Speech-Language Pathologists

Career Overview

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.

Also Known As

• Bilingual Speech-Language Pathologist (Bilingual SLP)
• Speech and Language Specialist
• Speech Pathologist
• Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP)

Alternate Job Titles

• Bilingual Speech-Language Pathologist (Bilingual SLP)
• Home Health SLP (Home Health Speech Language Pathologist)
• Language Pathologist
• Oral Therapist
• Pediatric SLP (Pediatric Speech Language Pathologist)
• Pediatric Speech-Language Pathologist (Pediatric SLP)
• Public School Speech Clinician
• Public School Speech Therapist
• School SLP (School Speech Language Pathologist)
• SLP CF (Speech Language Pathologist Clinical Fellow)
• SNF RN (Skilled Nursing Facility Registered Nurse)
• Speech and Language Clinician
• Speech and Language Specialist
• Speech and Language Teacher
• Speech and Language Therapist

What You'll Do

In this role, your typical responsibilities include:

• 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.
• Supervise or collaborate with therapy team.

Knowledge You'll Use

You'll need solid knowledge in these areas:

• English Language
• Education and Training
• Customer and Personal Service
• Psychology
• Therapy and Counseling
• Administrative

Essential Skills

Success in this career requires strong skills in:

1. Reading Comprehension
2. Active Listening
3. Critical Thinking
4. Social Perceptiveness
5. Writing
6. Speaking
7. Learning Strategies
8. Active Learning
9. Monitoring
10. Instructing

Key Abilities

This career requires key abilities in:

• Oral Comprehension
• Oral Expression
• Written Expression
• Speech Recognition
• Written Comprehension
• Speech Clarity
• Problem Sensitivity
• Inductive Reasoning
• Deductive Reasoning
• Information Ordering

Work Style

People who excel in this career typically demonstrate:

• Empathy
• Attention to Detail
• Cooperation
• Dependability
• Social Orientation

What Matters in This Career

This career tends to satisfy these work values:

• Relationships
• Achievement
• Independence
• Working Conditions
• Recognition

Education & Preparation

Typical Education: Master's Degree

Related Work Experience Needed: Over 1 year, up to and including 2 years

On-the-Job Training: Anything beyond short demonstration, up to and including 1 month

Education Details: Most of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree).

Experience Required: Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these occupations. Many require more than five years of experience. For example, surgeons must complete four years of college and an additional five to seven years of specialized medical training to be able to do their job.

Technology You'll Use

Popular Technologies & Software

• eClinicalWorks EHR software
• Microsoft Excel
• Microsoft Office software
• Microsoft Word

Tools & Equipment

• Airflow measurement devices
• Alternative computer keyboards
• Audiometers
• Augmentative communication devices
• Closed circuit television systems
• Compact disk CD players
• Compact stereo systems
• Desktop computers
• Diagnostic stroboscopes
• Digital audio recorders
• Digital cameras
• Digital video stroboscopy systems
• Dynamic display devices
• Electroglottographs EGG
• Electromyographs EMG

Work Environment

• Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
• Contact With Others
• Work With or Contribute to a Work Group or Team
• Physical Proximity
• Determine Tasks, Priorities and Goals

Salary & Job Market

Salary Percentile	Annual Wage
Entry-Level (10th percentile)	$60,480
Median	$95,410
Top Earners (90th percentile)	$132,850

Workers Employed Nationally: 178,790

Related Careers

If you're interested in this career, you might also consider:

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Occupational data sourced from the O*NET OnLine database, developed by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration. Wage data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), 2024.