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Speech-Language Pathologists
Assess and treat persons with speech, language, voice, and fluency disorders. May select alternative communication systems and teach their use. May perform research related to speech and language problems.
Other titles employers use
Bilingual Speech-Language Pathologist (Bilingual SLP) · Pediatric Speech-Language Pathologist (Pediatric SLP) · Speech and Language Clinician · Speech and Language Specialist · Speech and Language Teacher · Speech and Language Therapist · Speech Clinician · Speech Pathologist
Inside the work
What you would actually do.
6 responsibilities that define the role, before job titles and workplaces change the details.
- Evaluate hearing or speech and language test results, barium swallow results, or medical or background information to diagnose and plan treatment for speech, language, fluency, voice, or swallowing disorders.
- Write reports and maintain proper documentation of information, such as client Medicaid or billing records or caseload activities, including the initial evaluation, treatment, progress, and discharge of clients.
- Monitor patients' progress and adjust treatments accordingly.
- Develop or implement treatment plans for problems such as stuttering, delayed language, swallowing disorders, or inappropriate pitch or harsh voice problems, based on own assessments and recommendations of physicians, psychologists, or social workers.
- Administer hearing or speech and language evaluations, tests, or examinations to patients to collect information on type and degree of impairments, using written or oral tests or special instruments.
- Educate patients and family members about various topics, such as communication techniques or strategies to cope with or to avoid personal misunderstandings.
Who it suits
Would this work hold your attention?
This career often appeals to people drawn to helping, analytical and organizing work.
- Analytical
- Investigating questions, testing ideas, and solving problems
- Organizing
- Creating order, checking details, and keeping work accurate
Skills and strengths
What you would get good at.
Compare the skills the work relies on, the subjects behind it, and the abilities that make it easier to learn.
Core skills
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Listening
- Critical Thinking
- Social Perceptiveness
- Writing
- Speaking
Subjects to know
- English Language
- Education and Training
- Customer and Personal Service
- Psychology
- Therapy and Counseling
Useful strengths
- Oral Comprehension
- Oral Expression
- Written Expression
- Speech Recognition
- Written Comprehension
Working day
Picture yourself doing it.
These measures show how much of the day involves people, movement, conversation, and hands-on work.
| Measure | Out of 5 | What that means here |
|---|---|---|
| Close to other people | 4.8 | Arm’s length or closer, most of the day |
| On your feet | 2.7 | Mostly seated |
| Talking face to face | 5.0 | Continuous — the job is conversations |
| Working with your hands | 2.8 | Little of the day |
Preparation
How people prepare for this work.
Employers usually ask for a master's degree. Other routes may also lead into the field.
- A master's degree 89%
- A doctorate or professional degree 11%
Tools of the work
Technology you may use.
- Medical software
- Spreadsheet software
- Office suite software
- Word processing software
- Analytical or scientific software
- Music or sound editing software
- Cloud-based data access and sharing software
- Electronic mail software
Opportunity near you
See where this work is growing.
Choose a state to compare the size of the field, annual openings, and expected hiring change.
- People doing this work
- 22,200
- Job openings each year
- 1,520
- Expected hiring change, 2022–2032
- 27.6%
Compare every available state
| State | People doing it | Job openings each year | Expected change |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | 22,200 | 1,520 | 27.6% |
| Texas | 21,020 | 1,480 | 31.0% |
| New York | 18,710 | 380 | 25.2% |
| Illinois | 11,060 | 720 | 19.8% |
| Florida | 10,160 | 720 | 31.3% |
| Ohio | 7,740 | 510 | 22.1% |
| New Jersey | 6,710 | 430 | 19.4% |
| Pennsylvania | 6,680 | 430 | 17.8% |
| North Carolina | 6,620 | 470 | 31.9% |
| Colorado | 6,290 | 440 | 31.6% |
| Missouri | 5,100 | 350 | 26.6% |
| Georgia | 5,080 | 340 | 23.9% |
| Michigan | 4,940 | 310 | 16.0% |
| Arizona | 4,630 | 340 | 35.8% |
| Minnesota | 4,080 | 260 | 18.6% |
| Washington | 4,080 | 330 | 19.3% |
| Virginia | 3,890 | 250 | 19.7% |
| Maryland | 3,830 | 260 | 25.2% |
| Tennessee | 3,770 | 280 | 37.6% |
| Wisconsin | 3,680 | 230 | 16.8% |
| Louisiana | 3,370 | 220 | 21.2% |
| Kentucky | 3,250 | 210 | 20.4% |
| Indiana | 3,220 | 210 | 19.3% |
| South Carolina | 3,120 | 220 | 32.8% |
| Alabama | 3,040 | 200 | 25.1% |
| Oklahoma | 2,630 | 170 | 22.3% |
| Oregon | 2,490 | 170 | 27.0% |
| Connecticut | 2,400 | 160 | 18.8% |
| Arkansas | 2,330 | 160 | 24.6% |
| Kansas | 1,960 | 130 | 18.1% |
| Iowa | 1,910 | 130 | 27.3% |
| Mississippi | 1,880 | 120 | 21.3% |
| Massachusetts | 1,840 | 120 | 22.7% |
| Utah | 1,790 | 130 | 36.6% |
| Nebraska | 1,490 | 90 | 10.4% |
| New Mexico | 1,400 | 100 | 29.6% |
| Nevada | 1,310 | 90 | 26.0% |
| Idaho | 1,100 | 80 | 39.2% |
| New Hampshire | 1,030 | 70 | 18.4% |
| Maine | 850 | 50 | 11.8% |
| West Virginia | 810 | 50 | 17.4% |
| Rhode Island | 710 | 50 | 18.3% |
| North Dakota | 680 | 50 | 23.6% |
| Montana | 530 | 40 | 26.2% |
| Vermont | 530 | 30 | 15.2% |
| District of Columbia | 510 | 30 | 21.4% |
| South Dakota | 490 | 30 | 22.5% |
| Wyoming | 400 | 30 | 25.0% |
| Alaska | 290 | 20 | 3.6% |
| Puerto Rico | 270 | 20 | 35.0% |
Career to college
Build a path toward this work.
Start with a related major, then compare colleges where students complete that field.
Where to study
Colleges with strong activity in these fields.
Start with program size, admission, and likely cost. Open a college for the full picture.
Utah State University
- Degrees each year
- 280
- Admit rate
- 94%
- Annual cost after aid
- $14,000
University of Central Florida
- Degrees each year
- 213
- Admit rate
- 40%
- Annual cost after aid
- $10,000
Arizona State University Digital Immersion
- Degrees each year
- 198
- Admit rate
- 64%
- Annual cost after aid
- —
San Diego State University
- Degrees each year
- 160
- Admit rate
- 34%
- Annual cost after aid
- $13,000
University of South Florida
- Degrees each year
- 156
- Admit rate
- 41%
- Annual cost after aid
- $9,000
California State University-Fullerton
- Degrees each year
- 150
- Admit rate
- 87%
- Annual cost after aid
- $6,000
California State University-Los Angeles
- Degrees each year
- 132
- Admit rate
- 92%
- Annual cost after aid
- $5,000
Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus
- Degrees each year
- 129
- Admit rate
- 54%
- Annual cost after aid
- $26,000
Compare every college offering communication disorders sciences and services