Average employment growth is projected. Job
opportunities are expected to be excellent.
Employment change. Employment of speech-language pathologists is expected to grow
11 percent from 2006 to 2016, about as fast as the
average for all occupations. As the members of the baby
boom generation continue to age, the possibility of
neurological disorders and associated speech, language,
and swallowing impairments increases. Medical advances
also are improving the survival rate of premature
infants and trauma and stroke victims, who then need
assessment and sometimes treatment.
Employment in educational services will increase with
the growth in elementary and secondary school
enrollments, including enrollment of special education
students. Federal law guarantees special education and
related services to all eligible children with
disabilities. Greater awareness of the importance of
early identification and diagnosis of speech and
language disorders in young children will also increase
employment.
In health care facilities, restrictions on reimbursement
for therapy services may limit the growth of
speech-language pathologist jobs in the near term.
However, the long-run demand for therapists should
continue to rise as growth in the number of individuals
with disabilities or limited function spurs demand for
therapy services.
The number of speech-language pathologists in private
practice will rise because of the increasing use of
contract services by hospitals, schools, and nursing
care facilities.
Job prospects. The combination of growth in the occupation and an expected
increase in retirements over the coming years should
create excellent job opportunities for speech-language
pathologists. Opportunities should be particularly
favorable for those with the ability to speak a second
language, such as Spanish. Job prospects also are
expected to be especially favorable for those who are
willing to relocate, particularly to areas experiencing
difficulty in attracting and hiring speech-language
pathologists.
Projections data from the National Employment Matrix
|
|
Occupational title
|
SOC Code
|
Employment, 2006
|
Projected
employment,
2016
|
Change, 2006-16
|
Detailed statistics
|
|
Number
|
Percent
|
|
Speech-language pathologists
|
29-1127
|
110,000
|
121,000
|
12,000
|
11
|
|
|
|
|
|
Median annual earnings of wage-and-salary
speech-language pathologists were $57,710 in May 2006.
The middle 50 percent earned between $46,360 and
$72,410. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $37,970,
and the highest 10 percent earned more than $90,400.
Median annual earnings in the industries employing the
largest numbers of speech-language pathologists were:
Nursing care facilities
|
$70,180
|
Offices of other health practitioners
|
63,240
|
General medical and surgical hospitals
|
61,970
|
Elementary and secondary schools
|
53,110
|
Some employers may reimburse speech-language
pathologists for their required continuing education
credits.