instances, you may be teaching family members who will be the patient’s primary caregiver. These family members may have little to no medical experience, so having patience and knowing how to teach concepts in a clear and simple way is an important skill.

Documentation

Documentation is an important responsibility of travel speech-language pathologists because allows an accurate record of interventions performed, along with any clinical observations. Documenting accurately for insurance reimbursement is an important aspect of the job as well. According to the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association , travel SLPs are responsible for documenting crucial information related to their care including:

Assessments : This can include objective or subjective baseline diagnostic testing, interpretation of test results, and clinical findings. Documenting reassessments is appropriate when the patient exhibits a change in functional speech and language communication skills.

Treatment : A care plan relevant to the patient’s disorder should include continued assessment of progress during treatment, including an analysis of the patient’s status at regular intervals. Short-term and long-term measurable goals should also be included.

Daily notes : SOAP (Subjective, Objective, Assessment, and Plan) notes are an effective way to document daily

Progress reports : These should include an initial functional communication level of the patient, the current functional level of the patient, the progress (or lack of progress) specific to the expected rehabilitation, and any potential changes in the plan of treatment.

Miscellaneous speech-language pathologist travel job responsibilities

It’s important to note that no travel job is the same. Every SLP travel job comes with its own set of duties and responsibilities based on the current needs of the healthcare facility hiring for the role. While the above duties and responsibilities are common across many travel speech-language pathologist jobs, individual travel jobs listed on Nomad Health may come with duties outside of this scope. If you have questions about a travel speech-language pathologist job on Nomad, reach out to a Nomad Navigator .

Travel SLP job qualifications and skills

To get a travel speech-language pathologist job, you must meet certain educational and professional requirements. It’s important to note that these job requirements may differ based on the state you’re in and what the facility requires for a particular travel speech-language pathologist job.

SLP Educational requirements

To qualify for a travel speech-language pathologist job, you must have a master's or doctorate degree in Speech-Language Pathology from an accredited program.

SLP Licensure and certifications

To get a travel speech-language pathologist job, you must be licensed within the state where you practice. For travelers, it’s important to check with each state’s licensing board requirements for where you intend to take an assignment. When it comes to certifications, some hiring managers may require or look for these:

• Certificate of Clinical Competence in Speech-Language Pathology (CCC-SLP) offered by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association . This certification is highly recommended and sometimes required by a facility.
• Certification by the American Board of Child Language and Language Disorders
• Certification by the American Board of Fluency and Fluency Disorders
• Certification by the American Board of Swallowing and Swallowing Disorders

Professional experience

Facilities that hire travel speech-language pathologists expect them to adapt quickly to new environments, which is why most travel speech-language pathologist jobs require at least one year of hands-on experience. Some facilities may accept new grads who have fellowship training.

Why consider a travel speech-language pathologist job?

There are a lot of reasons why considering a travel speech-language pathologist job is a smart move. From financial incentives to personal growth, a travel job might be just what you need to take the next step in your career.

High demand for travel speech-language pathologists

With an aging population and a consistent need for SLP services for infants and children, the demand for travel speech-language pathologists is high. This can mean more job security and less susceptibility to economic downturns.

Competitive pay

Travel speech-language pathologist jobs may pay more than staff speech-language pathologist jobs. Many things can impact travel pay including your experience, education, location, credentials, and facility needs. When you browse travel speech-language pathology jobs on Nomad, you’ll see a pay breakdown, including the travel stipend, of every job so you have an idea of how much you’ll earn before you apply.

Interdisciplinary collaboration

Travel speech-language pathologist jobs allow you to collaborate cross-functionally with interdisciplinary healthcare staff ranging from physicians to nurses and other allied health professionals. When you work closely with these teams, you’ll get a broader perspective on patient care that you can add to your skill set.

Continuous learning

Travel speech-language pathologist jobs can put you on the fast track to learning about the latest education, techniques, treatments, and equipment used in the field. If you’re interested in getting ahead of the curve, a travel SLP job might be right for you.

Visit new locations

One of the biggest perks of travel speech-language pathologist jobs is deciding where you want to work. Working travel speech-language pathologist jobs in new locations can expose you to new facilities and patient populations you may not experience in a regular staff position.

Finding travel speech-language pathologist jobs

Most clinicians say travel speech-language pathologist jobs offer a combination of high compensation and opportunities to expand your clinical experience. However, what makes the ideal travel SLP job usually depends on personal preferences, career goals, and financial goals.

Research travel speech-language pathologist travel agencies

Research is vital to finding the best travel speech-language pathologist jobs for you. First, you need to determine which travel agencies offer travel SLP jobs. Unfortunately, not all agencies work with travel speech-language pathologists.

Read reviews

Next, you should consider the reputation of the agency you’re working with. Use a search engine and read the testimonials and reviews that other travel speech-language pathologists leave. These reviews should give you a general idea of whether the agency meets your standards, and if other SLPs recommend them.

Compare SLP job benefits

While pay may often be the most important benefit of travel speech-language pathologist jobs, remember that additional perks such as stipends for scrubs, licenses, and travel, along with health insurance and the option to invest in a 401(k) should be factored into the equation. Unlike Nomad, not all agencies offer these types of benefits , so it's important to compare the additional perks before you accept a travel SLP job.

Top locations for SLP travel jobs

The demand for travel speech-language pathologist jobs varies across different states based on factors such as the overall demand for SLP services, the number of healthcare facilities, and the demographics of the regional population. Additionally, states with larger populations and advanced health systems may need more speech-language pathologist travelers.

As one of the biggest states, California has multiple medical facilities in densely populated areas like Los Angeles and San Francisco that often hire for travel speech-language pathologist jobs.

Certain metropolitan cities in Texas have travel SLP jobs available including Dallas, Houston, San Antonio, and Austin.

A diverse, robust population with a sprawling healthcare infrastructure in New York makes it a top spot for travel speech-language pathologist jobs, especially in New York City.

In Missouri , St. Louis is a major hub for healthcare facilities and typically has a high demand for travel speech-language pathologist travelers.

Preparing for your first travel speech-language pathologist job

If it’s your first time accepting a travel SLP job, there are a few tips and tricks to keep in mind that will help you feel prepared and ready to go on your first day. Every travel speech-language pathologist job is different, but excelling in one or more of these areas will ensure you are set up for success.

Ask about orientation

One of the most important questions you can ask your hiring manager is about the orientation and onboarding process for your travel job. Knowing how much support you will have at the beginning, and how much you’ll need to learn independently can help set realistic expectations for your first week on the job.

Be adaptable

Being adaptable is the key to starting any travel speech-language pathologist job. You will need to be prepared for differences in workflow, charting systems, and resources when working any travel job.

Build relationships

Along the way, remember to network and build relationships with your new colleagues. Connect with other travel speech-language pathologists and learn about their experiences with the facility and traveling in general.

Pack wisely

Remember to pack all the essentials you will need for the duration of your travel assignment. Depending on where your travel speech-language pathologist job is, it may be difficult to find familiar stores for last-minute items, especially if you’re working in a rural area. We recommend packing a few extra pairs of scrubs, toiletries, and anything else to make you comfortable during your stay.

Frequently asked questions about travel SLP jobs

How long are travel speech-language pathologist job contracts.

Travel speech-language pathologist job contract length varies depending on the needs of the facility. In general, most travel SLP job contracts are 13 weeks long, although it’s not uncommon to find contracts that are longer.

Can I choose the location for my travel speech-language pathologist job?

Yes, you can choose the location for your travel speech-language pathologist job. Nomad Health features travel speech-language pathologist jobs across the United States. Some are in desirable locations like California and New York.

Do travel speech-language pathologist jobs provide opportunities for professional growth?

Yes! Travel speech-language pathologist jobs are an excellent way to expedite professional growth. Uou can get exposure to new environments, patient populations, and technology that may help level up your pay and skillset.

Travel SLP job resources

• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (n.d.). Speech-Language Pathologists. Retrieved from https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/speech-language-pathologists.htm
• American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA). (n.d.). Medical Review Guidelines for Speech-Language Pathology Services. Retrieved from https://www.asha.org/siteassets/uploadedfiles/slp-medical-review-guidelines.pdf
• American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA). (n.d.). Home. Retrieved from https://www.asha.org/
• Academy of Orton-Gillingham Practitioners and Educators. (n.d.). Child Language Specialist. Retrieved from https://www.childlanguagespecialist.org/
• Board of Fluency and Fluency Disorders. (n.d.). Board Recognized Fluency Specialist. Retrieved from https://www.stutteringspecialists.org/
• Swallowing Disorders Foundation. (n.d.). Home. Retrieved from https://www.swallowingdisorders.org/

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8 Things to know if you aspire to be a traveling SLP

New Year’s means new resolutions and that could mean checking new places and adventures off your bucket list. What do you aspire to accomplish? Learning to surf in Hawaii, skiing the Rockies or hiking that mountain in California? For the SLP with a sense of adventure you may want to consider becoming a traveling therapist. Being a traveling therapist allows you to travel and explore the United States while maintaining a job as an SLP and getting paid for work.

The term “travel therapy” can be vague; it generally refers to the industry that staff’s therapists in short term contracts across the United States. Travel therapists are used to fill short-term, immediate staffing needs secondary to staffing shortages or temporary leaves.  Jobs can be in any setting and are typically between 3 to 9 months in duration.

Here are some things to know if you are considering a career as a traveler…

1. be prepared to “hit the ground running”.

As a traveling SLP you will be working in places that have immediate staffing needs, some more dire than others.  From the start of your assignment, you may be expected to perform your job and assume a full caseload with little to no orientation.   Having strong clinical skills and caseload management abilities can help make the transitions easier.

2. You will learn A LOT

The idea of taking over a new caseload with little orientation may sound challenging and scary.  However, you do not need to be a veteran clinician to be a traveler. Being a traveler will introduce you to new settings, buildings, new patients and new co-workers.  It is a great way to enhance your clinical skills and expand your practice.

3.  Nothing is Ever Free

As a traveling SLP you will be subcontracted to a facility through a staffing agency.  There are hundreds of staffing agencies competing for your business and their marketing tactics can be misleading.  Agencies advertise free housing, CEU’s, relocation, etc, but of course there is a catch.

Everything you need to know about being a traveling therapist is in the “Guide to Travel Therapy” !

What is important to know about reimbursements is that nothing is truly ever free.  A staffing agency essentially gets paid a sum of money for each 13-week contract that you complete. Think of that money as one big pie that can be cut in many different pieces.  First, the staffing agency is going to take their share of the pie to cover expenses to run the agency and make a profit.  After that the rest of the pie is yours and can be split different ways.  You may choose to split the pie into 13 equal paychecks every week. You may also choose to have money allotted for housing expenses, moving expenses, ASHA dues, etc. and then make less money per week.  Make your money and contract work for you and divide it as needed.

4. You May Qualify for Tax-Free Stipends

As a traveling SLP you may qualify for tax free living and housing stipends if you maintain both a residence at home and duplicate expenses by traveling to a temporary location for work.  If you qualify for a tax-free stipend, it is again coming out of the big pie, as mentioned above.  Staffing agencies follow government guidelines to determine the amount of stipend that they can allocate based on geographic area.  Thus, your stipend may be different if you are working in San Francisco vs Omaha.

5. You Can Extend Your Time

You may be asked to extend your contract for more than the initial time.  Taking an extension is your decision and has pros and cons. Extensions can ease the burden of moving so frequently, but they can hinder our wanderlust souls.

Thank you to Julia Kuhn, blogger, over at The Traveling Traveler Blog. For those times you wish you could be an SLP in Hawaii, check out her “Guide to Travel Therapy” .

If you continue to extend at a location for a whole year, you would no longer be considered a temporary employee; per IRS guidelines.  You would still be eligible to work in the same location after a year, but would no longer be considered a temporary employee and would no longer qualify for tax-free stipends.

6. Research the Industry

As you can tell from the last three bullet points, there is a lot to learn and know about working in the travel industry.   Do your research before becoming a traveler. This could include:

• Find a mentor who has travel experience
• Join groups on social media to connect with other travelers i.e. “Travel Therapists” and “Travel Therapy”
• Read websites and blogs about the industry
• Attend “The Traveler’s Conference” which is an annual 3-day conference in Las Vegas every September.  TravCon has seminars on travel and connects more than 1000 travelers and agency representatives in one location.
• Speak to an accountant or tax professional knowledgeable in traveling professionals and filing multi state income taxes

7. Explore Your New Surroundings

While three months may sound like a long time to be at a place, it goes by very quickly. Take advantage of your time at your new location to explore and engage in your surroundings. Think about your bucket list and New Year’s resolutions; remember what it is you want to accomplish this year and go for it!  Make a list of things you want to do or places to see at every contract and stay proactive in checking items off that list. Join community groups, take classes and engage in your new environment! Before you know it three months will be over.

8. Attitude is everything

Your attitude is a big part of what will determine your success and happiness as a traveling therapist.  Traveling can be a challenge, but it can also be an extremely rewarding and enriching experience.  If you go into an assignment with a negative attitude you will likely have a negative assignment. Going into a building with a positive attitude is key for success.

Best of luck and happy travels to everybody beginning new adventures!

Links of Interest

Check out Julia’s E-course “The Guide to Travel Therapy”

Check out Julia’s blog at The Traveling Traveler

Join her Traveling Therapist Facebook Forum

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How to Launch Your Career as a Travel Speech-Language Pathologist

May 2, 2022

Megan Bebout

How to Launch Your Career as a Travel SLP

…No, it’s not Robert Pattinson as Batman. They are speech-language pathologists ( SLPs ), obviously!

Also called speech therapists, SLPs are specialized medical workers who “prevent, assess, diagnose, and treat speech, language, social communication, cognitive-communication, and swallowing disorders in children and adults,” per the ASHA . So basically, they’re wizards.

Communication connoisseurs

SLPs wear many hats. Clearly, wizard hats. Okay, okay, not actually those kinds of hats. Rather, professional and metaphorical hats that help them best treat their patients in personalized ways.

But who exactly would need help from SLPs? Anyone of any age who may struggle with:

• Speech sounds: How we say sounds and put sounds together to make words
• Language: The extent to how well we understand what we hear, read, and how we use words to express our thoughts to others
• Literacy: How well we read and write
• Social communication: How we talk with different people or how well we understand social cues
• Voice: How we sound
• Fluency: Aka stuttering, one of the most common speech disorders , or how our speech flows
• Cognitive communication: How our minds work
• Feeding and swallowing: Our ability to suck, chew, and swallow food and liquid

How do they do that? Are they actually wizards? I mean, sort of, in a way that they don’t have magical powers. But they do have insane medical knowledge and skills that are, in fact, super powerful and help them get the job done. As an SLP , you’ll put your talent to use to:

• Perform patient screenings
• Diagnose and treat speech, language, and swallowing disorders
• Provide aural rehab for patients who are deaf or hard of hearing
• Design individualized care plans tailored to individual patient needs
• Help patients strengthen speech and communication skills
• Educate families and caregivers on how to best care for patient at home
• Do research to learn more about human communication processes to improve treatment methods

That’s right, and you can do all that cool stuff in multiple different work settings . You can find speech therapists in private practices, physician’s offices, hospitals, schools, universities, rehabilitation centers, long-term care facilities, and residential healthcare facilities.

“Being an SLP is my dream job and always will be,” said Nicole Allison. “I love that we get to work with such diverse age groups and skills. I’m always learning so it never gets boring!”

Steps to start your SLP career

Saying a career as an SLP is rewarding would be like saying cake is delicious—some things just don’t need to be said. So, it’s no surprise that SLPs ranked no. 3 in Best Healthcare Jobs by U.S. News . Plus, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics ( BLS ), the future job outlook for SLPs is shining brighter than the sun itself with a 29 percent projected growth rate between 2020 and 2030. During that decade, it’s estimated 15,200 speech therapy jobs will be available each year.

Really, what we’re trying to say is being an SLP is rewarding work that leaves you feeling all warm and fuzzy inside. I mean, think about it: You get to watch as patients build their strength and overcome adversity right before your eyes! You can see their progress in real time and feel good knowing you played a part.

“Communication exists in every plane of human existence, and it’s most taxed during these key life questions,” said Katie Gore. “Most of our clients come to us during a period of transition: A job promotion, an upcoming marriage, change in family role. They come with questions about communication, but the answers are closely tied to the life situation answer itself—and I never know what that is! But we figure it out together and that’s why I love this job. Our clients write their own paths, and we are fortunate enough to be a sideline coach for some specific skills. Being invited to experiencing the process of figuring life out, with my clients, has changed who I am as a person.”

The anticipation is killing us. Wait no longer! If you’ve found yourself enthusiastically nodding along while reading, as if you were in the crowd of a baseball game chanting the lyrics to “Sweet Caroline,” then might we suggest you start your SLP career ? Now’s your time to shine! And we’re going to spill the deets on how you can become an SLP.

No. 1: Complete your bachelor’s degree

To become an SLP, you must first complete your bachelor’s degree, and if you haven’t done so already, you may want to think about majoring in communication sciences and disorders (CSD). Don’t sweat it if you’ve already graduated or if you’re mid-school because it’s not a requirement! Just be prepared to complete additional prerequisites before you apply to graduate school, which is, spoiler alert, step no. 2.

No. 2: Earn a graduate degree in speech-language pathology

Now that you’ve got your bachelor’s under your belt, it’s time to take school up a notch and earn a graduate degree in SLP from an accredited institution . This could be a Master of Science in Communication Disorders, Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology, Master of Science in Communication Sciences and Disorders. I mean, your options here are endless.

No. 3: Get to work (work, work, work, work)

Hey Alexa. Play “9 to 5” by Dolly Parton. Because it’s hustlin’ time!

You have your undergrad degree You have your graduate degree The next thing to check off is a clinical fellowship year ( CFY ).

Your CFY is like if careers had preschool. The goal with this fellowship is to help you transition from SLP student life into SLP real life. It’s a professional mentored experience that starts when you complete your graduate program. The ASHA requires a minimum of 1,260 hours and a minimum of 36 weeks of full-time experience (or its part-time equivalent). To help break it up, the fellowship is broken into three equal segments, which add up to be about 420 hours per segment.

No. 4: Time to get certified

Some states require aspiring SLPs, like yourself, to complete the Certificate of Clinical Competence in Speech-Language Pathology ( CCC-SLP ). Administered through the ASHA, the CCC-SLP is considered the gold star credential in the field.

No. 5: Pass the Praxis exam

You’re almost there! Keep it up just a little bit longer.

The Praxis exams in Audiology and SLP are meant to test recent grads on the essential content and current practices of the medical field. Oh, and did we mention this is also how you earn state licensure, among other requirements, depending on the state.

No. 6: Live your best adventure

Congratulations, you SLP, you! As Elle Woods said, “You did it!” Cue the flying graduation caps.

Now it’s time to start living your best life as an SLP. And what better way to do that than by getting paid to travel the U.S.? While also improving lives, obviously. Since you’ve graduated, earned your degrees, gained experience , been certified, and licensed, you can grow your SLP career into med travel . So, start traveling with Fusion Medical Staffing !

With Fusion, you know all sides of you are covered, not just your back. Here you’ll receive premium travel pay, retirement investment, certification reimbursement, health, dental, and vision insurance, and then some . Want to know more? There’s only one way to find out.

Q&A with A Fusion Medical Staffing SLP traveler, Kendra

We wanted to know more about what an SLP does, so we sat with traveler, Kendra Jones, to hear about what it means to her!

Megan Bebout: Hey Kendra! Tell us a little bit about what SLPs do .  

Kendra: Hello! So, I tell patients that I work "from the neck on up," and that seems to do the job when explaining what an SLP does! As efficient as I can get without saying, "We work on voice, motor speech, language, AAC, cognitive-communication, dysphagia, speaking valve use" and so on.

MB: Right on. “From the neck up” is a great way to describe SLP! Can you tell us how you chose to be a SLP?  

K: I decided to pursue being an SLP after my grandfather's stroke, and just generally becoming more aware of the impact my dad's deafness had on his daily living. Growing up, I thought he was just "one of those cranky old dads" who didn't like to go out much, and who thought it was fun to yell in the grocery/restaurant/general public areas. Nah, it turns out, he just couldn't hear anything. I was kind of late to the game on that realization!

But to become an SLP, I had to get my undergrad, then Master's with clinical rotations, and then a clinical fellowship of 1,260 hours before I had my national license (CCC). I don't want to remember how long all of that took. 

MB: Oh man. I feel like we all think we have that kind of dad, but your dad had a reason to be cranky! What is the most rewarding part about being a SLP? 

K: The most rewarding thing for me is getting a patient back home in some capacity. Even more so when I can work with physical therapists ( PTs ), occupational therapists ( OTs ), or respiratory therapists ( RTs ) extensively! 

MB: Love that! Okay, lastly, what makes SLPs superheroes? Because they really are!

K: Superheroes?? What?! But probably...bringing life and personality back into a person after so many communication obstacles. Oh, and  safely  helping someone swallow that apple martini or beer. 

SLPs work with patients from all backgrounds and ability levels and help them communicate to the fullest. Whether you’re working with a patient with dyslexia, autism, or someone recovering from a stroke, SLPs make a positive impact to give individuals more control and freedom in their lives. Travel SLPs do just that but everywhere! Take your SLP career to the next level and start traveling with Fusion Medical Staffing . We promise you won’t regret it.

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Tag: travel SLP pay

Negotiating pay on a travel therapy contract.

Pay negotiation is one of the most often asked about and least understood aspects of travel therapy. Since one of the biggest fears for new and aspiring travel therapists is being taken advantage of by travel companies and recruiters with regards to pay, it’s understandable why so many people are in search of information on negotiation.

Unfortunately, travel therapy is a niche industry and most of the advice out there about negotiation is written for those applying for permanent positions as the target audience, and that advice may or may not apply to us as travelers. To make matters worse, travel healthcare Facebook groups are often filled with unhelpful or even counterproductive advice when it comes to negotiating pay on a new travel contract. This is largely due to the fact that negotiating pay in a travel contract is complex, varies significantly from contract to contract, and impossible to explain with proper nuance in a short Facebook post. Sometimes though, the information given is purposely deceptive or vague in an attempt to convince you that the person knows some “secret” about negotiation that you can learn too, if only you work with their recruiters or buy their product. Rest assured that no such secrets exist.

Over the last six years as travel therapists ourselves as well as serving as mentors for thousands of other travelers, we’ve learned a lot about negotiating travel contracts and what all goes into determining how and when to push for more money. In this article, I’ll do my best to outline how to negotiate on your next travel therapy contract and maximize your pay package.

Working with Multiple Trusted Recruiters

Working with more than one recruiter (ideally three) is one of the most important things you can do increase your pay and negotiating ability as a travel therapist. It’s not enough to just be working with more than one though, you need to make sure that they each know that you have other recruiters also assisting you in your job search in order to find the highest paying job that fits your individual needs. Having a recruiter who understands that they have competition during a job search often makes them much more likely to stay on the ball when it comes to submitting you for jobs and also more likely to give you the highest pay offer they possibly can right off the bat in order to avoid losing your business to a different recruiter. If you only work with one recruiter, they know that the only pay offers you’re receiving are coming from them and that you have nothing to compare to in terms of pay and that they might be able to get away with underpaying you to varying degrees for a contract.

We’ve mentored dozens of travelers who were being low-balled massively, in some cases for years, due to only working with one recruiter who was taking advantage of them, and having no way to know if the offers they were receiving were reasonable. For example, let’s say that you’re only working with one recruiter, and they offer you $1,700/week take home for a job. You have no way to know if $1,700/week is high, low, or fair for that specific contract since you have nothing to compare it to either in terms of other travel jobs in the area or what a different travel company might offer you for that same job. You tell the recruiter that you’ll take the job for slightly higher at $1,750/week and they agree. You feel like you did a good job negotiating a higher pay rate, but in reality it’s possible the recruiter could have afforded to pay you $1,900/week for that job, and purposely made you a low offer knowing they could let you negotiate a slightly higher rate while still making a big profit on the contract. Of course, $1,700/week could also be a really good offer for that job too depending on the situation, but the point is that when working with only one recruiter you have no way of knowing, and the incentive for the recruiter is to start with a lower offer knowing that you might just accept it and allow them to keep a higher margin on the contract.

Of course not all recruiters are going to take advantage of you. Often if you have built a good relationship with a recruiter, or if you’ve been referred to a trusted recruiter by another experienced traveler, you have a better feeling that the recruiter is genuine and they’ll give you their best offer up front. But particularly when you’re starting out and don’t know the recruiter as well, it’s hard to know if they’re low balling you. By working with multiple recruiters who know they have some competition, the odds of receiving a low ball offer are much lower since they want to be the one to land you a job so they get paid, instead of you going with a recruiter from a different travel company.

In addition, even if you have a recruiter or multiple recruiters who you trust and don’t think are low balling you, it’s still in your best interest to work with multiple in order to compare offers. Sometimes, what one company can pay for a job is going to be higher or lower than another company based on the company’s margins and operating costs, and this may be completely outside of the recruiter’s control. So, even if the recruiter is honestly giving you their best offer up front, you put yourself in a better position to receive the highest pay by comparing offers across multiple companies.

Understanding When You Have the Power in a Negotiation

Negotiating from a position of power is vital. Even more vital though is being able to understand when you’re in a position of power and when you aren’t. In any negotiation, the individual with the most power is the one that is in a position to able to “take it or leave it.”

For this reason, one of the biggest things that gives you power in negotiation as a travel therapist is having multiple different offers either from different facilities, or from different companies for the same contract. If you have three offers from three different facilities that would all work for you, then you have a lot of power to push for higher pay from all of them and then simply go with the one that is able to pay the most. If you have offers from two different facilities, one of which pays less but is a better fit for you clinically and the other that pays more but is less ideal clinically but still reasonable, then that is the perfect position to leverage the higher offer from the less desirable clinic to increase the offer at the clinic you really want to go to.

Telling your recruiter something along the lines of, “I’d love to take this job and it sounds perfect for me, but I have another offer that is paying higher. If you can find a way to match that offer then I’ll take it, otherwise I’ll just go with the other offer” is perfectly reasonable and a great negotiation tactic. The issue here is that you have to actually be willing to walk away or take the lower offer if the recruiter truly isn’t able to match the higher offer either because they can’t decrease their margin any lower or the facility won’t increase the bill rate . “Take it or leave it.” We’ve personally used this tactic several times in the past to negotiate a much higher pay package on contracts.

One thing to mention is that lying to one of your recruiters about having another offer in a negotiation is not something that we advise, for a couple of reasons. First, having a good relationship with your recruiters is very important and you should treat them the way that you want to be treated. You wouldn’t want them to lie and take advantage of you, so you shouldn’t do that to them either. Second, if you lie about having another offer to try to increase pay, then it’s very possible that the facility could just go with a different candidate if your recruiter tries to ask for a higher pay rate, and then you lose out on that job without having a back up plan.

It’s also important to know that if you hear about the same job from two different recruiters, you can compare pay and choose to go with the one that has the higher offer, but you need to do this before being submitted for the job by one of the recruiters. You should never be submitted to the same job by two different recruiters. Being double submitted for a job can get you in trouble and often the facility will just throw out your application.

Supply and Demand

Another thing that gives you power in a negotiation is the supply and demand dynamics both of the travel therapy market in general at that time, as well as with that specific assignment. For example, let’s say that the travel therapy market is really tight like it was in 2020 during the height of COVID, and you’re specifically looking for an outpatient PT job in Virginia. If there’s only one outpatient PT travel job in the state, then you’ll be very limited in your ability to play hardball with negotiation on that job since if you don’t land it, it could be several weeks before another similar job pops up. If you don’t take it and have to wait around for something else, you’ll lose significantly more due to the opportunity cost of missing out on that job than you’d stand to gain from increasing the weekly rate slightly. On the other hand, if the supply and demand dynamics are in favor of the travel therapist and there are a plethora of jobs that fit your search criteria, then you can be much more aggressive in your negotiation, knowing that you’ll have other options if that one doesn’t work out.

These supply and demand dynamics also apply to specific assignments that are more or less desirable depending on setting and location. For example, if you’re applying for a SNF contract in North Dakota in the winter, it’s very likely that you’re the only applicant for that position, and you can leverage that situation to push for higher pay on that contract. A facility with no other applicants that has a severe need for a therapist will often increase their bill rate significantly to get a good candidate for the job. The supply and demand dynamics are in your favor here, and you’re in a position of power which is what you need for negotiation. Meanwhile, if you’re applying for a Outpatient job in San Diego, it’s almost guaranteed that they have dozens of applicants since that’s a desirable setting in a very desirable area. If you get an offer but try to push for higher pay, then the facility will just go with a different candidate. The supply and demand dynamics are in their favor which limits your negotiation ability.

Improving and Highlighting Your Skills and Certifications

One surefire way to improve your ability to negotiate as a travel therapist is by making yourself more desirable as a candidate. If a facility has multiple candidates for a travel therapy position, but you’re clearly the best suited for the job either due to your clinical skills, experience, or ability to sell yourself in the interview, then it’s possible that they will be willing to pay more for you. Things like certifications, CEU courses, and prior experience in the setting and/or with the EMR can be bargaining chips that your recruiter can use to push the facility to pay a higher bill rate in order to get you to fill the position, which can lead to a significant increase in your pay package. Keep in mind that your strengths won’t help you in a negotiation if no one knows about them, so be sure to highlight them in your resume as well as in your interview with the facility for the position.

Putting it All Together

We’ll often have travelers reach out asking how to negotiate higher pay on a contract when they clearly don’t have any actual leverage in the negotiation for that position. We wish there was some secret for all negotiations, but unfortunately there isn’t, and every situation involves a lot of nuance.

A new grad applying for a travel job with no experience in a setting that’s in a desirable location and who has no other offers simply isn’t going to be able to negotiate a significant increase in pay. They can always try, but 99% of the time the facility will just go with a different candidate, and the therapist will be back to square one on the job search. Similarly, for a therapist who is looking for a very specific setting and location, there is often little ability to push hard in negotiations and risk losing the one opportunity that fits their search criteria. So in cases like this, telling the therapist to use hardball tactics to push for high pay is going to be counterproductive and frustrating for them.

On the other hand, an experienced clinician applying for a travel job in a less desirable location who has many other offers and job options can often negotiate an increase of several hundred dollars per week on their pay package simply by leveraging their experience, other offers, and the need of the facility to significantly increase the bill rate.

The bottom line is that negotiation isn’t ever going to be one size fits all, and anyone who tries to give you black and white blanket advice either doesn’t understand negotiation or is trying to sell you something.

When negotiating for pay on your next contract, use the tips above to analyze the power dynamics and make sure that you’re negotiating from a position of strength and are being realistic in your requests so that you don’t miss out on a great contract for you!

I hope this helps you in future travel job searches and negotiations! Feel free to message us if you have any questions, or if you want help getting connected with additional recruiters to expand your negotiating power!

Related Articles:

• What are the Highest Paying Travel Therapy Companies?
• Why and How to Work with Multiple Travel Therapy Companies and Recruiters
• How Much Money Do Travel Therapists Make? The Comprehensive Guide to Travel Therapy Pay

Written by Jared Casazza, PT, DPT – Jared has been a Travel PT since 2015 and has mentored thousands of current and aspiring travel therapists.

Travel Therapy Pay 101

Travel Therapy Pay 101: How Does It Work?

A huge perk of travel therapy (Travel PT, Travel OT, Travel SLP) is that you can make more money! But how much more? And how does the pay work?

The way we get paid as traveling therapists is different than that of a normal salary or hourly position (such as at a regular permanent job or a PRN job). Why? For one, we don’t work on an annual basis, we work on a week to week basis, so you can’t discuss our pay in terms of an annual salary. We also can’t discuss pay in terms of a strict “hourly” rate, because we often receive tax-free stipends as part of our pay.

Typically, as a traveling healthcare professional, you’re going to get paid a regular hourly rate (which is taxed), plus a per diem or stipend for housing, meals, and incidentals (which is usually untaxed, as long as you meet the requirements of maintaining a proper tax home ).

Why do we get paid this way? Well, as traveling workers, we receive pay not only for the work we do, but we also receive reimbursements to cover our housing and other expenses while we are there. Per the IRS, as long as you’re maintaining a “Tax Home” at your permanent residence, you get a tax break on the stipend part of your pay. So, at the end of the day, because you don’t have to pay taxes on that part of your pay, you end up making more money after taxes than at a regular job, where all of your pay is taxed.

• To learn more about tax homes, check out the Tax Home part of our series! We also recommend visiting TravelTax.com to make sure you’re following all the proper rules!

Sometimes, travel therapists will also receive additional reimbursements for things like their state license, scrubs, and mileage/travel to get to the assignment.

So your pay is going to be broken into these segments which make up what’s called the “ Pay Package “: Hourly Rate + Stipends/Per Diems + Reimbursements.

But, in order to easily discuss pay packages, people in the travel therapy industry normally refer to pay in what’s called the “Weekly Take-Home” amount. This is a number that encompasses how much you’re going to make each week in total, since it’s easier to discuss travel therapy jobs on a week by week basis. It’s important to distinguish when talking about “Weekly Pay” if the person you’re talking to is referring to gross pay or  net/after tax pay . Most of the time we all discuss it as  after tax pay which is what “Weekly Take Home” means, the amount you actually  take home after taxes.

How do you calculate a “Weekly Take Home” number?

You take the hourly rate and multiply it by the number of hours you worked.

• For example, $20/hr x 40hrs = $800

Then, you subtract out the taxes you have to pay on that amount, which depends on your state and your tax filing status (for example single/married and if you claim dependents).

• So let’s say you owed 30% taxes, it would be $800 x 70%= $560 after taxes

Then, you’ll add in your weekly per diem amounts, for example $1000/wk total for meals/housing/incidentals.

• So if your pay was $20/hr + $1000/wk stipends, your “weekly take home” amount would be: $560 (after taxes) + $1000 (untaxed) = $1560/wk after taxes!

Then you might get a one time reimbursement of say $500 for travel/license, so you’d get $500 one time, then each week also get $1560/wk!

Where Does the Money Come From?

It’s important to understand where the money comes from when you’re talking about pay. As a travel therapist, the facility decides how much they’re going to offer for the position. The facility pays the travel company an amount of money, which is called the  bill rate . Then, the travel company has to take a cut for their costs (a commission for their services and overhead costs), then the travel company pays you out of the remainder of the bill rate left over.

Once the money gets to the travel company, they can decide how to divide it up and give it to the traveler, and the traveler often has some input too. Here is where money can be moved around and allocated different ways to maximize the tax benefits for both the travel company and the traveler. For example, as long as they’re following the IRS guidelines for per diems, they can put more money towards your stipend/per diems (which is usually untaxed as long as you qualify) and less money towards the hourly pay (which is taxed).

So the bill rate that the facility gives the travel company could be something like $60-80/hr. Then the travel company takes out their cut. Then your pay might look something like: $20/hr (taxed) + $1000/wk per diems (untaxed).

Similarly, they can choose to allocate some of the pay towards separate reimbursements. So you could see something like $20/hr (taxed) + $960/wk per diems (untaxed) + $500 one time reimbursement for licensure and mileage.

But, as we can see here, in the second example with the $500 reimbursement, the per diem is lower. If you divided that $500 out over the course of a 13 week assignment, $500/13=$38. So both the above pay packages are really about the same, because in one example the per diem is $40 higher each week, and in the other it’s $40 lower but has an extra $500 one-time payment tacked on.

It’s important to note that there isn’t just “free money” floating around that the company can give you for “extras”. Think of a pay package as all one big pie. You can cut the pie in different ways, but it’s still the same pie. Some companies will use gimmicks to say they’re going to give you more money for a certain contract by calling them reimbursements, bonuses, tuition paybacks, contract completion bonuses etc. But, as an informed and savvy traveler, you need to know that all the pay is coming from somewhere. Either, it comes directly out of the bill rate for that specific contract,  directly from that specific facility to the travel company. Or, the travel company might allocate a particular budget into a department to give out money for things like licensure reimbursements. But, you have to understand that in order to have that budget available in their company, it means they take it out of their commissions/overhead for all contracts for all travelers across the board. So either way, the money comes from somewhere and affects your weekly pay in one way or another once it’s all said and done!

This is an important fact to remember if you find yourself trying to compare pay either between yourself and another traveler, or between two contracts you’re being offered by two different companies. You have to look at the entire “pay package” (the whole “pie”) not just one piece of it.

How Much Money Do Travel Therapists Normally Make?

The amount that travel therapists make varies highly based on a number of factors, with the main ones being: the type of facility, the location of the facility, and the travel company. These are all very important factors to keep in mind, especially again if you’re going to try to compare pay with another traveler , or compare between two different contracts you’re considering. You can’t expect the pay to be the same for a completely different setting, in a completely different state, and with a different company, which is just the same for perm jobs if you think about it!

So what’s a typical range?

A typical range for a traveling physical therapist, occupational therapist, or speech language pathologist, is going to be around $1500-1800/wk after taxes.

For PTA/COTA, you could see pay typically between $1000-1300/wk.

But we have seen PT/OT/SLP pay anywhere from $1350/wk to $2500+/wk ! These extremes are going to be more rare. We don’t recommend taking jobs with pay below $1500/wk after taxes. However, during COVID, pay has been a little lower, and desperate times have called for desperate measures. But in general, we don’t recommend accepting below $1500/wk as a PT/OT/SLP.

Pay in the $1800-2500+ range is going to be only in certain parts of the country and for certain really high paying jobs.

For travel therapists, the setting that tends to pay the most is home health, while SNF tends to pay the lowest, and outpatient, hospital, or schools tend to fall in the middle.

The higher paying areas are typically more on the west coast, particularly in California. Where on the east coast and midwest you’ll see more moderate pay.

And as we mentioned, the travel company you’re working with can make a difference too, depending on how much overhead/commission they keep, and how they choose to allocate the pay.

The Bottom Line

So as you can see, travel therapists can make significantly more money than therapists at permanent positions in many cases. But, pay can vary highly across the board depending on a number of factors. And, it can be tricky understanding how your pay is broken down in order to compare pay between offers and with other travelers.

Learning and understanding how the pay works before you dive in and get started as a traveler is very important! To learn more, check out this Comprehensive Guide to Travel Therapy Pay .

We hope this article was informative and helped you! To continue learning about travel therapy, check out the rest of the articles & videos on our series Travel Therapy 101: The Basics

Please contact us if you have questions about getting started with your travel therapy journey, or would like our recommendations for great recruiters !

Whitney has been a traveling physical therapist since 2015. She has helped to mentor and educate thousands of current and aspiring travel therapists over the years.

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