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 Schools1
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 median salary for speech therapists in schools, according to the BLS, is $80,280.
Speech Therapist in Medical Facilities1
Speech Pathologists who work in medical facilities work with a variety of healthcare workers (physicians, 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 $101,560.
Speech Therapist in Private Clinics1
Speech Therapists working in private clinics, such as a nursing home or a residential care facility, will typically address and diagnose speech and swallowing disorders and work with patients directly over time.
The average salary for speech therapists in nursing and residential care facilities, according to the BLS, is $106,500.
Self Employed Speech Therapist 1
Although many settings require certified speech pathologists, 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 SLPs, and 3% of SLPs are self employed as of 2024.
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Speech Pathologist Career Outlook
There is expected growth of 15 percent in the field of speech pathology for professionals. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, some of the major factors driving the rising demand 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 advances in medical care.
As the average growth in employment between 2024 and 2034 for all occupations is 3.1%, 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, like one’s location, can directly influence the salary potential for speech therapists. For example, the BLS reports that speech pathologists who practice in schools earn a median salary of $80,280 annually – $26,220 less per year than the average annual salary of SLPs who work in nursing and residential care facilities ($106,500).
Although it should by 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, the employment saturation for each type, and the associated salaries.
Employer | % of Speech Pathologists | Median Salary (2024) |
|---|---|---|
Educational services; state, local, and private | 43% | $80,280 |
Offices of physical, occupational and speech therapists, and audiologists | 20% | $98,470 |
Hospitals; state, local, and private | 14% | $101,560 |
Nursing and residential care facilities | 5% | $106,500 |
Self-employed workers | 5% | N/A |
Master of Science in Communication Disorders
Scholarships are available for Emerson College's online MS in speech-language pathology. With no GRE required to apply, you can complete your degree in as few as 20 months and prepare to become an SLP.
- Prepares you to pursue certification as an SLP generalist
- In-person clinical placements at faculty-approved partner sites
- As few as 20 months to complete
Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology
Pepperdine University’s online Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology program delivers excellence in its academic and clinical preparation programs, grounded in Christian values. The curriculum is designed to develop skilled, compassionate speech-language pathologists who are not only experts in the field, but are committed to serving and leading in their local communities. Choose between a full-time (five trimesters) or part-time (eight trimesters) program that consists of weekly online learning, three onsite campus experiences, and 400 supervised clinical hours.
- Full-time (five trimesters) or part-time (eight trimesters) options available.
- No GRE scores required.
- 400+ supervised, clinical learning hours are done at schools/clinics local to students
- Three onsite experiences build a sense of camaraderie and community throughout the program
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics
Speech Pathologist Salary by State
Naturally, the location where you practice speech pathology can have a huge effect on your earning potential in the field. For example, working as an SLP in New York City typically offers a higher average salary than, say, North Dakota, due to the massive cost-of-living disparity between the two states.
The reason some states’ speech pathologists might enjoy higher salaries could be anything from a high cost of living to a large gap between the number of speech pathology positions available and the number of professionals able to fill them. Below, we’ve collected the state average salary for speech-language pathologists from the BLS (May 2024):
State | Median Salary |
|---|---|
Alabama | $72,560 |
Alaska | $100,180 |
Arizona | $95,990 |
Arkansas | $79,800 |
California | $116,000 |
Colorado | $108,070 |
Connecticut | $100,550 |
Delaware | $101,030 |
District of Columbia | $106,950 |
Florida | $97,150 |
Georgia | $99,100 |
Hawaii | $108,230 |
Idaho | $78,450 |
Illinois | $82,480 |
Indiana | $84,330 |
Iowa | $81,120 |
Kansas | $81,360 |
Kentucky | $82,910 |
Louisiana | $65,770 |
Maine | $81,700 |
Maryland | $100,560 |
Massachusetts | $101,790 |
Michigan | $81,860 |
Minnesota | $82,450 |
Mississippi | $75,790 |
Missouri | $83,950 |
Montana | $80,330 |
State | Median Salary |
|---|---|
Nebraska | $81,710 |
Nevada | $100,840 |
New Hampshire | $$83,800 |
New Jersey | $101,600 |
New Mexico | $104,910 |
New York | $108,870 |
North Carolina | $87,420 |
North Dakota | $67,330 |
Ohio | $88,340 |
Oklahoma | $84,310 |
Oregon | $104,230 |
Pennsylvania | $93,800 |
Puerto Rico | $49,850 |
Rhode Island | $100,680 |
South Carolina | $91,880 |
South Dakota | $63,180 |
Tennessee | $82,990 |
Texas | $89,450 |
Utah | $85,320 |
Vermont | $78,580 |
Virginia | $94,370 |
Washington | $102,450 |
West Virginia | $80,170 |
Wisconsin | $80,580 |
Wyoming | $85,820 |
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 may be based on personal factors, such as 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” featuring the top states to become a speech pathologist, based on earning potential and future career outlook. Included in the snapshots are average salaries, the projected growth rate for the career field in that state over the next 10 years, and the state's employment levels.
Important Note: Enrolling in one of the featured programs below does not guarantee that you will earn the associated state's average annual salary.
Speech Pathologist Salary Texas2
SLPs in Texas earn an average salary of $94,850 per year.
State | Salary | Employment Level |
|---|---|---|
Texas | $94,850 | 18,600 |
Speech Pathologist Salary California
Speech pathologists in California earn the second-highest average salary in the United States, falling at around $114,050 per year.
One of the many great locations to become a practicing speech therapist in California, according to the BLS, is the San Francisco metropolitan area, where the average annual salary is even higher than the median California-wide wage ($125,480).
State | Average Salary | Employment Level |
|---|---|---|
California | $114,050 | 14,680 |
Speech Pathologist Salary New York2
Speech therapists in New York earn the fourth-highest salary in the United States, at $111,640 per year.
Speech pathologists in the New York City metropolitan area enjoy salaries that are well above the national average, at around $119,030 per year.
State | Average Salary | Employment Level |
|---|---|---|
New York | $111,640 | 16,250 |
Explore a Featured New York Speech Pathology Program
Speech Pathologist Salary Massachusetts2
Speech Pathologists in Massachusetts earn average salaries that rank among the top 15 highest-paying states, roughly $99,570 per year.
For speech pathologists in Massachusetts looking to maximize their earning potential while living in a bustling metropolis, consider the Boston metropolitan area where the average annual salary for speech pathologists is $100,020.
State | Average Salary | Employment Level |
|---|---|---|
Massachusetts | $99,570 | 5,000 |
Explore a Featured Massachusetts Speech Pathology Program
Master of Science in Communication Disorders
Scholarships are available for Emerson College's online MS in speech-language pathology. With no GRE required to apply, you can complete your degree in as few as 20 months and prepare to become an SLP.
- Prepares you to pursue certification as an SLP generalist
- In-person clinical placements at faculty-approved partner sites
- As few as 20 months to complete
Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology
Pepperdine University’s online Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology program delivers excellence in its academic and clinical preparation programs, grounded in Christian values. The curriculum is designed to develop skilled, compassionate speech-language pathologists who are not only experts in the field, but are committed to serving and leading in their local communities. Choose between a full-time (five trimesters) or part-time (eight trimesters) program that consists of weekly online learning, three onsite campus experiences, and 400 supervised clinical hours.
- Full-time (five trimesters) or part-time (eight trimesters) options available.
- No GRE scores required.
- 400+ supervised, clinical learning hours are done at schools/clinics local to students
- Three onsite experiences build a sense of camaraderie and community throughout the program
Information last updated: July 2026