Careers
Career Outlook
As speech and hearing disorders in younger children receive increased awareness and as baby boomers continue to age and experience health conditions that cause communication and swallowing impairments, the need for speech and hearing professionals is expected to see faster-than-average job growth in the U.S. in the coming decade. The number of speech-language pathologists is projected to grow by 21% between 2021 and 2031, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Strong Earning Potential
The median wage for speech-language pathologists in the U.S. was $84,140 in 2022, according to the O*Net Online, with the top 10% earning more than $126,000 annually. In Washington state, the average salary for speech-language pathologists was $93,730 in 2022.
Career Readiness
Graduates of the UW Speech-Language Pathology program enter the job market with a range of skills that qualify them for a variety of positions.
Our alumni hold job titles such as:
- Speech Language Pathologist
- Speech Therapist
- Language and Literacy Specialist
- Clinical Supervisor
- Rehabilitation Manager
- Research Coordinator
- Teaching Professor
- Auditory Rehabilitationist
Our alumni are employed in school districts, hospitals, clinics, skilled nursing facilities, and private practices throughout Washington and also employed nationally in well-regarded institutions such as the Veterans Heath Administration Medical System, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Good Samaritan Hospital Los Angeles, Madonna Rehabilitation Hospital, Rady Children's Hospital, Stanford Hospitals and Clinics, Lucille Packard, Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago, Alta Bates, Bozeman Deaconness, Boston Children's Hospital, Mayo Clinic, Oregon Health & Science University and Connecticut Children's Hospital.
More Information
Read interviews with some of our accomplished alumni to see how their master’s in speech-language pathology gave them the tools and skills they needed to advance in their careers.