Speech-Language Pathologists
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.
Salary distribution (US)
Real salary data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The p10–p90 spread tells you more than the median alone.
Top skills
Knowledge you'll build
- Therapy and Counseling
- English Language
- Psychology
- Education and Training
- Customer and Personal Service
- Medicine and Dentistry
- Sociology and Anthropology
- Biology
A day in the life
Your morning starts at an elementary school, pulling students out of class one by one for speech therapy sessions—using games, flashcards, and articulation drills to help a child who struggles with 'R' sounds or a kindergartner who stutters. Between sessions you write individualized education plans and consult with teachers about classroom accommodations. Afternoons might shift to a hospital or private clinic, where you work with an adult stroke survivor relearning how to swallow safely or help a toddler with autism build first words using augmentative communication devices. The progress is often measured in small wins, but hearing a child say their own name clearly for the first time is a moment you never forget.
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