# Speech-Language Pathology Assistants

> 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.

- Edition: Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Page: https://www.collegesref.com/careers/speech-language-pathology-assistants
- SOC code: 31-9099.01
- Career family: Healthcare support
- Median annual pay: $48,430 (10th percentile $34,770, 90th percentile $71,470)
- Projected growth: As fast as average, +4.8%
- Openings a year: 14,100
- Typical entry education: High school diploma
- Bright outlook: yes
- Data years: BLS 2025 wages · 2025–35 projections
- Pay and outlook are for the broader BLS group "Healthcare support workers, all other".

## Interest profile (code SCI)

| Interest area | Score (0–100) |
| --- | ---: |
| Realistic (R) | 25 |
| Investigative (I) | 56 |
| Artistic (A) | 27 |
| Social (S) | 75 |
| Enterprising (E) | 9 |
| Conventional (C) | 67 |

## What you'd do

- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates (importance 90/100)
- Getting Information (importance 86/100)
- Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships (importance 81/100)
- Documenting/Recording Information (importance 79/100)
- Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work (importance 75/100)
- Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge (importance 75/100)
- Assisting and Caring for Others (importance 75/100)
- Thinking Creatively (importance 73/100)
- Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings (importance 73/100)
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events (importance 68/100)

## Skills

Active Listening, Reading Comprehension, Speaking, Social Perceptiveness, Monitoring, Service Orientation, Complex Problem Solving, Active Learning, Critical Thinking, Judgment and Decision Making

## Knowledge

English Language, Education and Training, Therapy and Counseling, Psychology, Customer and Personal Service, Administrative, Computers and Electronics, Sociology and Anthropology, Administration and Management, Communications and Media

## Also called

Anatomic Pathology Assistant, Certified Pathology Assistant, Communication Assistant, Hearing and Speech Assistant, Language Assistant, Pathology Assistant, School SLPA (School Speech Language Pathologist Assistant), School SLPA (School Speech-Language Pathologist Assistant), SLPA (Speech and Language Pathology Assistant), SLPA (Speech Language Pathologist Assistant)

## Majors that lead here (NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk, 4-digit CIP)

- [Health and Medical Administrative Services](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/5107) (CIP 5107, 1,585 colleges)
- [Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/5108) (CIP 5108, 1,063 colleges)
- [Health Aides/Attendants/Orderlies](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/5126) (CIP 5126, 93 colleges)

## Colleges with strong outcomes (College Scorecard, 2025)

| College | Program | Earnings 1 yr | Earnings 4 yrs | Median debt |
| --- | --- | ---: | ---: | ---: |
| [Georgetown University-DC](https://www.collegesref.com/college/georgetown-university-dc-1068) | Health and Medical Administrative Services | not reported | $143,686 | $11,000 |
| [University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Main Campus](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-north-carolina-at-chapel-hill-main-campus-2990) | Health and Medical Administrative Services | $44,456 | $110,204 | not reported |
| [George Washington University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/george-washington-university-1066) | Health and Medical Administrative Services | not reported | $92,810 | not reported |
| [Baptist Health System School of Health Professions](https://www.collegesref.com/college/baptist-health-system-school-of-health-professions-175) | Health and Medical Administrative Services | $60,194 | $85,145 | not reported |
| [Stonehill College](https://www.collegesref.com/college/stonehill-college-2610) | Health and Medical Administrative Services | not reported | $82,254 | not reported |
| [Loyola University Chicago](https://www.collegesref.com/college/loyola-university-chicago-1551) | Health and Medical Administrative Services | $59,113 | $82,040 | $25,000 |
| [CUNY Graduate School and University Center](https://www.collegesref.com/college/cuny-graduate-school-and-university-center-737) | Health and Medical Administrative Services | $61,698 | $81,184 | $15,460 |
| [Oregon Institute of Technology](https://www.collegesref.com/college/oregon-institute-of-technology-2034) | Health and Medical Administrative Services | not reported | $80,944 | $27,820 |

## Related careers

- [Speech-Language Pathologists](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/speech-language-pathologists): $97,870 median pay
- [Occupational Therapy Aides](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/occupational-therapy-aides): $39,160 median pay
- [Occupational Therapy Assistants](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/occupational-therapy-assistants): $72,300 median pay
- [Audiologists](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/audiologists): $95,780 median pay
- [Psychiatric Technicians](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/psychiatric-technicians): $45,130 median pay
- [Occupational Therapists](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/occupational-therapists): $100,330 median pay

## Sources

- [O*NET Database](https://www.onetcenter.org/database.html), version 31.0 (CC BY 4.0)
- [BLS Employment Projections](https://www.bls.gov/emp/tables.htm), version 2025-35, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics](https://www.bls.gov/oes/tables.htm), version 2025, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk](https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cipcode/resources.aspx?y=56), version 2020, data year 2020 (Public domain (U.S. government work))

O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. CollegesRef has modified all or some of this information.