Speech-Language Pathologists: Salary, career path, job outlook, education and more
- Education Required
- Speech-language pathologists typically need at least a masters degree. Although masters programs do not require a particular undergraduate degree for admission, certain courses must be taken before entering a program. Required courses vary by institution.
- Training Required
- Candidates can gain hands-on experience through supervised clinical work, which is typically referred to as a fellowship. This training is a type of internship in that prospective speech-language pathologists apply and refine the skills learned during their academic program under the supervision of a certified speech-language pathologist. The CCC-SLP certification requires candidates to complete a fellowship lasting at least 36 weeks.
- Job Outlook
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The projected percent change in employment from 2016 to 2026: 18% (Much faster than average)
(The average growth rate for all occupations is 7 percent.) - Licenses/Certifications
- All states regulate speech-language pathologists. Most states require speech-language pathologists to be licensed; other states require registration. Licensure typically requires at least a masters degree from an accredited program, supervised clinical experience, and passing an exam. For specific requirements, contact your states medical or health licensure board.
- Median pay: How much do Speech-Language Pathologists make?
- $74,680 Annual Salary
- $35.90 per hour
Speech-language pathologists (sometimes called speech therapists) assess, diagnose, treat, and help to prevent communication and swallowing disorders in children and adults. Speech, language, and swallowing disorders result from a variety of causes, such as a stroke, brain injury, hearing loss, developmental delay, Parkinsons disease, a cleft palate, or autism.
Duties
Speech-language pathologists typically do the following:
- Evaluate levels of speech, language, or swallowing difficulty
- Identify treatment options
- Create and carry out an individualized treatment plan that addresses specific functional needs
- Teach children and adults how to make sounds and improve their voices and maintain fluency
- Help individuals improve vocabulary and sentence structure used in oral and written language
- Work with children and adults to develop and strengthen the muscles used to swallow
- Counsel individuals and families on how to cope with communication and swallowing disorders
Speech-language pathologists work with children and adults who have problems with speech and language, including related cognitive or social communication problems. They may be unable to speak at all, or they may speak with difficulty or have rhythm and fluency problems, such as stuttering. Speech-language pathologists may work with people who are unable to understand language or with those who have voice disorders, such as inappropriate pitch or a harsh voice.
Speech-language pathologists also must complete administrative tasks, including keeping accurate records and documenting billing information. They record their initial evaluations and diagnoses, track treatment progress, and note any changes in a individuals condition or treatment plan.
Some speech-language pathologists specialize in working with specific age groups, such as children or the elderly. Others focus on treatment programs for specific communication or swallowing problems, such as those resulting from strokes, trauma, or a cleft palate.
In medical facilities, speech-language pathologists work with physicians and surgeons, social workers, psychologists, occupational therapists, physical therapists, and other healthcare workers. In schools, they evaluate students for speech and language disorders and work with teachers, other school personnel, and parents to develop and carry out individual or group programs, provide counseling, and support classroom activities. For more information on teachers, see the profiles on preschool teachers, kindergarten and elementary school teachers, middle school teachers, high school teachers, and special education teachers.
Careers for Speech-Language Pathologists
- Language pathologists
- Pathologists, speech-language
- Public school speech clinicians
- Public school speech therapists
- Speech and language specialists
- Speech clinicians
- Speech pathologists
- Speech therapists
- Therapists, speech