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Speech-Language Pathologist Salary, Job Duties, Education

Speech-language pathologists, sometimes called speech therapists, assess and treat individuals with speech, language, voice, and fluency disorders. They may work with children with speech or developmental problems (such as stuttering or delayed language development), victims of stroke, the elderly, and more.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2015, speech-language pathologists earned an average salary of $76,900 and an average wage of $36.97. The future job prospects also look promising, as the field is projected to grow 21% between years 2014-2024.

In this article and video, you’ll learn about the job duties, education requirements, and salary statistics for a speech-language pathologist.

Speech-Language Pathologist

What does a speech-language pathologist do on a daily basis? What are their job duties? Speech-language pathologists typically do the following tasks:

  • They will evaluate patients’ levels of speech, language, or swallowing difficulty. Patients who have suffered from strokes or other debilitating medical problems or malformations often struggle to swallow food or pronounce words. Speech-language pathologists help those individuals learn to use their muscles. They also correct improper speech patterns.
  • They identify treatment options for patients.
  • They create and carry out an individualized treatment plan that addresses patients’ specific functional needs.
  • They teach patients how to make sounds and improve their voices. For example, some children struggle with communication disorders, stutters, etc. Speech-language pathologists assist with communication disorders.
  • They advise patients’ families on how to assist with diet, swallowing, and speech development exercises.
  • They maintain patient records and similar administrative tasks. They will track a patient’s progress as they continue treatments and speech exercises.

Education Requirements for Speech-Language Pathologists

What are the education requirements to become a speech-language pathologist? Here are some steps you’ll have to take:

  • You must get a bachelor’s degree first. Some universities have undergraduate degrees in Communication Sciences and Disorders. That’s the best option. If not, you may want to major in something like English, Speech, or Communications. However, you can often enter a master’s degree program with an unrelated degree (but you may have to take a few extra prerequisite courses).
  • You must get a master’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology from an accredited university. This will include both classroom training and clinical hours and skills exams.
  • Complete a 36-week clinical fellowship.
  • Pass all skills exams, as well as the State Board’s exam. Some states will require certification or additional requirements. See your state for specifics.
  • Maintain continuing education requirements.
  • Visit ASHA.org for more specific information on Speech-Language Pathology requirements, certifications, and testing.

Speech-language pathologists can earn the Certificate of Clinical Competence in Speech-Language Pathology (CCC-SLP), offered by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association.

Salary for Speech-Language Pathologists

How much  money does a speech-language pathologist make? Do they make a good income? According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2015, speech-language pathologists earned an average income of $76,900 and an average hourly wage of $36.97. The future job prospects also look promising, as the field is projected to grow 21% between years 2014-2024.

Here are some salary statistics for speech-language pathologists, provided by the Bureau of Labor Statistics:

Employment Employment
RSE
Mean hourly
wage
Mean annual
wage
Wage RSE
131,450 1.2 % $36.97 $76,900 0.6 %

Percentile wage estimates for this occupation:

Percentile 10% 25% 50%
(Median)
75% 90%
Hourly Wage $22.12 $27.55 $35.29 $44.85 $55.21
Annual Wage $46,000 $57,300 $73,410 $93,280 $114,840

Industries with the highest levels of employment in this occupation:

Industry Employment Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage
Elementary and Secondary Schools 58,280 0.70 $32.76 $68,150
Offices of Other Health Practitioners 27,160 3.37 $39.79 $82,770
General Medical and Surgical Hospitals 14,660 0.28 $38.85 $80,810
Nursing Care Facilities (Skilled Nursing Facilities) 5,770 0.35 $44.02 $91,560
Home Health Care Services 5,340 0.41 $46.83 $97,410

Top paying industries for this occupation:

Industry Employment Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage
Medical and Diagnostic Laboratories 90 0.04 $50.81 $105,680
Home Health Care Services 5,340 0.41 $46.83 $97,410
Nursing Care Facilities (Skilled Nursing Facilities) 5,770 0.35 $44.02 $91,560
Offices of Physicians 1,500 0.06 $43.66 $90,810
Continuing Care Retirement Communities and Assisted Living Facilities for the Elderly 720 0.08 $43.28 $90,030

Top paying states for this occupation:

State Employment Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage
Connecticut 1,880 1.13 1.19 $42.53 $88,460
California 10,480 0.68 0.71 $42.47 $88,330
Alaska 300 0.92 0.97 $42.45 $88,300
District of Columbia 390 0.57 0.60 $42.34 $88,070
New York 10,170 1.13 1.19 $42.14 $87,640

Lowest paying states for speech-language pathology:

State Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage
Puerto Rico $23.45 $48,770
South Dakota $26.98 $56,110
Mississippi $30.11 $62,620
West Virginia $30.16 $62,740
Nebraska $30.43 $63,300
Louisiana $30.49 $63,410
Maine $30.72 $63,900

Average salary for all 50 states for speech-language pathology:

State Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage
Alabama $32.62 $67,850
Alaska $42.45 $88,300
Arizona $33.07 $68,790
Arkansas $34.89 $72,570
California $42.47 $88,330
Colorado $40.65 $84,550
Connecticut $42.53 $88,460
Delaware $34.36 $71,460
District of Columbia $42.34 $88,070
Florida $37.88 $78,790
Georgia $34.33 $71,400
Hawaii $35.72 $74,290
Idaho $33.63 $69,950
Illinois $36.47 $75,850
Indiana $35.10 $73,000
Iowa $34.70 $72,180
Kansas $32.91 $68,450
Kentucky $33.94 $70,590
Louisiana $30.49 $63,410
Maine $30.72 $63,900
Maryland $38.75 $80,610
Massachusetts $39.08 $81,290
Michigan $36.13 $75,140
Minnesota $33.65 $69,980
Mississippi $30.11 $62,620
Missouri $32.39 $67,370
Montana $31.75 $66,040
Nebraska $30.43 $63,300
Nevada $39.09 $81,310
New Hampshire $34.90 $72,600
New Jersey $40.79 $84,840
New Mexico $38.74 $80,580
New York $42.14 $87,640
North Carolina $33.78 $70,250
North Dakota $31.27 $65,040
Ohio $35.87 $74,600
Oklahoma $32.59 $67,790
Oregon $37.01 $76,970
Pennsylvania $36.87 $76,700
Puerto Rico $23.45 $48,770
Rhode Island $36.67 $76,280
South Carolina $32.92 $68,480
South Dakota $26.98 $56,110
Tennessee $33.51 $69,710
Texas $37.66 $78,340
Utah $32.18 $66,930
Vermont $33.34 $69,350
Virginia $38.76 $80,620
Washington $36.04 $74,970
West Virginia $30.16 $62,740
Wisconsin $31.86 $66,270
Wyoming $33.68 $70,040

References:

Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2014-15 Edition, Speech-Language Pathologists, on the Internet at bls.gov.

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