What Can You Do With a Master's in Speech-Language Pathology?

Speech is the most basic form of communication and a critical part of our development — it makes us uniquely human. From infancy to the end of life, we use speech and language to learn, develop our personalities, and communicate our ideas and emotions. Language helps us view and adapt to the world around us.

When speech and language are affected by developmental delays, genetics, trauma, or cognitive decline that cause physiological changes in the ability to swallow or speak, speech-language pathologists (SLPs) provide qualified and compassionate support.

If you're considering speech-language pathology as a career, here is a look at the range of settings and specializations the MS-SLP degree opens up — and what each involves in practice.

What is a Speech-Language Pathologist?

Speech-language pathologists are licensed, master’s-prepared practitioners who assess and treat speech, language, communication, and swallowing disorders. Speech-language pathologist, or SLP, is the correct term, although many people might still use the older, outmoded term “speech therapist”.

The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA)identifies nine primary areas, the Big Nine, of SLP practice — spanning articulation, fluency, voice, language, hearing, swallowing, cognitive communication, social communication, and AAC, that typically require the support of SLPs.

SLPs are licensed to treat pediatric and adult clients across the lifespan. Adults may experience an injury or illness affecting their ability to communicate or swallow. Other adults may have difficulties affecting these abilities that began in childhood, such as cerebral palsy. Many speech-language problems are developmental, meaning that they are evident during childhood; SLPs may work with infants and children in a wide range of settings, from the NICU to high school.

Speech-Language Pathologist Salary

Speech-language pathologists earned a median annual salary of $95,410 in May 2024, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, more than double the median for all occupations. Salary varies significantly by work setting and location.

Speech-Language Pathology Career Outlook

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Outlook Handbook shows a projected 15% increase in employment opportunities through 2034, and there is a high demand for SLPs nationwide in urban, suburban, and rural communities. Leveraging your bachelor’s degree in any field to earn a master’s degree as a speech-language pathologist affords you a wide variety of career opportunities. If you have strong communication and collaboration skills, empathy, and patience and are looking for a fulfilling new career, becoming an SLP may be the right path.

Here is a look at the areas in which you might practice.

Education

More than half (56%) of speech-language pathologists work in education. The majority work in early childhood and K-12 schools, while a small percentage is employed in colleges and universities.

SLPs work with children of all ages with various disorders and disabilities. They provide a full range of services for communication disorders, including those involving language, articulation, fluency, voice/resonance, and swallowing.

In public schools, speech-language pathologists are part of the special education team. They are involved in the evaluation and intervention process by working with children individually and in small groups. SLPs also provide counseling and education to families and serve as consultants to other teachers and education professionals.

SLPs are trained to use evidence-based practice to facilitate students’ academic success and help them meet the performance standards of the school districts and states where they work. Their responsibilities include:

• Prevention — SLPs are integrally involved in preventing a student’s academic failure.
• Assessment — SLPs assess students to identify speech-language-communication disorders.
• Intervention — SLPs provide age-appropriate intervention to the learning needs of each student.
• Program Design — SLPs create schoolwide programs for students with disabilities.
• Outcomes — SLPs use data-based decision-making to measure the results of treatment.
• Compliance – SLPs must meet local, state, and federal policies and mandates.

In coordination with other school professionals, agencies within the community, families, and indeed the students themselves, qualified and determined SLPs can have a significant and lasting impact on a student’s academic and personal life.

School-based SLPs earn a median annual salary of $80,280 (BLS May 2024) and are the most common setting for SLP employment, with school-year schedules, summers off, and built-in collaboration with teachers and special education teams.

Early Intervention

Many speech-language pathologists are involved in early intervention — before school age. They help children from birth to three years old who are experiencing delays in development. These professional SLPs are usually from an agency that is affiliated with school districts, but they work with children in the home.

Early intervention looks different for each child depending on their needs. Some of the skills SLPs help with include:

• Cognitive skills — thinking, learning, and problem-solving
• Communication skills — gesturing, talking, listening, and understanding
• Physical and sensory skills — crawling, walking, climbing, and hearing
• Social-emotional skills — playing, understanding feelings, and making friends
• Adaptive or self-help skills —eating, bathing, and dressing

Early intervention is available in every state under federal law. As the name suggests, “early” is the key to a successful outcome for children and families.

Health Care

Nearly 40% of speech-language pathologists are employed in clinical settings and are generally part of a multidisciplinary team of professionals, including physicians, nurses, case managers, social workers, and other rehabilitation providers.

The role of SLPs in clinical environments includes:

• Diagnosing and treating communication, language, and swallowing disorders
• Counseling patients and their families
• Consulting with and educating other health care staff about specific speech-language disorders

Patients in these health care settings often present with complex medical conditions that can change rapidly.

• Acute care hospitals
• Acute inpatient rehabilitation
• Long-term care facilities
• Military hospitals
• Outpatient clinics
• Pediatric hospitals
• Psychiatric hospitals

Skilled SLPs must be nimble to re-evaluate, problem-solve, and modify treatment plans as their patients move along the continuum of care. Working in these settings can be very rewarding when you see patients return to a higher level of function or stabilize after a decline in health.

Health care settings are among the highest-paying for SLPs — hospital positions carry a median salary of $101,560 and residential care facilities $106,500, with home health the highest at $121,260 (BLS May 2024).

Telepractice

We’re all aware of the seismic shift to telehealth during and post-COVID-19. Today, some SLPs are using “telepractice” to conduct therapy remotely. ASHA describes telepractice as “the delivery of services using telecommunication and Internet technology to remotely connect clinicians to clients, other health care providers, and/or educational professionals for screening, assessment, intervention, consultation, and/or education.”

Some of the benefits of telepractice include:

• Convenience — Clients can receive therapy at home without having to travel.
• Technology — Interactive platforms, games, and comprehensive evaluations keep clients, especially children, motivated and engaged throughout the session.
• Broader Access — Telepractice provides access to specialized clinicians and treatments that may not be available locally.
• Supportive Involvement — Telepractice allows parents of children or other caregivers to participate during and/or meet with after each session (this is standard in most settings).

Does telepractice work as well as face-to-face therapy? ASHA’s 2023 systematic review of children on the autism spectrum determined no significant differences in language and social communication outcomes between telepractice and in-person interventions.

State requirements for telepractice vary depending on where you and your clients live. It’s essential to verify your state’s licensure requirements and policies before initiating services.

Private Practice

In 2024, the BLS reported 3% of SLPs were self-employed. Some private practitioners work alone, while others own larger practices that employ additional SLPs and other specialized professionals.

In addition to providing clinical services, SLPs may consult with corporations needing business training, such as presentation and interviewing skills, business writing and grammar, and accent modification.

You may also find private-practice SLPs in administrative, clinical, and consultative capacities within public health departments and local, state, and federal government agencies.

Starting your private speech-language pathology practice isn’t easy, but it can be rewarding. Owning your own business gives you greater freedom to make career decisions that align with your goals, and with that comes higher earning potential.

ASHA has compiled valuable resources to help you establish and manage your private practice. Things you’ll need to consider to build your business include:

• Billing and reimbursement
• Business plan development
• Documentation
• HIPAA and ethical considerations
• Hiring policies
• Liability insurance
• Licensing and regulatory considerations
• Marketing and networking strategies

Research and Academia

Instead of working directly with patients, SLPs may choose a career in academia. They might teach and mentor university students or work as clinical practice supervisors in health care settings. Those interested in a career in higher education will find that there are many opportunities; SLPs who pursue a doctorate are in high demand at colleges and universities.

Speech-language pathologists with a master’s degree may be invited to serve on advisory boards as subject matter experts and given a forum to educate the public about communication development and disorders.

SLPs in research careers make discoveries about speech, language, and swallowing disorders, or they may develop new assessment and treatment methods that lead to more effective outcomes.

Whether you educate a new generation of practitioners, conduct research, or supervise in clinical settings, you can improve the quality of life for many people in your community as an SLP.

How Do I Become a Speech-Language Pathologist?

To become a speech-language pathologist, you must earn your master’s degree from an institution accredited by the Council on Academic Accreditation of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, pass a standardized exam, and get licensed in your state.

With more than 100 years of SLP education, Ithaca College’s online Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology supports your journey to practice through fully online coursework and prerequisites, no travel requirements, and clinical placement services near your home for practicum hours.

When you’re ready to pursue your goal to start a fulfilling and meaningful new career, and you want the same level of engagement and support you’d find in an on-campus program, visit Ithaca College’s online MS-SLP program.