Speech Pathologist Salary and Career Outlook
Becoming a speech-language pathologist, or SLP for short, is an extremely wise career choice because of the earning potential, career outlook, and job stability it holds. In the 21st century, speech pathologists play an important role in diagnosing and treating communication and swallowing disorders in patients of varying ages. Typically, speech pathologists are required to hold at least a master's degree in the field and often have to be licensed and/or certified.
Learn more about online speech pathology masters programs
Gaining a Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology can open the door to a variety of careers within the field, explore online programs.
Careers in speech pathology or, as it’s commonly called, speech therapy, can take place in a variety of settings. A few of the many options include schools and educational institutions, private clinical settings, and medical facilities. More information on the various career paths for speech therapists can be found in the section below!
Speech Pathologist Career Paths
Speech Therapist in Schools 1
SLP professionals that work in school settings focus their attention on students of all ages who have trouble with communication, swallowing disorders, and a variety of other issues. They provide treatment options, one-on-one therapy and other means of support to students in need.
The average salary for speech therapists in schools, according to the BLS, is $66,960.
Speech Therapist in Medical Facilities1
Speech Pathologists that work in medical facilities work with a variety of healthcare workers (phyisicans, surgeons, physical therapists, etc.) to provide patients with treatment options and plans for their various communication and/or swallowing disorders.
The average salary for speech therapists in hospitals, according to the BLS, is $82,830
Speech Therapist in Private Clinics1
Speech Therapist's working in private clinics such as a nursing home or a resedential care facility will typically work to address and diagnose speech and swallowing disorders and work with patients directly over a length of time.
The average salary for speech therapists in nursing and residential care facilities, according to the BLS, is $93,110
Self Employed Speech Therapist 1
Although many settings have a need for certified speech pathologist's, it is also possible to be self-employed as an SLP. Many speech therapists will travel to their patients homes directly and work with them there- a comfortable and familiar setting. This is a great option for SLP's who wish to work part-time which, according to the BLS, one out of every for speech pathologist's did in 2016.
Speech Pathologist Career Outlook
There is an expected growth in the field of speech pathology for professional of 18 percent. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, some of the major factors that cause a rising need for speech professionals include: a large population of older adults from the baby boomer generation, improved knowledge and awareness of speech problems in children, and medical advances in general.
As the average growth in employment between 2016 and 2026 for all occupations is 7%, it bodes well for those interested or entering the field of speech pathology that the need for SLP’s is greatly outpacing this figure.
Speech Pathologist Salary by Work Environment
The work environment, just like one’s location, can have a direct influence on the salary potential for speech therapists. For example, the BLS reports that speech pathologists who practice in schools earn, on average, $66,960 annually - $26,150 less per year than the average annual salary of SLPs who work in nursing and residential care facilities.
Although it should be no means dictate the work environment you enter as a speech therapy professional, it is yet another factor to consider when narrowing down your career options within the umbrella of speech pathology. We’ve compiled information from the Bureau of Labor Statistics on the various fields in speech-language pathology, saturation of each type of employment and its related salary.
| Employer | % of Speech Pathologists | Median Salary (2017) |
|---|---|---|
| Educational services; state, local, and private | 43% | $66,960 |
| Offices of physical, occupational and speech therapists, and audiologists | 20% | $83,800 |
| Hospitals; state, local, and private | 14% | $82,830 |
| Nursing and residential care facilities | 5% | $93,110 |
| Self-employed workers | 5% | N/A |
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics
Speech Pathologist Salary by State
Naturally, the location that you practice speech pathology in can have a huge effect on your earning potential in the field. For example, working as an SLP in New York City typically allows for a higher average salary than, say, North Dakota due to the massive disparity in cost of living in these states.
The reason some state's speech pathologists might enjoy higher salaries could be anything from a high cost of living to a large gap in the amount of speech pathology positions available and professionals able to fill those positions. Below, we’ve collected state average salary for speech-language pathologists from the BLS:
| State | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Alabama | $65,370 |
| Alaska | $89,060 |
| Arizona | $71,930 |
| Arkansas | $67,150 |
| California | $92,810 |
| Colorado | $85,600 |
| Connecticut | $92,800 |
| Delaware | $75,490 |
| District of Columbia | $85,710 |
| Florida | $81,780 |
| Georgia | $74,510 |
| Hawaii | $72,010 |
| Idaho | $71,880 |
| Illinois | $75,490 |
| Indiana | $73,950 |
| Iowa | $71,330 |
| Kansas | $67,990 |
| Kentucky | $68,690 |
| State | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Louisiana | $61,400 |
| Maine | $62,930 |
| Maryland | $83,420 |
| Massachusetts | $83,610 |
| Michigan | $75,260 |
| Minnesota | $71,620 |
| Mississippi | $59,000 |
| Missouri | $74,640 |
| Montana | $68,500 |
| Nebraska | $66,040 |
| Nevada | $64,140 |
| New Hampshire | $73,610 |
| New Jersey | $82,020 |
| New Mexico | $74,860 |
| New York | $79,530 |
| North Carolina | $70,320 |
| North Dakota | $62,050 |
| Ohio | $74,140 |
| State | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Oklahoma | $62,460 |
| Oregon | $85,210 |
| Pennsylvania | $72,200 |
| Puerto Rico | $38,910 |
| Rhode Island | $77,070 |
| South Carolina | $73,880 |
| South Dakota | $72,200 |
| Pennsylvania | $57,690 |
| Tennessee | $74,780 |
| Texas | $75,270 |
| Utah | $71,840 |
| Vermont | $71,840 |
| Virginia | $84,360 |
| Washington | $74,790 |
| West Virginia | $58,180 |
| Wisconsin | $69,140 |
| Wyoming | $70,140 |
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics
Speech Pathologist State Snapshots
A large variety of factors might play a part in your decision on where to become a practicing speech pathologist. Your preferred location might be based on personal decisions like where you grew up, where you went to school, or where your family currently resides. It also might be financially motivated, based on where you have the best earning potential and a well-balanced cost of living.
With all of this in mind, Teach has put together a few “state snapshots” that feature some of the top states to become a speech pathologist based on earning potential and career outlook for the future. Included in the snapshots are average salaries, the percent of growth the career field will see in that state over the next 10 years, and the employment levels in the state.
Important Note: Enrolling in one of the featured programs below does not guarantee that you will earn the associated state's average annual salary.
Explore a Featured Texas Speech Pathology Program
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Explore a Featured New York Speech Pathology Program
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Explore a Featured Massachusetts Speech Pathology Program
Learn More About Speech@Emerson
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