About Speech-Language Pathology Careers

What is a speech-language pathologist, and what do they do?

Speech-language pathologists are health care professionals who identify, assess, and treat speech and language problems as well as swallowing disorders. They provide services to clients with disorders in the following areas:

Speech disorders, including articulation problems, fluency (e.g., stuttering) disorders, and voice problems
Language disorders, including receptive/expressive language, spoken and written language, and social/pragmatic language
Swallowing disorders, including pediatric and adult feeding disorders
Cognitive disorders, including dementia

Speech-language pathologists work with people all throughout the lifespan. Most people already know that speech-language pathologists help children pronounce sounds correctly. But speech-language pathologists do a lot more than that! Speech-language pathologists may also do any of the following jobs:

Work with toddlers and preschoolers to develop early language skills
Teach children and adults with autism to use speech devices to communicate their wants and needs
Help veterans with head injuries recover language comprehension and production skills

Learn more about speech-language pathologists’ full scope of practice or take a closer look at speech-language pathology careers.

Where do speech-language pathologists work?

Early Intervention and K–12 Schools

More than half of speech-language pathologists are employed in educational settings. Speech-language pathologists employed in educational settings may work in infant and toddler programs, preschools, and elementary and secondary schools.

Speech-language pathologists working in early intervention may do any of the following jobs:

Address feeding disorders in infants and toddlers
Provide parent education and training for promoting language development in toddlers
Visit day care centers and other preschool settings to provide services to children with receptive and expressive language delays

Speech-language pathologists working in K–12 schools may do any of the following jobs:

Provide language therapy to help children follow directions and answer questions
Collaborate with teachers to develop literacy skills in students, focusing on both letter-sound skills and vocabulary development
Help students with autism work on job skills to transition to work settings

Health Care Settings

More than a third of speech-language pathologists are employed in health care settings, including nonresidential health care facilities, hospitals, and residential health care facilities. Hospitals may provide services for patients of all ages, whereas some—such as children’s hospitals, psychiatric hospitals, and VA or military hospitals—may treat specific populations.

Speech-language pathologists working in health care facilities may do any of the following jobs:

Diagnose and treat cognitive-communication and language disorders and/or swallowing problems
Work with premature babies in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) to develop their ability to drink milk safely and efficiently
Help patients with Alzheimer’s disease stay oriented and help their families structure their day to help with memory and attention

Private Practice

Nearly one third of SLPs are employed full or part time in private practice. They may be owners, full-time employees, or contractors in a private practice, and they may provide direct clinical services, consultation, or administrative services.

Colleges and Universities

Speech-language pathologists have opportunities for teaching, research, and clinical supervisory positions at colleges and universities. They may work with clients in the university clinical facility or its affiliated health care facility.

Specifically, speech-language pathologists with research doctoral degrees may do any of the following jobs:

Make new discoveries about speech, language, and swallowing disorders
Teach courses and mentor students in research, teaching, and clinical practice
Serve on advisory boards as experts in communication disorders
Educate the public about communication development and disorders

Speech-language pathologists with a master’s degree may work as clinical supervisors for graduate students in university clinics.

What is the job outlook for speech-language pathologists?

High Demand

Speech-language pathologists have consistently been in demand, with the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Outlook Handbook predicting much faster than average growth in the projected percent change in employment. Jobs for speech-language pathologists abound across the United States, with positions available in urban, suburban, and rural communities.

High Salaries

According to the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, the median annual wage for speech-language pathologists consistently tops the median annual wage for all workers. In May 2022, the median annual wage for speech-language pathologists was $84,140.

According to ASHA Member surveys, the salaries of speech-language pathologists vary depending on education, experience, work setting, and geographical location, with median salaries ranging from $69,000 to $80,000 in school settings and a median salary of $82,000 for health care settings, with a median salary of $113,000 for administrators or supervisors. For more information about salaries from ASHA Member surveys, visit Salary and Wage Data.

What education do I need to become a speech-language pathologist?

A master’s degree (e.g., MA/MS) is required to work independently as a speech-language pathologist.

A master’s degree in speech-language pathology requires approximately 2 years of full-time study.
Degree requirements include both academic coursework and clinical practicum experiences.

A bachelor’s degree is required for admission to graduate school. Some master’s degree programs require that applicants have an undergraduate degree in communication sciences and disorders (CSD), whereas other programs require applicants to take prerequisite coursework as part of the graduate program. Students can use EdFind, ASHA’s online search tool, to identify master’s programs in speech-language pathology and their requirements.

What is a speech-language pathologist assistant?

A speech-language pathology assistant (SLPA) is a person who, after appropriate training and demonstration of competency, performs delegated tasks that are prescribed, directed, and supervised by a certified and/or licensed speech-language pathologist (SLP).  SLPAs may provide the following types of services (if permitted by state law and when the SLPA has demonstrated competence): 

Assist the SLP with speech, language, and hearing screenings without clinical interpretation
Provide guidance and treatment via telepractice to students, patients, and clients who are selected by the supervising SLP as appropriate for this service delivery model
Serve as an interpreter for patients/clients/students and families who do not speak English
Advocate for individuals and families through community awareness, health literacy, education, and training programs

Read more about this exciting career option through ASHA’s Practice Portal page on speech-language pathology assistants.

Each state has different requirements regarding the regulation of SLPAs. Assistants may be required to be licensed, certified, or registered in order to work in various states. For information about regulations in your specific state, see the ASHA State-by-State information and select the "Support Personnel" subheading after choosing the individual state.

ASHA established the Assistants Certification Program and examination for SLPAs in 2020. This is a voluntary credential that establishes nationwide standards for assistants that will show employers that these standards have been met. To learn more about the Speech-Language Pathology Assistants Certification Program, visit the Assistants Certification site.