Speech-Language Pathology: Career Outlook

Speech-language pathologists, sometimes called speech therapists, assess, diagnose, treat, and help to prevent speech, language, cognitive, communication, voice, swallowing, fluency, and other related disorders.

Most speech-language pathologists provide direct clinical services to individuals with disorders, and work in patients' homes, speech and language clinics, hospitals and other medical facilities, or schools. Some speech-language pathologists conduct research on how people communicate, and some design and develop equipment or techniques for diagnosing and treating speech and language problems.

The demand for speech-language pathologists is expected to grow rapidly in part as a result of the expansion of the elderly population as the baby boomer generation ages. The elderly are prone to medical conditions that result in speech, language, and swallowing problems.

Medical advances are also improving the survival rate of premature infants and trauma and stroke victims, who often require assessment and possible treatment for disorders or limited function. Many states now require that all newborns be screened for hearing loss and receive appropriate early intervention services.

In addition, employment of speech-language pathologists in schools will continue to grow because federal law guarantees special education to all eligible children with disabilities; and with increasing public awareness of the importance of early identification and diagnosis of speech, language, swallowing, and hearing disorders. Lastly, the number of speech-language pathologists in private practice will rise due to the increasing use of contract services by hospitals, schools, and nursing care facilities.

Speech-language pathologists held about 94,000 jobs in 2002, the latest year for which data are available. Demand for speech-language pathologists is expected to outpace average demand for all occupations through 2012, according to the U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics.

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Working Conditions

Speech-language pathologists work on a full-time, part-time, or contract basis in hospitals, nursing homes, outpatient clinics, schools, day care facilities, and homes. About half of all speech-language pathologists work in educational services, with most of the remainder employed by healthcare and social assistance facilities. Some are self-employed in private practice. The work can be emotionally demanding.

Earnings

Median annual earnings of speech-language pathologists were $52,410 in 2004, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The middle 50 percent earned between $42,090 and $65,750. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $34,720, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $82,420. Pay is somewhat lower for those who work on an academic-year basis, averaging about $50,000 yearly according to a 2004 survey by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. 

Training

A master’s degree in speech-language pathology is the standard credential. A passing score on a national examination on speech-language pathology, offered through the Praxis Series of the Educational Testing Service, is needed, as well. Other requirements are supervised clinical experience and postgraduate professional clinical experience. Thirty-eight states have continuing education requirements for licensure renewal.

Speech-language pathologists can also acquire the Certificate of Clinical Competence in Speech-Language Pathology (CCC-SLP) offered by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association.

Further information

American Speech-Language Hearing Association

Massachusetts Speech Language Hearing Association

National Black Association for Speech-Language and Hearing

US News & World Report cites Speech-Language Pathology on its 2007 list of 25 Best Careers

U.S Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook 2004-2005