Audiologist or Speech Pathologist

    Medical Assistant & Health Sciences

    CIP Name: Audiologist and Speech Pathologist|CIP Code: 51.0204
    SOC Codes: 25-1071, 29-1127, 29-1181

    An integrated program that prepares individuals to work as both audiologists and speech-language pathologists.

    $95K
    Median Salary
    +15%
    Job Growth
    6mo-2yr
    Training
    13.3K
    Jobs/Year

    What Audiologist or Speech Pathologists Do

    An integrated program that prepares individuals to work as both audiologists and speech-language pathologists.

    Common Tasks

    Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary

    • 1Prepare course materials, such as syllabi, homework assignments, and handouts.
    • 2Keep abreast of developments in the field by reading current literature, talking with colleagues, and participating in professional conferences.
    • 3Evaluate and grade students' class work, assignments, and papers.
    • 4Supervise laboratory sessions.
    • 5Compile, administer, and grade examinations, or assign this work to others.

    What You'll Learn

    a variety of communication disorder studiesaudiologyspeech pathologylanguage acquisitionthe design and implementation of comprehensive therapeutic and rehabilitative solutions to communications problems

    Types of Audiologist or Speech Pathologists

    Assistant ProfessorAssociate ProfessorClinical ProfessorInstructorLecturerOccupational Therapy ProfessorPharmacology ProfessorPhysical Therapy ProfessorProfessorPublic Health ProfessorBilingual Speech-Language Pathologist (Bilingual SLP)Pediatric Speech-Language Pathologist (Pediatric SLP)Speech ClinicianSpeech PathologistSpeech TherapistSpeech and Language ClinicianSpeech and Language SpecialistSpeech and Language TeacherSpeech and Language TherapistSpeech-Language Pathologist (SLP)AudiologistAudiology Doctor (AUD)Certificate of Clinical Competence in Audiology Licensed Audiologist (CCC-A Licensed Audiologist)Clinical AudiologistDispensing AudiologistEducational AudiologistForensic AudiologistIndustrial AudiologistPediatric AudiologistStaff Audiologist

    Work Environment

    Locations

    • • Hospitals and medical centers
    • • Outpatient rehabilitation clinics
    • • Schools and early intervention programs
    • • Private practices
    • • Universities and teaching hospitals

    Schedule

    Most roles work a regular weekday schedule with appointments or class times, though clinical settings can involve high time pressure and occasional evenings to meet patient or student needs.

    Physical Demands

    Work is mostly indoors with long periods of sitting and moderate standing and walking between rooms. You’ll frequently use your hands for testing equipment, documentation, and therapy materials, with generally low heavy-lifting demands.

    Salary & Job Outlook

    Median $95,410
    $60,486$131,341+
    Entry Level
    10th percentile
    $60,486
    Early Career
    25th percentile
    $75,316
    Median
    50th percentile
    $95,410
    Experienced
    75th percentile
    $112,507
    Top Earners
    90th percentile
    $131,341+

    National Employment: 492,800 jobs

    Top Paying States

    Why Demand May Grow

    Demand may rise as the population ages and more people need evaluation and treatment for hearing loss, balance issues, swallowing disorders, and speech/language delays. Increased awareness and screening in schools and healthcare settings can also drive more referrals.

    Skills You'll Need

    Patient assessment and diagnostic testingTherapy planning and treatment implementationClear verbal communication and active listeningEmpathy and rapport-building with patients and familiesAttention to detail for documentation and test interpretationComfort with clinical instruments and hearing/therapy technologyData tracking and progress monitoringTime management across a busy caseload

    Pros & Cons

    Pros

    • Strong pay potential in clinical and academic roles
    • Meaningful work improving communication and quality of life
    • Variety of settings (medical, school, private practice, research/teaching)
    • Clear, evidence-based treatment pathways and measurable progress
    • Growing need tied to aging and pediatric development services

    Cons

    • High documentation and billing workload in many settings
    • Emotional demands working with patients and families
    • Time pressure and full caseloads can lead to burnout
    • Licensure/credentialing requirements can be extensive
    • Some roles involve repetitive testing and therapy sessions
    FAQ

    Common Questions About the Audiologist or Speech Pathologist Trade

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