Speech-Language Pathologists Career, Salary and Skills

Speech-Language Pathologists have a BLS-reported national median annual wage of $97,870 based on the 2025 OEWS dataset, with reported national employment of 183,390. Wage data is published for 422 locations.

Occupation description

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.

O*NET code

29-1127.00

Job zone

5

Typical education

Master's Degree

Experience

Over 1 year, up to and including 2 years

National salary and employment

Median annual

$97,870

Hourly median

$47.05

Employment

183,390

Data year

2025

National salary distribution

$62,900
10th
$77,730
25th
$97,870
Median
$114,570
75th
$134,160
90th

Top skills

SkillImportanceLevel
Reading Comprehension4.125.00
Social Perceptiveness4.124.25
Active Listening4.124.12
Critical Thinking4.124.12
Speaking4.004.25
Writing4.004.38
Learning Strategies4.004.12
Monitoring3.884.12
Active Learning3.884.25
Instructing3.884.00
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Typical tasks

  • 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.
  • Participate in and write reports for meetings regarding patients' progress, such as individualized educational planning (IEP) meetings, in-service meetings, or intervention assistance team meetings.
  • Supervise or collaborate with therapy team.
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Technology

  • Web browser software
  • Adobe Audition
  • Apple Logic Pro
  • Avaaz Innovations AphasiaMate
  • Avaaz Innovations Computerized Speech Research Environment CSRE
  • Avaaz Innovations Interactive Voice Analysis System IVANS
  • Biofeedback software
  • Bungalow Software Aphasia Tutor
  • Dropbox
  • eClinicalWorks EHR software
  • ELR Software eLr Extra Language Resources
  • Email software
  • KayPENTAX Multi-Speech
  • KayPENTAX Nasometer
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Speech-Language Pathologists salary by location

Areas with the highest reported employment for this occupation.

All 422 locations →

Related careers

Career and skills data: O*NET 31.0 (onetcenter.org). Salary and employment data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS, 2025 (bls.gov/oes). Figures are published survey estimates, not real-time market data.