Employee or Freelance Speech Therapist: Which Status to Choose?
Each mode of practice has distinct characteristics in terms of remuneration, autonomy, and quality of life. Make the informed choice that matches your profile.
The choice between salaried and freelance practice is a major decision in the career of any speech therapist. In France, about 80% of speech therapists work as freelancers compared to 20% in salaried positions. This atypical distribution among health professions can be explained by historical, economic, and organizational factors specific to the discipline.
📊 Overview of the Profession
The profession of speech therapist is constantly evolving with a historical predominance of freelance practice. The total number of speech therapists in France exceeds 25,000 professionals, with steady growth linked to the increase in trained personnel and a constantly rising demand for care.
The massive feminization of the profession influences career choices. Issues of work-life balance, schedule flexibility, and organizational autonomy often weigh in the balance when choosing a status.
🏠 Freelance Practice
Freelance practice places the professional in the position of an independent entrepreneur. You are your own boss, in control of your decisions regarding the organization of your activity, the choice of your clientele, your hours, and your place of practice.
Total Autonomy
Freedom of organization, choice of patients, management of schedule
Variable Income
Remuneration linked to activity, higher earning potential
Administrative Management
Accounting, tax, and social responsibilities to assume
The Question of Income
The gross revenue of a full-time freelance speech therapist ranges from 50,000 to 80,000 euros annually on average. After deducting expenses (35-45% of profit), the net available income represents 40 to 55% of the gross revenue.
| Indicator | Lower Range | Average | Upper Range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual Revenue | 45,000 € | 65,000 € | 90,000 € |
| Professional Expenses | 20,000 € | 28,000 € | 38,000 € |
| Net Monthly Income | 2,100 € | 3,100 € | 4,300 € |
⚠️ Administrative Time
Administrative tasks represent 20 to 30% of total working time: agenda management, billing, teletransmission, accounting, relations with organizations. This unpaid time must be included in the calculation of effective hourly profitability.
🏥 Salaried Practice
Salaried practice offers various working contexts: public or private hospitals, rehabilitation centers, medico-social establishments (IME, SESSAD, CAMSP, EHPAD), associative structures. Each type of structure has specific characteristics.
Security
Stable income, paid leave, complete social protection
Multidisciplinary Team
Enriching collaboration with doctors, psychologists, educators
Facilitated Training
Access to training, no loss of income during internships
Indicative Salary Scale (Public Hospital Service)
| Seniority | Step | Net Monthly Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Start of Career | 1 | ≈ 1,760 € |
| 5 Years | 4 | ≈ 1,960 € |
| 10 Years | 6 | ≈ 2,200 € |
| 15 Years | 8 | ≈ 2,480 € |
| End of Career | 11 | ≈ 3,080 € |
💡 Additional Benefits of Salaried Work
Beyond the salary, the overall package includes: guaranteed paid leave, health and welfare coverage, employer retirement contributions, funded professional training, employee committee depending on the structures. These elements significantly enhance total remuneration.
⚖️ Detailed Comparison
🏠 Freelance Practice
✅ Advantages
- Total organizational autonomy
- Freedom to choose clientele
- Potentially higher income
- Flexible hours
- Personalized environment
- No hierarchy
❌ Disadvantages
- Variable and uncertain income
- Significant social charges
- No paid leave
- Heavy administrative management
- Initial investment
- Professional isolation
🏥 Salaried Practice
✅ Advantages
- Stable and predictable income
- Complete social protection
- No administrative management
- Enriching teamwork
- Facilitated ongoing training
- Diverse and complex pathologies
❌ Disadvantages
- Generally lower remuneration
- Less autonomy
- Institutional constraints
- Positions sometimes rare
- Less flexible hours
- Limited choice of clientele
🎯 Equip Yourself with DYNSEO
Regardless of your mode of practice, DYNSEO applications enrich your practice: COCO for children, JOE for adults, EDITH for seniors.
Discover the 69 tools →🔄 Mixed Practice: The Best of Both Worlds?
Many speech therapists opt for a mixed practice combining salaried and freelance activity. This configuration allows for the benefits of each status: financial stability of salaried work and autonomy of freelance work.
👤 Typical Profile for Mixed Practice
Mixed practice is particularly suitable for speech therapists who wish to:
- Diversify their clinical practice across multiple contexts
- Benefit from a basic financial security while developing an independent activity
- Explore different modes of practice before settling down
- Gain varied experience early in their career
⚠️ Points of Caution
Mixed practice requires rigorous organization: coordination of schedules, respect for the obligations of both statuses, anticipation of fatigue related to the combination. Regulations govern the possibilities of combining, especially in the public service.
🎯 Choosing According to Your Personal Profile
Several personal criteria naturally guide you towards one status or the other. Take the time for thorough reflection before committing.
Risk Tolerance
Tolerance for financial uncertainty? Freelance. Need for security? Salaried.
Need for Autonomy
Desire for total freedom? Freelance. Preference for a framework? Salaried.
Family Situation
Flexibility for children? Freelance. Stability of leave? Salaried.
💡 Questions to Ask Yourself
- How important is financial security to you?
- Are you comfortable with administrative tasks?
- Do you prefer to work alone or in a team?
- What schedule flexibility are you looking for?
- Does your situation allow for a period of reduced income?
- Are you ready to take on the responsibility of a business?
💬 Testimonials
"After five years in SESSAD, I chose to set up as a freelancer. The transition was not easy financially in the first year, but I do not regret it. I now have a loyal clientele, I manage my schedule as I wish, and my income has significantly increased."
"I have been working in the hospital since I graduated and I cannot see myself anywhere else. Complex neurological pathologies fascinate me, and teamwork enriches my practice every day. My salary is certainly lower than that of my freelance colleagues, but I have secure working conditions."
🎯 Conclusion
The choice between salaried and freelance practice does not have a universal answer. Each status has advantages and disadvantages that resonate differently depending on individual personalities and personal situations.
Take the time to explore both modes of practice if possible, through internships, replacements, or discussions with experienced colleagues. Your choice may evolve throughout your career, with pathways always remaining possible.
Whatever your orientation, DYNSEO supports you
with tools adapted to all modes of practice.
