Five Benefits of Becoming a Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP)

Communication is one of the most crucial components in every realm of life—and speech-language pathologists (SLPs) help people learn, regain and refine the skills they need to communicate.¹

You may be weighing the pros and cons of being a speech-language pathologist. While nearly every career has some drawbacks—or sacrifices—the wide-reaching benefits of being a speech-language pathologist may surprise you.

We’ll outline five of the most compelling benefits of becoming a speech therapist so that you can determine if they resonate with your personal and professional goals.

What Does a Speech-Language Pathologist Do?

Speech-language pathologists, or speech therapists, concentrate on helping people overcome communication obstacles.² More specifically, SLPs work with patients who may have complications that affect their speech, language or ability to swallow. This may include patients with:³

• Developmental delays that have affected their speech or language skills
• Stuttering or other forms of speech impediment
• A cleft palate
• Cognitive communication challenges
• Traumatic brain injury
• Cognitive, swallowing, speech or language changes after a stroke

For example, a speech-language pathologist may work with a stroke victim to help them relearn how to communicate, or guide children with autism in improving their social language skills. SLPs are employed in a broad range of healthcare settings, from hospitals to preschools, and have the potential to have a dramatic and lasting effect on their students/client/patients’ lives.⁴

Speech-Language Pathologist Benefits: The Top Five Reasons to Consider This Career

Naming the leading benefits of becoming a SLP is tricky; after all, the pros of a profession are as subjective as our personal interests. Here are five of the most commonly identified benefits of being a speech-language pathologist.⁵

#1. A Variety of Patients

According to a recent survey, roughly half of employees are bored with their careers—a disconcerting statistic that impacts job satisfaction and performance.⁶,⁷

As a speech-language pathologist, you may avoid monotony due to the interesting nature of your work and the range of patients you may see daily.

This might include:⁸

• Patients who cannot verbally communicate and need an augmentative device
• Patients who have experienced hearing loss⁹
• Individuals who struggle with finding the appropriate words¹⁰
• Patients with slurred speech due to a nervous system disorder such as multiple sclerosis (MS)¹¹

The variety of patients that an SLP treats will likely keep them continually galvanized and engaged.

#2. An Impressive Salary

Speech-language pathologists enjoy a median annual income of $79,060.¹² Comparatively, the annual mean wage in the U.S., across all professions, is $58,260.¹³

Additionally, SLPs have the potential to earn more, depending on their place of employment. Those who work in a nursing care facility, for instance, bring in a median annual income of $99,340 per year.¹⁴ This paves the way for an excellent lifestyle—and a rewarding healthcare career.

#3. The Opportunity for Autonomy

Speech-language pathologists are in demand—and the profession is predicted to grow by 21% over the next eight years.¹⁵ This assurance may encourage SLPs to open their own practice.

Operating a private practice gives you control over your work environment, potentially enabling you to:¹⁶

• Choose your own hours
• Select the location and style of your office
• Determine the type of patient you would prefer to treat, from middle schoolers to politicians

#4. Job Security

The demand for speech-language pathologists is expected to climb over the next several years, and at a much faster rate than other professions.¹⁷

Approximately 14,000 speech-language pathology jobs are expected to open up annually over the next eight years, indicating that SLPs are necessary and will likely enjoy job security.

Also, SLPs are deemed essential workers.¹⁸ This means that your job may not be vulnerable to significant global changes, such as a pandemic.

#5. Tangible Work Results

Working as a nurse practitioner (NP) in emergency medicine or a physician assistant (PA) in urgent care can be fulfilling, but you may not see patients for return visits. This is valuable, as it suggests that they’ve recovered.

SLPs enjoy a different experience. They may work with a child for 15 to 20 hours over the course of several sessions to help them with a speech impediment.¹⁹ This may give you the chance to see your efforts—as well as your patient’s—rewarded. This may lead to professional satisfaction and increase patient motivation and satisfaction.²⁰

One of the main speech-language pathologist job benefits is the possibility of making an enduring impact on patient lives. Research indicates that providing speech therapy may give patients:²¹

• Enhanced self-confidence
• Greater independence
• Improved articulation of thoughts, feelings and ideas
• A higher quality of life

Imagine your role as a SLP: You give patients the gift of quality of life and create a fulfilling career.

Reap the Rewards of Being a Speech-Language Pathologist

From the potential of a flexible schedule to the ability to work with a broad range of people and in diverse settings, speech-language pathologists enjoy a wide range of personal and professional benefits.

Interested in speech-language pathology? Consider the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences (USAHS) Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology (MS-SLP). Designed for the modern student, the MS-SLP program is a program consisting of online hybrid coursework and in-person residencies, along with clinical training. At USAHS, we equip MS-SLP candidates with the knowledge and skills they need to launch a meaningful speech-language pathology career.

Request information and apply now to discover the benefits of helping others to communicate and thrive.

Sources:

1. USAHS, “What is a Speech Language Pathologist and What Do They Do,” USAHS, last modified March 2020, https://www.usa.edu/blog/what-is-a-speech-pathologist/
2. USAHS, “What is a Speech Language Pathologist and What Do They Do,” USAHS, last modified March 2020, https://www.usa.edu/blog/what-is-a-speech-pathologist/
3. USAHS, “What is a Speech Language Pathologist and What Do They Do,” USAHS, last modified March 2020, https://www.usa.edu/blog/what-is-a-speech-pathologist/
4. USAHS, “What is a Speech Language Pathologist and What Do They Do,” USAHS, last modified March 2020, https://www.usa.edu/blog/what-is-a-speech-pathologist/
5. J Schlette, “13 Pros and Cons of Being a Speech Language Pathologist,” NursingProcess.org, last modified 2023, https://www.nursingprocess.org/speech-language-pathologist-pros-and-cons.html
6. D Bortz, “What To Do When You’re Bored at Work,” Monster, last modified 2023, https://www.monster.com/career-advice/article/what-to-do-bored-at-work-0624
7. B Lufkin, “The Damaging Effects of ‘Boreout’ at Work,” BBC Worklife, last modified July 2021, https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20210701-the-damaging-effects-of-boreout-at-work
8. J Schlette, “13 Pros and Cons of Being a Speech Language Pathologist,” NursingProcess.org, last modified 2023, https://www.nursingprocess.org/speech-language-pathologist-pros-and-cons.html
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10. USAHS, “What is a Speech Language Pathologist and What Do They Do,” USAHS, last modified March 2020, https://www.usa.edu/blog/what-is-a-speech-pathologist/
11. Cleveland Clinic, “Speech Therapy,” Cleveland Clinic, last modified 2023, https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/22366-speech-therapy
12. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, “Speech-Language Pathologists,” U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, last modified September 2022, https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/speech-language-pathologists.htm
13. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, “Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics,” U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, last modified March 2022, https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_nat.htm
14. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, “Speech-Language Pathologists: Pay,” U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, last modified September 2022, https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/speech-language-pathologists.htm#tab-5
15. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, “Speech-Language Pathologists,” U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, last modified September 2022, https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/speech-language-pathologists.htm#tab-6
16. J Schlette, “13 Pros and Cons of Being a Speech Language Pathologist,” NursingProcess.org, last modified 2023, https://www.nursingprocess.org/speech-language-pathologist-pros-and-cons.html
17. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, “Speech-Language Pathologists,” U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, last modified September 2022, https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/speech-language-pathologists.htm
18. B Andrus, “Breaking News: PTSs, OTs, and SLPs Deemed Essential Infrastructure Workers,” WebPT, last modified March 2020, https://www.webpt.com/blog/breaking-news-pts-ots-and-slps-deemed-essential-critical-infrastructure-workers/
19. Speech & Occupational Therapy of North Texas, “How Long Will My Child Be In Speech Therapy?”, Speech & Occupational Therapy North Texas, last modified 2020, https://speechandot.com/long-will-child-speech-therapy/
20. J Schlette, “13 Pros and Cons of Being a Speech Language Pathologist,” NursingProcess.org, last modified 2023, https://www.nursingprocess.org/speech-language-pathologist-pros-and-cons.html
21. Cleveland Clinic, “Speech Therapy,” Cleveland Clinic, last modified 2023, https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/22366-speech-therapy