Speech-Language Pathologists
Also called: Bilingual Speech-Language Pathologist (Bilingual SLP), Speech and Language Specialist, Speech Pathologist, Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP)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.
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What the data says: AI could halve the time on 15 of its 23 tasks, yet jobs are projected to grow 16.6% by 2035. How to think about this →
About this projection
BLS builds AI into its projections where the research supports it: “BLS generally applies adjustments based on this research conservatively, where there is convincing evidence for a change.”
It also notes a limit: “BLS projection methods are not designed to capture extremely rapid technological change.”
On its AI exposure groups, BLS says exposure “does not imply job loss.”
Recent conditions
- In 2024, 0.9% of people in this work were unemployed, against 3.8% across all occupations Census ACS 2024
- From Sep 2025 to Aug 2026, 5.0 hires for every 10 job openings in health care and social assistance, which employs about 53% of people in this work, against 7.3 across all industries BLS JOLTS
One box per opening, filled for each hire; hires beyond the openings are added in a lighter shade. Higher can mean openings get filled, or that people leave often; lower, that jobs go unfilled, or hiring is slow.5.0 this industry7.3 all industries
Median pay by state BLS OEWS May 2025, state estimates
Tap a state for its figures.
Median pay in every state
| State | Median | Middle half earn | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $73,660 | $63,760 to $88,990 | 2,060 |
| Alaska | $102,670 | $84,310 to $108,700 | 340 |
| Arizona | $97,800 | $81,020 to $114,400 | 3,390 |
| Arkansas | $83,580 | $65,070 to $112,140 | 2,430 |
| California | $118,970 | $98,920 to $135,070 | 16,930 |
| Colorado | $110,750 | $94,590 to $136,890 | 4,420 |
| Connecticut | $100,110 | $80,960 to $114,400 | 2,390 |
| Delaware | $102,760 | $87,210 to $114,620 | 690 |
| District of Columbia | $109,380 | $96,180 to $130,620 | 390 |
| Florida | $99,990 | $83,120 to $105,460 | 10,080 |
| Georgia | $96,760 | $73,990 to $108,030 | 4,030 |
| Hawaii | $97,560 | $75,020 to $107,950 | 270 |
| Idaho | $84,380 | $76,310 to $99,360 | 1,210 |
| Illinois | $95,080 | $76,590 to $108,330 | 9,040 |
| Indiana | $87,360 | $75,380 to $106,080 | 3,310 |
| Iowa | $81,050 | $70,470 to $95,970 | 1,540 |
| Kansas | $80,120 | $65,010 to $99,650 | 1,690 |
| Kentucky | $83,550 | $70,250 to $104,120 | 2,610 |
| Louisiana | $69,610 | $60,790 to $90,660 | 3,000 |
| Maine | $82,660 | $73,930 to $99,060 | 640 |
| Maryland | $99,190 | $79,370 to $114,260 | 3,510 |
| Massachusetts | $101,310 | $83,090 to $119,100 | 5,290 |
| Michigan | $89,120 | $76,070 to $101,410 | 4,730 |
| Minnesota | $89,380 | $78,310 to $100,650 | 3,890 |
| Mississippi | $78,130 | $62,080 to $97,860 | 1,790 |
| Missouri | $89,280 | $71,520 to $103,240 | 3,230 |
| Montana | $78,740 | $65,010 to $93,490 | 490 |
| Nebraska | $84,350 | $74,540 to $99,360 | 1,310 |
| Nevada | $104,510 | $83,200 to $119,630 | 1,270 |
| New Hampshire | $83,040 | $75,190 to $100,820 | 720 |
| New Jersey | $101,560 | $82,680 to $128,910 | 6,840 |
| New Mexico | $98,690 | $78,940 to $123,920 | 1,250 |
| New York | $100,610 | $78,570 to $131,190 | 15,310 |
| North Carolina | $86,460 | $71,160 to $103,020 | 5,600 |
| North Dakota | $75,240 | $61,520 to $85,920 | 630 |
| Ohio | $93,300 | $77,250 to $105,500 | 7,270 |
| Oklahoma | $84,470 | $60,600 to $105,710 | 1,870 |
| Oregon | $102,660 | $85,810 to $127,700 | 1,600 |
| Pennsylvania | $92,960 | $72,440 to $107,990 | 6,570 |
| Puerto Rico | $49,800 | $47,850 to $59,220 | 150 |
| Rhode Island | $104,000 | $92,260 to $111,610 | 720 |
| South Carolina | $90,530 | $68,750 to $106,920 | 2,190 |
| South Dakota | $65,680 | $62,400 to $82,560 | 410 |
| Tennessee | $84,630 | $64,730 to $101,760 | 3,320 |
| Texas | $99,910 | $79,230 to $118,490 | 19,120 |
| Utah | $91,560 | $66,490 to $106,850 | 1,460 |
| Vermont | $82,090 | $78,270 to $98,760 | 430 |
| Virginia | $96,250 | $77,830 to $116,790 | 4,460 |
| Washington | $105,550 | $96,100 to $124,010 | 3,570 |
| West Virginia | $80,970 | $67,640 to $108,290 | 880 |
| Wisconsin | $83,000 | $72,370 to $99,530 | 2,940 |
| Wyoming | $82,040 | $68,710 to $109,540 | 240 |
Nationally: $97,870. Shades run from the lowest state median to the highest; a territory below that range takes the lightest. How to read this
How AI touches the work
What AI could speed up, task by task, and where people already use it.
AI could halve the time on 15 of its 23 tasks
| AI rating | Its main tasks | Share of Claude conversations May 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| AI + software | 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. | under 0.01% |
| AI + software | 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. | Not published |
| AI + software | 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. | Not published |
| Not much | Monitor patients' progress and adjust treatments accordingly. | under 0.01% |
| Not much | 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. | Not published |
| AI + software | 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. | Not published |
See all 23 tasks
| Not much | Educate patients and family members about various topics, such as communication techniques or strategies to cope with or to avoid personal misunderstandings. | Not published |
| AI alone | Consult with and advise educators or medical staff on speech or hearing topics, such as communication strategies or speech and language stimulation. | Not published |
| AI + software | Complete administrative responsibilities, such as coordinating paperwork, scheduling case management activities, or writing lesson plans. | Not published |
| Not much | Instruct clients in techniques for more effective communication, such as sign language, lip reading, or voice improvement. | Not published |
| AI + software | Consult with and refer clients to additional medical or educational services. | Not published |
| AI + software | Supervise or collaborate with therapy team. | Not published |
| Not much | Teach clients to control or strengthen tongue, jaw, face muscles, or breathing mechanisms. | Not published |
| AI + software | Develop speech exercise programs to reduce disabilities. | Not published |
| AI + software | Participate in conferences, training, continuing education courses, or publish research results to share knowledge of new hearing or speech disorder treatment methods or technologies. | Not published |
| AI + software | Design, develop, or employ alternative diagnostic or communication devices or strategies. | Not published |
| AI + software | Use computer applications to identify or assist with communication disabilities. | Not published |
| AI alone | Provide communication instruction to dialect speakers or students with limited English proficiency. | under 0.01% |
| AI + software | Develop individual or group activities or programs in schools to deal with behavior, speech, language, or swallowing problems. | Not published |
| Not much | Conduct lessons or direct educational or therapeutic games to assist teachers dealing with speech problems. | Not published |
| Not much | Supervise students or assistants. | Not published |
| Not much | Communicate with students who use an alternative method of communications, using sign language or computer technology. | Not published |
| AI + software | Conduct or direct research on speech or hearing topics and report findings for use in developing procedures, technologies, or treatments. | Not published |
Ordered by how important O*NET's respondents rate each task (1 to 5) times the share who say it is part of their job. The ordering is ours. 3 of the 23 have a published share of Claude conversations; “not published” means too few conversations for Anthropic to publish a figure.
Where people already use AI
The tasks above say what AI could speed up. This shows what people are using it for. Its 23 tasks fall under 22 work activities that many occupations share, and Microsoft counted how often each one came up in 200,000 conversations with its Copilot assistant in 2024.
- #4 Maintain current knowledge in area of expertise
- #20 Present research or technical information
- #23 Prepare informational or instructional materials
- and 3 more, in the table below
| Work activity | This occupation's tasks under it | People asked AI for help in 10,000 conversations |
AI did it for them in 10,000 conversations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Train others on health or medical topics | |||
| Develop patient or client care or treatment plans | |||
| Confer with healthcare or other professionals about patient care | |||
| Present research or technical information | |||
| Develop educational programs, plans, or procedures | |||
| Prepare health or medical documents | |||
| Assist individuals with special needs | |||
| Supervise personnel activities |
Show all 22 activities
| Maintain current knowledge in area of expertise | |||
| Prepare informational or instructional materials | |||
| Assist others to access additional services or resources | |||
| Research healthcare issues | |||
| Perform administrative or clerical activities | |||
| Teach academic or vocational subjects | |||
| Advise others on healthcare or wellness issues | |||
| Analyze health or medical data | |||
| Schedule appointments | |||
| Monitor health conditions of humans or animals | |||
| Operate medical equipment | |||
| Develop health assessment methods or programs | |||
| Maintain health or medical records | |||
| Administer diagnostic tests to assess patient health |
How people in this work use Claude
What people in this work made with Claude % of conversations
- Teaching material34%
- An explanation or answer21%
- A document or report9%
- A plan or strategy6%
- Advice or a recommendation5%
How they worked with Claude
27% of these conversations were about work. Anthropic Economic Index, May 2026.
How to read this
Work activities come from O*NET, which links every task to the broader activities it involves. Microsoft's figures are for the activity across everyone who used Copilot, not for speech-language pathologists specifically. Copilot is a general chat assistant; dedicated coding tools are not included, so programming help is under-counted here. Activities are listed by how many of this occupation's tasks fall under them.
The task ratings say whether AI could halve the time a task takes: on its own (“AI alone”), or with software built on it (“AI + software”). They were made by people in 2023 (Eloundou et al.). Claude's share is the task's share of all Claude.ai conversations in May 2026; Anthropic doesn't publish a task with too few conversations. None of these add up to the BLS exposure group, which combines five research measures.
More in the Guide: task ratings · task order · work activities · Copilot figures · Claude
High exposure doesn't mean fewer jobs
BLS projects most occupations in its two most exposed groups to grow: 141 of 206 rated Very high and 165 of 206 rated High. Each dot is one of the 831 occupations BLS rates.
Career moves into and out of this occupation
From moves between occupations found in online resumes, 2002–2016. Career changes only: a first job after school isn't a move.
Where people moved next
of 6,091 moves out
- 1 Medical and Health Services Managers High +24.2% 13%
- 2 Managers, All Other (2010 group) an older group BLS has since split; no exposure group today 5%
- 3 Postsecondary Teachers, All Other Very high +2.0% 5%
- 4 Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers Moderate +3.8% 4%
- 5 Management Analysts Very high +10.1% 4%
Where people moved in from
of 7,030 moves in
- 1 Medical and Health Services Managers High +24.2% 9%
- 2 Home Health Aides 7%
- 3 Healthcare Support Workers, All Other Moderate +4.8% 6%
- 4 Managers, All Other (2010 group) an older group BLS has since split; no exposure group today 4%
- 5 Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education High -0.4% 3%
Resumes over-represent younger, white-collar job-seekers and moves into management. Schubert, Stansbury and Taska (resume data).
Education and training for the occupation
O*NET survey of workers in this occupation
- 89% master's
- 11% post-master's certificate
O*NET 31.0 survey of workers in this occupation · 26 people answered.
Census survey (American Community Survey)
- 1% less than high school
- 1% high school
- 1% some college
- 1% associate's
- 15% bachelor's
- 78% master's
- 2% professional degree
- 1% doctorate
Census ACS 2024, all workers in this occupation · 2,390 people surveyed.
Why the two can differ
O*NET asks about 20 people in each occupation, which makes its shares uncertain, but it reports the exact occupation and counts certificates. The Census survey reaches thousands, but it groups some occupations together and counts degrees only. More in the Guide
Median pay by highest degree full-time, year-round · Census ACS 2024, all workers in this occupation
4 programs, such as Communication Sciences and Disorders, General, Speech-Language Pathology/Pathologist and Audiology/Audiologist and Speech-Language Pathology/Pathologist.
See all
- Communication Sciences and Disorders, General
- Speech-Language Pathology/Pathologist
- Audiology/Audiologist and Speech-Language Pathology/Pathologist
- Communication Disorders Sciences and Services, Other
Jobs that require a credential BLS Occupational Requirements Survey 2023
>99.5% this occupation
45.3% all occupations
| By kind | This occupation | All occupations |
|---|---|---|
| a license | 94.1% | 19.1% |
| a certification | 31.7% | 5.8% |
| an educational certificate | not published |
Share of jobs whose employer requires it. BLS doesn't say which credential. How to read this
Look up certifications, training and licenses U.S. Department of Labor
- Certification Finder ↗ certifications CareerOneStop lists for this occupation
- Training Finder ↗ schools and programs, nationwide; narrow the place there
- License Finder ↗ licenses by state
- Apprenticeships: DOL's list of apprenticeable occupations doesn't include this one.
These open in a new tab and send only the occupation's public code. More in the Guide
BLS AI exposure categories (Aug 2026) · BLS Employment Projections 2025–35 · O*NET 31.0 · Task ratings: Eloundou et al., Science (2024) · Microsoft "Working with AI" v1.1 · Anthropic Economic Index (2026-06-26) · Schubert, Stansbury and Taska · NCES CIP–SOC · Census ACS 2024 · BLS JOLTS
See it online, and explore any career: https://www.pathmosaic.com/card/29-1127.00