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Speech-Language Pathology Assistants

Typical education: Associate degreeLower pressure

What they do

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.

Kinds of work

  • Social: Helping, teaching, caring for and supporting other people.
  • Conventional: Organizing information, following clear procedures and working with data and details.
  • Investigative: Science, research, figuring out how things work and solving complex problems.

Lower pressure: How much pressure workers in this job report: deadlines, conflict, dealing with upset people, the cost of mistakes, responsibility for others' safety, competition and long hours. It varies a lot from one employer to the next. Source: U.S. Department of Labor worker surveys.

Pay, tasks and more

Salary

United States $48,430 Median per year · $23.28/hr Most earn $34,770–$71,470

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2025.

What you might do

  • Assist speech-language pathologists in the remediation or development of speech and language skills.
  • Assist speech-language pathologists in the conduct of speech-language research projects.
  • Prepare charts, graphs, or other visual displays to communicate clients' performance information.
  • Conduct in-service training sessions, or family and community education programs.
  • Perform support duties, such as preparing materials, keeping records, maintaining supplies, and scheduling activities.
  • Select or prepare speech-language instructional materials.

Job outlook

United States
5% more jobs by 2035, faster than average · about 14,100 openings a year

Openings include new jobs and jobs left by workers who retire or change careers. Projections: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. "Bright Outlook": U.S. Department of Labor.

Where they work

  • Federal government, excluding postal service13.4%
  • Elementary and secondary schools8.9%
  • Offices of physical, occupational and speech therapists, and audiologists6.0%
  • Offices of physicians5.3%
  • All other ambulatory healthcare services4.5%

Share of all workers in this career. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Employment Matrix.

Experience before this job: None

Some people start through an apprenticeship: paid training on the job, often with classes. Search apprenticeships on Apprenticeship.gov (opens in a new tab) ↗

Career path

How people usually get into this career, from school to their first job and beyond.

Typical education: Associate degreeExperience before this job: NoneEntry-level

Speech-Language Pathology Assistant is an entry-level job. Most people qualify with an associate degree and need no prior work experience, so you can start working in this field soon after finishing school.

  1. High school diploma

    4 years

    Build a strong base in biology, English, and psychology, and get comfortable working with people, since those skills carry into the associate degree.

  2. Associate degree in speech-language pathology assistant or a related communication sciences program

    2 years

    You learn how speech, language, and swallowing disorders are assessed and treated, and you complete supervised clinical practice that prepares you to carry out therapy plans.

  3. Speech-Language Pathology Assistant

    Starts right after your degree

    You work under a speech-language pathologist, carry out the speech and language activities they plan, and help monitor alternative communication devices and systems.

Where it can lead

  1. Speech-Language Pathologist

    1-2 years of experience first

    Earning a master's degree and a license lets you lead assessments and build your own treatment plans instead of carrying out someone else's, which is a significant step up in responsibility.

What you can do now

Ideas for high school and college students.

In high school

  • Take biology and psychologyThese classes give you a foundation in how the body and mind work, which is useful for understanding speech and language disorders.
  • Join a debate, drama, or public speaking clubPracticing clear speech and working with others builds the communication skills you will use every day with clients.
  • Volunteer with children or people with disabilitiesWorking with people who have communication challenges shows you whether this kind of helping work suits you.
  • Get a part-time or summer job working with kidsCamp counselor or tutoring jobs build patience and experience with following a plan, which speech-language assistants do often.
  • Talk with a speech-language pathologist or assistantAsking a professional about their day gives you a realistic picture of the job and the training it requires.

In college

  • Take courses in communication sciences, linguistics, or psychologyThese courses build the knowledge of speech, language, and hearing that you will use in an associate degree program or in a later master's program.
  • Seek a volunteer or aide job at a clinic, school, or rehabilitation centerHands-on time with clients or students shows you how therapy sessions run and gives you experience to list on applications.
  • Get a campus job in a tutoring or learning support centerHelping others learn practices the teaching and encouragement skills that speech-language assistants use in sessions.
  • Join a student organization focused on speech, hearing, or communication sciencesClubs like these connect you with peers and sometimes with guest speakers who work in the field.
  • Ask about an associate degree program with clinical practicePrograms with supervised clinical hours give you real-world practice before you start working.

Tips for getting started

  • Ask your school counselor or a local clinic whether you can volunteer or shadow in a speech therapy setting, so you can see the work up close before you commit.
  • Check which requirements apply in your state, such as certification or licensure, because they vary and the rules can change over time.
  • Practice clear, patient communication now, since you will spend most of your day explaining activities and encouraging clients.

Related jobs a step up

Education, experience and related careers: U.S. Department of Labor. The step-by-step path, where it can lead and what you can do now were written by AI as typical examples; many people take other ways.

College majors that lead here

Majors: U.S. Department of Education and BLS (CIP–SOC crosswalk). Earnings and debt: College Scorecard, typical across U.S. colleges.

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