How to Become a Speech-Language Pathologist
Evaluate and treat speech, language, voice, and swallowing disorders across every age group, from early intervention through stroke recovery. It typically requires a master's degree, with a median salary of $97,870 per year and much faster than average projected job growth.
Median pay
$97,870/yr
Middle half
$77,730 to $114,570
Job growth
Much faster than average
Openings / yr
13,300
Majors that lead here
Key skills
- Active Listening
- Critical Thinking
- Learning Strategies
- Patient Assessment
- Treatment Planning
Helpful certifications
- CCC-SLP (ASHA Certificate of Clinical Competence)
- State SLP licensure
Is this career a fit?
Remote-friendly
50/100
Work-life balance
79/100
Stress level
60/100
Related careers
- Psychiatrist$281,870 median
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- Dentist$170,950 median
- Pharmacist$140,910 median
- Optometrist$136,570 median
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Speech-Language Pathologist make?
The median pay for a Speech-Language Pathologist is $97,870 a year, and the middle half of workers earn between $77,730 and $114,570 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025). That covers everyone in the job, not only people starting out, so newer workers sit toward the lower end.
What degree do you need to become a Speech-Language Pathologist?
The usual entry point is a master's degree. Common majors are Communication Sciences and Disorders, Speech-Language Pathology, Linguistics, and Psychology.
Is Speech-Language Pathologist a growing field?
Projected job growth for this role from 2024 to 2034 is much faster than average (BLS projections via O*NET), with roughly 13,300 U.S. openings a year.
What skills does a Speech-Language Pathologist use most?
Common skills for this role are Active Listening, Critical Thinking, Learning Strategies, Patient Assessment, and Treatment Planning.
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Take the major quizWhere these pay figures come from
Career pay is the annual wage of everyone working in that occupation, not only recent graduates, so it includes people who have done the job for decades. The middle half is the 25th to the 75th percentile. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET OnLine (median and percentile annual wages May 2025; employment projections 2024-2034).
All figures are national. What you earn depends on where you work, who you work for, and how far you take the degree.
Job-growth figures: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET OnLine (median and percentile annual wages May 2025; employment projections 2024-2034).