Speech-Language Pathology Assistants earn a median of $48,430 per year ($23.28/hr) (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Employment is projected to grow 4.8% through 2035, with about 14,100 openings a year (BLS EP, 2025–2035). Typical entry-level education: High school diploma or equivalent.
- SOC 31-9099
- Healthcare Support
- Last updated October 9, 2026
At a glance
Speech-Language Pathology Assistant in four numbers
- Median pay
- $48,430a year, or $23.28/hrBLS OEWS, May 2025Lowest 10% $35KTop 10% $71K
US median, all jobs: $50,980
- Projected growth
- +4.8%Faster than averageBLS EP, 2025–2035This career+4.8%All jobs+3.5%
Projected employment change, 2025–2035 Item Value This career +4.8% All jobs +3.5% - Openings a year
- 14,100113,900 jobs todayBLS EP, 2025–2035
- Jobs in 2025113.9K
- Projected 2035119.4K
Employment, 2025–2035 Item Value Jobs in 2025 113.9K Projected 2035 119.4K - Typical education
- High schoolneeded to enterBLS EP, 2025–2035; mix: O*NET
- Associate's57.7%
- Bachelor's23.3%
- Post-bacc certificate14.1%
- Master's4.8%
Highest education held by speech-language pathology assistants Segment Value Associate's 57.7% Bachelor's 23.3% Post-bacc certificate 14.1% Master's 4.8%
Also advertised as: Communication Assistant, Speech Assistant, Speech Paraeducator, Speech Pathologist Assistant, Speech Therapy Assistant, Speech-Language Assistant.
Pay
How much do Speech-Language Pathology Assistants make?
Every speech-language pathology assistant in the US, by percentile of annual wage
Median
$48,430
Middle half earn $39,470 to $59,710
- 10th
- $34,770
- 25th
- $39,470
- 75th
- $59,710
- 90th
- $71,470
All US occupations: $50,980
| Percentile | Value |
|---|---|
| 10th | $34,770 |
| 25th | $39,470 |
| Median | $48,430 |
| 75th | $59,710 |
| 90th | $71,470 |
| All US occupations | $50,980 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage
- $48,430
- Median hourly wage
- $23.28/hr
- Mean annual wage
- $50,810
- People employed
- 109,740
Versus all US occupations
At $48,430, Speech-Language Pathology Assistants earn 5% below the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $2,550 a year.
Versus healthcare support occupations
Inside the Healthcare Support group, where the middle occupation pays $42,260, this is 15% above the group median.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $71,470 or more while the bottom 10% earn $34,770, a gap of 2.1×. That is a typical spread for a US occupation.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 18% of the 1,741 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Highest-paying state
District of Columbia pays the most at $73,590, and still leads at $66,960 once local prices are taken into account.
Pay by state
Which states pay Speech-Language Pathology Assistants the most?
State medians come from the same OEWS release as the national figures. The cost-of-living column divides each state median by that state's BEA Regional Price Parity, restating pay in national-average dollars so a high-cost state and a low-cost one can be compared directly.
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1District of Columbia | $73,590 | $66,960 | 400 |
| 2Washington | $62,040 | $57,974 | 3,140 |
| 3Alaska | $61,300 | $59,887 | 120 |
| 4Massachusetts | $58,340 | $55,164 | 1,680 |
| 5Delaware | $57,760 | $57,871 | 110 |
| 6New York | $56,510 | $52,362 | 5,470 |
| 7Kansas | $54,830 | $60,876 | 240 |
| 8New Mexico | $52,170 | $56,576 | 450 |
| 9Idaho | $52,160 | $54,621 | 220 |
| 10Nevada | $50,790 | $50,801 | 1,280 |
Job outlook
Is Speech-Language Pathology Assistant a growing career?
Employment change over 2025–2035, against every US occupation
Faster than average. +4.8% projected growth vs 3.5% for all occupations.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Speech-Language Pathology Assistants | +4.8% |
| All US occupations | +3.5% |
Source: BLS EP, 2025–2035
Faster than average
BLS projects employment of Speech-Language Pathology Assistants to change 4.8% over 2025–2035, against 3.5% projected for all occupations. That is 5,500 more jobs.
Annual openings
About 14,100 openings are projected each year, 12.4% of the 113,900 jobs that existed in 2025. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Getting in
How to become a Speech-Language Pathology Assistant
- 1
Typical entry-level education
High school diploma or equivalent
- 2
Work experience in a related occupation
None
- 3
Typical on-the-job training
None
- 4
Preparation needed (O*NET job zone)
Some preparation
BLS Employment Projections, 2025–2035; job zone from O*NET 31.0 Database.
What education people in the job have
O*NET incumbent survey: the highest level of education reported by people already working as speech-language pathology assistants.
- Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree57.7%
- Bachelor's Degree23.3%
- Post-Baccalaureate Certificate14.1%
- Master's Degree4.8%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree | 57.7% |
| Bachelor's Degree | 23.3% |
| Post-Baccalaureate Certificate | 14.1% |
| Master's Degree | 4.8% |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
The work
What does a Speech-Language Pathology Assistant 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.
Day-to-day tasks
- Document clients' progress toward meeting established treatment objectives.
- 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.
- Implement treatment plans or protocols as directed by speech-language pathologists.
- Assist speech-language pathologists in the remediation or development of speech and language skills.
- Assist speech-language pathologists in the conduct of client screenings or assessments of language, voice, fluency, articulation, or hearing.
- Select or prepare speech-language instructional materials.
- Prepare charts, graphs, or other visual displays to communicate clients' performance information.
O*NET core tasks, ordered by reported importance.
Working conditions and hours
Where the work happens
Indoors, climate-controlled
NeverEvery dayOutdoors in all weather
NeverEvery dayAlmost never works outdoors.
Physical demands
Sitting
NeverAlmost all the timeStanding
NeverAlmost all the timeBending or twisting
NeverAlmost all the time
Working with people
Contact with other people
NoneConstantConstant contact with other people.
Face-to-face discussions
NeverEvery dayFace-to-face discussions every day.
Dealing with the public
Not importantExtremely important
Pressure and stakes
Strict deadlines
NeverEvery dayConflict situations
NeverEvery dayConflict situations are rare.
Cost of a mistake
Not seriousExtremely serious
Autonomy
Freedom to decide
NoneA lot
Conditions: O*NET Work Context survey. Each item has its own scale, so each dot is read against the two answers that end its own line.
Core skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Active Listening4.0
- Reading Comprehension3.8
- Speaking3.8
- Monitoring3.4
- Writing3.1
- Critical Thinking3.1
- Active Learning3.1
- Learning Strategies3.0
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Active Listening | 4.0 |
| Reading Comprehension | 3.8 |
| Speaking | 3.8 |
| Monitoring | 3.4 |
| Writing | 3.1 |
| Critical Thinking | 3.1 |
| Active Learning | 3.1 |
| Learning Strategies | 3.0 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Transferable skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Social Perceptiveness3.5
- Service Orientation3.4
- Complex Problem Solving3.3
- Judgment and Decision Making3.1
- Instructing3.0
- Coordination2.9
- Time Management2.9
- Systems Evaluation2.8
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Social Perceptiveness | 3.5 |
| Service Orientation | 3.4 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.3 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.1 |
| Instructing | 3.0 |
| Coordination | 2.9 |
| Time Management | 2.9 |
| Systems Evaluation | 2.8 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Tools and software
- Office suite software · in demand
- Operating system software · in demand
- Spreadsheet software · in demand
- Word processing software · in demand
- Analytical or scientific software
- Electronic mail software
- Internet browser software
- Medical software
- Music or sound editing software
- Text to speech conversion software
“In demand” marks an O*NET Employer-Based Hot Technology, software named in real job postings for this occupation.
Personality fit
What personality type suits a Speech-Language Pathology Assistant?
O*NET Occupational Interests (RIASEC), scored 1 to 7
| Axis | Speech-Language Pathology Assistant |
|---|---|
| Realistic | 2 |
| Investigative | 4 |
| Artistic | 3 |
| Social | 5 |
| Enterprising | 2 |
| Conventional | 5 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
What the work is built around
Day to day this is work built around teaching, helping and working directly with other people, combined with organising, following procedures and working precisely with data.
- Social5.5
- Conventional5.0
- Investigative4.4
- Artistic2.6
- Realistic2.5
- Enterprising1.5
Closest MBTI types
NueCareer fit scores: cosine similarity between each MBTI type's interest vector and this occupation's O*NET interest profile. Not a BLS or O*NET figure; the method is documented on our methodology page.
Explore further
Careers related to Speech-Language Pathology Assistant
O*NET related occupations
- Healthcare Practitioners and Technical
- Healthcare Support
- Healthcare Support
- Healthcare Practitioners and Technical
- Healthcare Practitioners and Technical
- Healthcare Practitioners and Technical
More healthcare support careers
Median annual pay, with speech-language pathology assistants highlighted
- Occupational Therapy Assistant$72,300
- Physical Therapist Assistant$68,380
- Massage Therapist$58,450
- Speech-Language Pathology Assistant$48,430
- Dental Assistant$48,070
- Medical Assistant$45,690
- Phlebotomist$45,230
- Nursing Assistant$42,260
- Veterinary Assistant and Laboratory Animal Caretaker$38,150
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Occupational Therapy Assistant | $72,300 |
| Physical Therapist Assistant | $68,380 |
| Massage Therapist | $58,450 |
| Speech-Language Pathology Assistant | $48,430 |
| Dental Assistant | $48,070 |
| Medical Assistant | $45,690 |
| Phlebotomist | $45,230 |
| Nursing Assistant | $42,260 |
| Veterinary Assistant and Laboratory Animal Caretaker | $38,150 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
Lists Speech-Language Pathology Assistant appears on
Questions
Speech-Language Pathology Assistant: frequently asked questions
How much do Speech-Language Pathology Assistants make?
Speech-Language Pathology Assistants earn a median of $48,430 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025), 5% below the $50,980 median for all US occupations. That works out at $23.28/hr. The middle half earn between $39,470 and $59,710. The top 10% earn $71,470 or more.
Do you need a degree to become a Speech-Language Pathology Assistant?
No. A bachelor's degree is not the norm: BLS reports a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry-level education for Speech-Language Pathology Assistants. In O*NET's survey of people already doing the job, 57.7% hold associate's degree or other 2-year degree.
Is Speech-Language Pathology Assistant a growing career?
Yes. Employment is projected to grow 4.8% over 2025–2035, faster than the 3.5% average for all occupations (BLS EP, 2025–2035). BLS still projects about 14,100 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does a Speech-Language Pathology Assistant do?
Assist speech-language pathologists in the assessment and treatment of speech, language, voice, and fluency disorders. A core O*NET task: document clients' progress toward meeting established treatment objectives. Employers most often ask for Office suite software, Operating system software, Spreadsheet software.
Which states pay Speech-Language Pathology Assistants the most?
The highest state medians for Speech-Language Pathology Assistants are District of Columbia ($73,590), Washington ($62,040), Alaska ($61,300) (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
What personality type suits a Speech-Language Pathology Assistant?
O*NET scores Speech-Language Pathology Assistants highest on the Social, Conventional and Investigative interest areas, so the work mixes teaching, helping and working directly with other people with organising, following procedures and working precisely with data. On NueCareer's MBTI-to-interest mapping that lines up most closely with ISFJ personalities. Personality is a fit signal, not a gate. The free NueCareer quiz scores your own profile against all 1,731 careers in the bank.