Is a Speech Language Pathology Salary Worth It in 2023?

With the cost of education on the rise, many prospective students are asking whether a speech language pathology degree program is worth the investment. To help prospective students make an informed decision, we’ve researched and analyzed possible speech language pathology salaries in 2023.

Whether you’re just starting to explore your career options or you’re further down the path towards a new job, understanding potential earnings can be a big part of your decision-making process when it comes to choosing a new career path.

After all, while many students choose their major based on their interests and passions, others may be more focused on how that degree can help them get a job after they graduate.

When it comes to deciding if pursuing a career in speech language pathology is right for you, understanding potential salary is one of the biggest factors.

Read More: Our article “Salary of a Speech-Language Pathologist” covers a more general overview of what an SLP salary looks like state by state and more.

Is Becoming a Speech Language Pathology Worth It in 2023?

A lot of people ask if a speech language pathology degree is worth it. In short, we believe it is. Why? There are many reasons why we think this is one of the best professions for helping people and making a real difference.

First and foremost, SLPs have the power to help people of all ages overcome communication challenges. People who are not able to communicate verbally, or who have trouble understanding others, often struggle throughout their everyday lives.

If you choose to become a speech language pathologist, you will be able to interrupt those struggles and help people of all ages overcome the challenges that come along with having communication disorders.

Pros of a career in Speech Language Pathology

There are many reasons to consider a career in speech language pathology. Some of the major pros of this career path include:

– You will make a difference in people’s lives: One of the best reasons to become a speech language pathologist is that you will be able to help people of all ages improve their communication skills. Whether it’s a child with a speech delay, an adult with aphasia, or an elderly person struggling with age-related speech disorders, SLPs are trained and skilled in helping people overcome their communication struggles.

– Salary and job security are good: While many students worry about the job market and potential salary for their chosen major, it’s important to remember that many factors go into determining your salary as a new professional.

Your chosen profession, location, experience level, and more will all play a role in determining your salary.

That said, the Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that the demand for speech language pathologists will increase by 11% between 2016 and 2026.

This is significantly higher than the average projected growth rate of 7% for all professions.

Cons of a career in Speech Language Pathology

While there are many great reasons to choose a career in speech language pathology, there are also some cons to be aware of.

Some of the potential cons of this career path include: – You may face emotional challenges: While many people suffering from speech and language disorders are extremely grateful for the help and support of a speech language pathologist, others may be battling emotional and psychological issues that make their treatment challenging.

If you decide to pursue a career in speech language pathology, you should be prepared to deal with difficult emotions and situations on a daily basis.

It’s not a typical 9-to-5 job: Another potential con of choosing a career in speech language pathology is that it’s not a typical 9-to-5 job.

Speech language pathologists may be on call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. When someone’s life is depending on your ability to help them communicate, the hours that you work are less of a concern.

Career Options for SLP Students

If you’re still exploring career options and considering a career in speech language pathology, it’s worth taking some time to research what a career in SLP looks like. You might be surprised by the wide variety of career options that are available to SLPs. Here are just a few of the possible career options for SLPs:

– Academic: Many students who major in speech language pathology decide to use their skills in an academic setting. This might mean working at a university or at a special education school.

– Medical: If you decide to pursue a career in speech language pathology, you have the option to work in a medical setting. You might decide to specialize in neurology or oncology in order to help people with communication disorders related to diseases like Alzheimer’s or cancer.

– Commercial: Another possible career path for SLPs is working in the commercial sector. You might decide to work in a customer service setting or you might decide to pursue a career in business and become a marketing manager.

Is a Speech Language Pathology Degree Worth It?

Now that we’ve explored the potential pros and cons of a career in speech language pathology, let’s take a look at whether a speech language pathology degree is worth it.

To answer this question, it’s helpful to consider the costs of a speech language pathology degree as well as the potential salary for SLPs.

While the cost of a speech language pathology degree can vary significantly depending on your chosen program and type of school, many students are paying close to $45,000 per year for their education.

If you decide to pursue a 2-year or 4-year degree, the costs will vary based on what type of program you’re in and where you decide to attend school.

What You Should Know Before You Decide

– Speech language pathology isn’t easy: If you’re thinking about pursuing a career in speech language pathology, it’s important to know that it’s not an easy major. While many students will tell you that they enjoy their major and chose it because they love it, you should know that it’s a major that is challenging both academically and emotionally.

– You need to be dedicated: If you decide to become a speech language pathologist, know that you will need a ton of self-discipline to get through this major. You’ll need to commit to a steady and consistent studying schedule, and you’ll need to be prepared to do a lot of reading and writing.

– You need to be flexible: Another thing that you should know before you decide to become a speech language pathologist is that you need to be flexible. Many SLPs work in schools and work shifts that are long and difficult. You may have to work on weekends and holidays, and you may have to be prepared to work at any time of the day.

How to Become a SLP in 2023:

Now that you know whether a speech language pathology career is the right path for you and how much it costs, what does it take to become a speech language pathologist?

Depending on the type of school that you decide to attend and the state and country in which you decide to get your degree, you’ll need to complete a few different steps.

– Research your state’s certification requirements: The first thing that you’ll need to do if you want to become a speech language pathologist is to make sure that your state accepts a speech language pathologist degree.

Every state has different requirements for speech language pathologists, and some states only accept SLPs with a certain type of degree.

– Choose a school: Once you’ve verified that you’re able to become a SLP and have chosen a degree program, you’ll need to get started on applying to schools. This can begin by exploring your options online, and it’s likely that you’ll also have to visit your local community colleges.

Now for the Bad News…

If you’ve read this far and are still committed to becoming a speech language pathologist, you’ve done a great job so far. However, we do need to be honest and let you know that there is some bad news to go along with all of the good news that we’ve talked about so far.

– The job market is challenging: While the job market for SLPs is projected to grow significantly in the coming years, the major challenge for new SLPs is finding their first job.

Because the profession is growing so quickly and the number of people wanting to enter the field is also on the rise, the job market is currently very competitive.

– You need to be