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Speech-Language Pathologist

$95,410
median pay per year
full range coming in the next data update

What the job actually is

Assess and treat speech, language, and swallowing disorders in children and adults through structured therapy.

Where you work

Schools, hospitals, clinics, and private practice

The hours

Mostly regular weekday hours

By the numbers

May 2024–25 BLS wage data · 2024–34 BLS employment projections.

Median pay
$95,410
per year
What most earn
range coming soon
Openings a year
~13,300
projected, 2024–34
Outlook to 2034
+15%
Much faster than average
Working in the U.S.
187,400
people, nationwide

Openings a year counts new jobs plus the ones that open when people retire or move on — a truer picture of your odds than growth alone.

“Median” means half earn more and half earn less. Your city, employer, and years on the job move it a lot — that is what the 10th-to-90th range shows.

How you get in

Typical starting education

Master's degree

Training path: Master's degree + supervised clinical hours.

License or certification

Requires a master's degree and a state license, plus a national clinical certification in most settings.

What it takes

Active listeningCommunicationPatienceAnalytical thinking

The honest take

Steady demand across schools and clinics, but the master's degree and clinical hours are a real commitment.

Standard Occupational Classification 29-1127. Pay, employment, and outlook from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS wage survey and 2024–34 employment projections). See something off? Tell us.