Speech-Language Pathology Assistants: Career Profile
Assist speech-language pathologists in the assessment and treatment of speech, language, voice, and fluency disorders. Implement speech and language programs or activities as planned and directed by speech-language pathologists. Monitor the use of alternative communication devices and systems.
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The Daily Work of Speech-Language Pathology Assistants Take On?
The core tasks performed by speech-language pathology assistants include:
- Document clients' progress toward meeting established treatment objectives.
- Implement treatment plans or protocols as directed by speech-language pathologists.
- Collect and compile data to document clients' performance or assess program quality.
- Perform support duties, such as preparing materials, keeping records, maintaining supplies, and scheduling activities.
- Assist speech-language pathologists in the remediation or development of speech and language skills.
- Select or prepare speech-language instructional materials.
- Assist speech-language pathologists in the conduct of client screenings or assessments of language, voice, fluency, articulation, or hearing.
- Prepare charts, graphs, or other visual displays to communicate clients' performance information.
What Speech-Language Pathology Assistants Need to Know
Top speech-language pathology assistants combine a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Key Skills
These are the skills most central to this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Core Knowledge
Types of Speech-Language Pathology Assistants Jobs
People in this occupation may also be known by titles such as:
- Anatomic Pathology Assistant
- Certified Pathology Assistant
- Communication Assistant
- Hearing and Speech Assistant
- Language Assistant
- Pathology Assistant
- SLPA (Speech Language Pathologist Assistant)
- SLPA (Speech and Language Pathology Assistant)
Job Outlook
The U.S. employs around 754,703 speech-language pathology assistants working in the United States today. Employment is projected to grow by +14.8% over the projection horizon.
How Much Do Speech-Language Pathology Assistants Make?
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $48,496 |
| Hourly median | $23.32 |
| 10th percentile | $27,834 |
| 25th percentile | $38,165 |
| 75th percentile | $58,828 |
| 90th percentile | $69,159 |
Pay can vary substantially based on experience, location, and industry.
Speech-Language Pathology Assistants Salary by State
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $72,700 |
| Alaska | $65,420 |
| Washington | $59,010 |
| Massachusetts | $58,580 |
| Delaware | $57,200 |
| California | $55,270 |
| Kansas | $53,770 |
| New York | $51,670 |
| New Mexico | $51,190 |
| Nevada | $49,620 |
| New Jersey | $48,610 |
| South Carolina | $48,540 |
| Oklahoma | $48,530 |
| Indiana | $48,440 |
| Maine | $47,690 |
| North Carolina | $47,510 |
| Idaho | $47,490 |
| Oregon | $47,440 |
| Hawaii | $47,180 |
| South Dakota | $47,050 |
| Arizona | $46,530 |
| Rhode Island | $46,240 |
| Montana | $46,160 |
| Wyoming | $46,160 |
| Utah | $45,760 |
| Minnesota | $45,720 |
| Colorado | $45,600 |
| Wisconsin | $45,310 |
| Virginia | $45,310 |
| Ohio | $44,940 |
| Georgia | $44,190 |
| Kentucky | $44,120 |
| North Dakota | $44,100 |
| Florida | $44,090 |
| Connecticut | $43,980 |
| Pennsylvania | $43,740 |
| Texas | $43,570 |
| Iowa | $42,750 |
| New Hampshire | $42,260 |
| Tennessee | $42,020 |
| Vermont | $41,880 |
| Illinois | $41,280 |
| Nebraska | $40,550 |
| Mississippi | $39,970 |
| Michigan | $39,280 |
| Maryland | $39,230 |
| Arkansas | $39,000 |
| West Virginia | $37,640 |
| Alabama | $36,260 |
| Missouri | $36,190 |
| Louisiana | $33,030 |
| Puerto Rico | $27,940 |
Top-Paying U.S. Regions
Compensation for speech-language pathology assistants vary by region. Top regions by median wage:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Far Western US | $54,416 | 22.7% | 1.43 |
| New England | $49,789 | 4.1% | 0.92 |
| Middle Atlantic | $46,209 | 13.1% | 1.03 |
| Rocky Mountains | $45,772 | 4.1% | 1.22 |
| Southwest | $44,653 | 14.4% | 1.20 |
| Great Lakes | $42,680 | 8.3% | 0.67 |
| Plains States | $41,855 | 8.5% | 1.59 |
| Southeast | $41,549 | 24.2% | 1.55 |
Highest-Paying Metro Areas for Speech-Language Pathology Assistants
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Napa, CA | CA | $74,180 | 100 |
| Winston-Salem, NC | NC | $69,870 | 380 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | CA | $64,840 | 1,930 |
| Anchorage, AK | AK | $63,810 | 60 |
| Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA | WA | $61,800 | 100 |
| Barnstable Town, MA | MA | $61,650 | 30 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | CA | $61,280 | 770 |
| Sebastian-Vero Beach-West Vero Corridor, FL | FL | $60,980 | 60 |
Which Industries Hire Speech-Language Pathology Assistants
The bulk of speech-language pathology assistants are found across these industries:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Health Care and Social Assistance | 60,630 | $43,200 |
| Educational Services | 13,000 | $48,000 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 3,850 | $42,020 |
| Retail Trade | 1,490 | $50,460 |
| Other Services (except Public Administration) | 1,150 | $31,170 |
| Finance and Insurance | 740 | $59,850 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 740 | $60,210 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | 740 | $37,640 |
The table below shows some of the most common industries where those employed in this career field work.
Tools and Technology
- Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Office suite software: Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Operating system software: Microsoft Windows (hot technology)
- Word processing software: Microsoft Word (hot technology)
What the Workplace Is Like
Daily working conditions for speech-language pathology assistants is shaped by the following characteristics:
- Contact With Others
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Importance of Being Exact or Accurate
- Physical Proximity
How to Become Speech-Language Pathology Assistants
Entry-level speech-language pathology assistants positions require an associate’s degree as the typical entry-level education. This occupation sits in Medium Preparation Needed (Job Zone 3), signaling the level of preparation typically expected.
Other Careers to Consider
Similar Occupations
- Rehabilitation Counselors (Supplemental)
- Occupational Therapists (Primary-Long)
- Low Vision Therapists, Orientation and Mobility Specialists, and Vision Rehabilitation Therapists (Primary-Long)
- Recreational Therapists (Supplemental)
- Speech-Language Pathologists (Primary-Short)
- Advanced Practice Psychiatric Nurses (Supplemental)
- Clinical Nurse Specialists (Supplemental)
- Audiologists (Primary-Short)
Top Programs to Study For This Career
Students preparing for speech-language pathology assistants often complete programs in:
Health Professions and Related Programs
11 programs across 3 majors
Sources
Data on this page comes from the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 31-9099.01 (Healthcare Support Workers, All Other).
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