|Quick Facts: Speech-Language Pathologists|
$73,410 per year
$35.29 per hour
|21% (Much faster than average)|
Speech-language pathologists (sometimes called speech therapists) assess, diagnose, treat, and help to prevent communication and swallowing disorders in patients. Speech, language, and swallowing disorders result from a variety of causes, such as a stroke, brain injury, hearing loss, developmental delay, Parkinson’s disease, a cleft palate or autism.
Speech-language pathologists held about 135,400 jobs in 2014. About 2 out of 5 speech-language pathologists worked in schools in 2014. Most others worked in healthcare facilities, such as hospitals.
Speech-language pathologists typically need at least a master’s degree. They must be licensed in most states; requirements vary by state.
The median annual wage for speech-language pathologists was $73,410 in May 2015.
Employment of speech-language pathologists is projected to grow 21 percent from 2014 to 2024, much faster than the average for all occupations. As the large baby-boom population grows older, there will be more instances of health conditions that cause speech or language impairments, such as strokes and hearing loss.
Explore resources for employment and wages by state and area for speech-language pathologists.
Compare the job duties, education, job growth, and pay of speech-language pathologists with similar occupations.
Learn more about speech-language pathologists by visiting additional resources, including O*NET, a source on key characteristics of workers and occupations.