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Speech-Language Pathologists

	Median Wage (USD, 2024)	Projected Job Openings (2023-2033)	Projected Growth (2023-2033)
National Statistics	$95,410	13700	18.4%
State Statistics	-	-	-
City Statistics	-	-	-

Statistics

National

State

City

State

City

$95,410

Median Wage (USD, 2023)

13700

Projected Job Openings (2023-2033)

18.4%

Projected Growth (2023-2033)

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.

Experience Requirements Overview

Job Zone Five: Extensive Preparation Needed
Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these occupations. Many require more than five years of experience. For example, surgeons must complete four years of college and an additional five to seven years of specialized medical training to be able to do their job.
Most of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree).
Employees may need some on-the-job training, but most of these occupations assume that the person will already have the required skills, knowledge, work-related experience, and/or training.

Education, Training and Experience

Required Level of Education: Master's Degree

Related Work Experience: Over 1 year, up to and including 2 years

On-Site or In-Plant Training: Over 1 month, up to and including 3 months

On-the-Job Training: Anything beyond short demonstration, up to and including 1 month

Detailed Work Activities

Analyze patient data to determine patient needs or treatment goals.
Prepare reports summarizing patient diagnostic or care activities.
Maintain medical facility records.
Develop treatment plans that use non-medical therapies.
Prepare reports summarizing patient diagnostic or care activities.
Collaborate with healthcare professionals to plan or provide treatment.
Schedule patient procedures or appointments.
Prepare healthcare training materials.
Process healthcare paperwork.
Train patients, family members, or caregivers in techniques for managing disabilities or illnesses.
Maintain medical or professional knowledge.
Present medical research reports.
Collaborate with healthcare professionals to plan or provide treatment.
Supervise patient care personnel.
Collaborate with healthcare professionals to plan or provide treatment.
Refer patients to other healthcare practitioners or health resources.
Monitor patient progress or responses to treatments.
Test patient hearing.
Operate diagnostic or therapeutic medical instruments or equipment.
Develop treatment plans that use non-medical therapies.
Train patients, family members, or caregivers in techniques for managing disabilities or illnesses.
Train patients, family members, or caregivers in techniques for managing disabilities or illnesses.
Develop treatment plans that use non-medical therapies.
Advise medical personnel regarding healthcare issues.
Develop health assessment methods or programs.
Train caregivers or other non-medical personnel.
Develop strategies or programs for students with special needs.
Assist students with special educational needs.
Teach classes in area of specialization.
Lead classes or community events.
Develop strategies or programs for students with special needs.
Assist students with special educational needs.
Conduct research to increase knowledge about medical issues.
Present medical research reports.
Supervise technical medical personnel.
Supervise student research or internship work.

Work Values

Achievement

Occupations that satisfy this work value are results oriented and allow employees to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment. Corresponding needs are Ability Utilization and Achievement.

Working Conditions

Recognition

Relationships

Support

Independence

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.
Supervise or collaborate with therapy team.
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.
Teach clients to control or strengthen tongue, jaw, face muscles, or breathing mechanisms.
Instruct clients in techniques for more effective communication, such as sign language, lip reading, or voice improvement.
Consult with and advise educators or medical staff on speech or hearing topics, such as communication strategies or speech and language stimulation.
Develop speech exercise programs to reduce disabilities.
Complete administrative responsibilities, such as coordinating paperwork, scheduling case management activities, or writing lesson plans.
Consult with and refer clients to additional medical or educational services.
Design, develop, or employ alternative diagnostic or communication devices or strategies.
Participate in conferences, training, continuing education courses, or publish research results to share knowledge of new hearing or speech disorder treatment methods or technologies.
Use computer applications to identify or assist with communication disabilities.
Develop individual or group activities or programs in schools to deal with behavior, speech, language, or swallowing problems.
Conduct lessons or direct educational or therapeutic games to assist teachers dealing with speech problems.
Provide communication instruction to dialect speakers or students with limited English proficiency.
Supervise students or assistants.
Communicate with students who use an alternative method of communications, using sign language or computer technology.
Conduct or direct research on speech or hearing topics and report findings for use in developing procedures, technologies, or treatments.

Work Styles

Achievement/Effort

Job requires establishing and maintaining personally challenging achievement goals and exerting effort toward mastering tasks.

Persistence

Initiative

Leadership

Cooperation

Concern for Others

Social Orientation

Self-Control

Stress Tolerance

Adaptability/Flexibility

Dependability

Attention to Detail

Integrity

Independence

Innovation

Analytical Thinking

For more information on this career visit: https://explorehealthcareers.org/careers/speech-language-hearing/speech-language-pathologist/

Data Source: This page includes information from the O*NET 30.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. This page includes Employment Projections program, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

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