PURPOSE: to investigate the market profile of speech therapist professional working in the area of clinical audiology in Fortaleza, identifying the postgraduate level, professional salary range, the level of satisfaction, working hours and employment contract of this professional. METHOD: a cross-sectional study was conducted from February to April 2010. A questionnaire about the professional’s performance in the area of Clinical Audiology was applied in 30 speech and hearing therapists, 29 (96.7%) females and one (3.3%) male, with average age of 31.4 years, ranging between 24 and 44 year old, in the city of Fortaleza, Ceará. The questionnaire consisted of the following items: academic history, salary range, acting area, acting department, working hours per week, employment contract and professional level of satisfaction. Data were organized and statistically analyzed by the test of equality of two proportions. RESULTS: thirteen (43.3%) of the clinical speech and hearing therapists earn between 4 to 6 minimum wages. Twenty-four (80%) interviewees working in the area of Clinical Audiology are self-employed four (13.3%) have formal contract and two (6.7%) are corporate entities. Sixteen (53.3%) of the speech and hearing therapists are satisfied with their job. CONCLUSION: the professional working in the area of Clinical Audiology in the city of Fortaleza presents, predominantly, specialization course, salary range from 4 to 6 minimum wages and 10 to 20 working hours per week. Most speech and hearing therapists are self-employed and are satisfied with their career.
Professional Practice Location; Audiology; Professional Training; Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences; Job Market
