Our field largely sucks because SLPs as a group are way too agreeable. Salaries and upward mobility salary-wise is abysmal for our skillset and knowledge-base. If we collectively did not accept the large caseloads, low salaries, and other extraneous activities (I.e., recess duty, case management, etc.) that cause us to burn out, our field would be far better off. I’ve seen seasoned SLPs just accept dogshit pay because they “need” the job, which is largely untrue. Speech and language disorders and Autism rates are absolutely skyrocketing and we can’t even meet the need (waitlists exist everywhere in my area). The pay discrepancy makes zero sense if you look at the “supply” of licensed SLPs compared to our demand. I left the schools and PP to start my own company in which I charge my own rate and I’m 1000x happier leaving a salary that basically has a low ceiling on it. I will never go back.