# Speech-Language Pathologists

US SOC code 29-1127. Markdown version of https://futurehistory.earth/timeline/29-1127

Also called: SLP, Speech pathologist, Speech therapist, CCC-SLP, Speech-language therapist.

## In brief

In May 2025, [BLS](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm25nat.zip) counted **183,390** US speech-language pathologists, with median pay of **$97,870** a year. Of the BLS counts since 2003, the May 2025 count is the highest. The earliest figure here is [an estimate](https://www.asha.org/about/history/) of **25** from 1925, not measured the same way as today's count. The last full technology era for speech-language pathologists: App-based therapy platforms, 2007 to 2020. App-based therapy platforms did not displace SLPs; they extended SLP reach to patients with transportation, scheduling, or payer-access barriers to regular in-person sessions.

## What the sources say

### Official outlook

BLS projects employment to grow 16.6% from 2025 to 2035. Source: [BLS Employment Projections 2025-35](https://data.bls.gov/projections/nationalMatrix?queryParams=29-1127&ioType=o).

### AI exposure studies

- **39%** of this job's tasks are exposed to large language models. Not a forecast of job losses. [Eloundou and others, 2023](https://github.com/openai/GPTs-are-GPTs/blob/main/data/occ_level.csv)

Data as of BLS OEWS May 2025; BLS Employment Projections 2025-35. BLS publishes these counts as yearly survey snapshots and cautions against reading them as a precise trend. In May 2021 BLS changed how it estimates these counts (a model-based method using three years of survey data) and moved fully to the 2018 occupation codes, so part of a change across 2021 can come from the method rather than the work.

## Speech-Language Pathologists employment and pay by year

- On record since: 1861
- Latest US employment: 183,390 (May 2025). Source: BLS OEWS May 2025 [5]
- Latest US median pay: $97,870 (May 2025). Source: BLS OEWS May 2025 [8]
- Outlook: +16.6% by 2035. Source: BLS Employment Projections 2025-35 [22]

### All 28 years of cited US data

| Year | US employment | Annual pay (median unless marked) | Source |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1925 | 25 (estimate) | n/a | Est., ASHA [1] |
| 1952 | 1,600 (estimate) | n/a | Est., ASHA [1] |
| 1970 | 25,000 (estimate) | $9,500 (estimate) | Est., ASHA Leader 2025 (employment) [2]; Est., University of Missouri Libraries (pay) [6] |
| 1980 | 50,000 (estimate) | n/a | Est., Wikipedia [3] |
| 1990 | 73,000 | $32,000 | BLS CPS 2024 [4] |
| 2003 | 86,640 | $50,050 | BLS OEWS May 2003 [5] |
| 2004 | 89,260 | $52,410 | BLS OEWS May 2004 [5] |
| 2005 | 94,660 | $54,880 | BLS OEWS May 2005 [5] |
| 2006 | 98,690 | $57,710 | BLS OEWS May 2006 [5] |
| 2007 | 103,810 | $60,690 | BLS OEWS May 2007 [5] |
| 2008 | 107,340 | $62,930 | BLS OEWS May 2008 [5] |
| 2009 | 111,640 | $65,090 | BLS OEWS May 2009 [5] |
| 2010 | 112,530 | $66,920 | BLS OEWS May 2010 [5] |
| 2011 | 117,210 | $69,100 | BLS OEWS May 2011 [5] |
| 2012 | 121,690 | $69,870 | BLS OEWS May 2012 [5] |
| 2013 | 125,050 | $70,810 | BLS OEWS May 2013 [5] |
| 2014 | 126,500 | $71,550 | BLS OEWS May 2014 [5] |
| 2015 | 131,450 | $73,410 | BLS OEWS May 2015 [5] |
| 2016 | 135,980 | $74,680 | BLS OEWS May 2016 [5] |
| 2017 | 142,360 | $76,610 | BLS OEWS May 2017 [5] |
| 2018 | 146,900 | $77,510 | BLS OEWS May 2018 [5] |
| 2019 | 154,360 | $79,120 | BLS OEWS May 2019 [5] |
| 2020 | 148,450 | $80,480 | BLS OEWS May 2020 [5] |
| 2021 | 147,470 | $79,060 | BLS OEWS May 2021 [5] |
| 2022 | 162,760 | $84,140 | BLS OEWS May 2022 [5] |
| 2023 | 172,100 | $89,290 | BLS OEWS May 2023 [5] |
| 2024 | 178,790 | $95,410 | BLS OEWS May 2024 (employment) [5]; BLS OEWS May 2024 (pay) [7] |
| 2025 | 183,390 | $97,870 | BLS OEWS May 2025 [5] |

## Sources (89)

### Employment series

1. [ASHA — "History of ASHA": 25 charter members founded the American Academy of Speech Correction in 1925](https://www.asha.org/about/history/), American Speech-Language-Hearing Association
2. [ASHA Leader 2025 — "100 Years of CSD Innovation": ASHA membership trajectory from 25 charter members (1925) to 247,000 members (2025)](https://leader.pubs.asha.org/do/10.1044/leader.FTR2.slp-aud-asha-history-centennial.30092025.66/full/), American Speech-Language-Hearing Association
3. [Wikipedia — Education for All Handicapped Children Act (PL 94-142, 1975): speech therapy mandated as a related service for all eligible students; created systematic school-based SLP demand](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Education_for_All_Handicapped_Children_Act), Wikipedia
4. [BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook — Speech-Language Pathologists historical overview (employment trajectory from 1990s through 2024)](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/speech-language-pathologists.htm), Bureau of Labor Statistics
5. BLS OEWS, national cross-industry estimates (flat file), Bureau of Labor Statistics. Editions: [2003](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm03nat.zip), [2004](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm04nat.zip), [2005](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm05nat.zip), [2006](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm06nat.zip), [2007](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm07nat.zip), [2008](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm08nat.zip), [2009](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm09nat.zip), [2010](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm10nat.zip), [2011](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm11nat.zip), [2012](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm12nat.zip), [2013](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm13nat.zip), [2014](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm14nat.zip), [2015](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm15nat.zip), [2016](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm16nat.zip), [2017](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm17nat.zip), [2018](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm18nat.zip), [2019](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm19nat.zip), [2020](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm20nat.zip), [2021](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm21nat.zip), [2022](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm22nat.zip), [2023](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm23nat.zip), [2024](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm24nat.zip), [2025](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm25nat.zip)

### Wage series

6. [University of Missouri Libraries — "Prices and Wages by Decade: 1970-1979": public education professional salary context for 1970](https://libraryguides.missouri.edu/pricesandwages/1970-1979), University of Missouri Libraries / BLS historical sources
7. [BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook — Speech-Language Pathologists: wage history and salary trajectory context](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/speech-language-pathologists.htm), Bureau of Labor Statistics
8. BLS OEWS, national cross-industry estimates (flat file), Bureau of Labor Statistics. Editions: [2003](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm03nat.zip), [2004](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm04nat.zip), [2005](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm05nat.zip), [2006](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm06nat.zip), [2007](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm07nat.zip), [2008](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm08nat.zip), [2009](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm09nat.zip), [2010](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm10nat.zip), [2011](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm11nat.zip), [2012](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm12nat.zip), [2013](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm13nat.zip), [2014](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm14nat.zip), [2015](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm15nat.zip), [2016](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm16nat.zip), [2017](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm17nat.zip), [2018](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm18nat.zip), [2019](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm19nat.zip), [2020](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm20nat.zip), [2021](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm21nat.zip), [2022](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm22nat.zip), [2023](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm23nat.zip), [2025](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm25nat.zip)

### Tool eras

9. [SpeechEasy — "The History of Speech-Language Pathology": elocutionist tradition, Broca's 1861 discovery, and the formation of the American Academy of Speech Correction (1925)](https://speecheasy.com/the-history-of-speech-language-pathology/), SpeechEasy
10. [University at Buffalo — "History Overview: A History of Speech-Language Pathology": European neurology and American elocution as the two founding traditions](https://ubwp.buffalo.edu/history-of-cds/history-overview/), University at Buffalo
11. [ASHA — "History of ASHA": founding in 1925, early professional development, WWII veteran rehabilitation, and the 1952 Certificate of Clinical Competence launch](https://www.asha.org/about/history/), American Speech-Language-Hearing Association
12. [Judy Duchan's History of Speech-Language Pathology (University at Buffalo): 1945-1965 clinical expansion, VA hospital programs, and early audiometric instrumentation](https://www.acsu.buffalo.edu/~duchan/1945-1965.html), University at Buffalo
13. [Wikipedia — Augmentative and Alternative Communication: Blissymbols introduced 1971; Lightwriter (first portable device) 1973; HandiVoice (first voice-output device) late 1970s; AAC research expansion following PL 94-142 and the Rehabilitation Act of 1973](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Augmentative_and_alternative_communication), Wikipedia
14. [Wikipedia — Education for All Handicapped Children Act (PL 94-142, 1975): speech therapy as a mandated related service; created systematic school-based SLP demand](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Education_for_All_Handicapped_Children_Act), Wikipedia
15. [accessibility.com — "Past, Present, and Future of Augmentative and Alternative Communication": DynaVox and DeltaTalker digital AAC devices; AAC field growth in the 1990s](https://www.accessibility.com/blog/past-present-and-future-of-augmentative-and-alternative-communication), accessibility.com
16. [ASHA Practice Portal — Dysphagia: MBSS and FEES as standard instrumental swallowing assessments within SLP scope; 1990 ASHA dysphagia position statement](https://www.asha.org/practice-portal/clinical-topics/dysphagia/), American Speech-Language-Hearing Association
17. [AssistiveWare — Proloquo2Go: world's most popular AAC app; Crescendo vocabulary system; launched 2009; used by SLPs for AAC assessment, trial, training, and programming](https://www.assistiveware.com/products/proloquo2go), AssistiveWare
18. [Tactus Therapy — Language Therapy 4-in-1 for aphasia: Cambridge University study showing significant standardized language improvement with 20 min/day structured home practice](https://tactustherapy.com/), Tactus Therapy
19. [ASHA 2020 — "Speech-Language Pathology Telehealth Services Now Covered by More Insurers": UnitedHealthcare, Cigna, Tricare expanded coverage; 70+ million Americans impacted](https://www.asha.org/News/2020/Speech-Language-Pathology-Telehealth-Services-Now-Covered-by-More-Insurers/), American Speech-Language-Hearing Association
20. [ASHA 2025 — "Generative Artificial Intelligence for Clinicians in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology": AI documentation endorsed with HIPAA, consent, and clinician-review requirements; AI "cannot replace the SLP"](https://www.asha.org/practice/generative-artificial-intelligence-for-clinicians/), American Speech-Language-Hearing Association
21. [SLPFlow — HIPAA-compliant AI documentation platform for SLPs: SOAP, DAP, BIRP, and IEP report auto-generation; session transcription; $20/month; does not train on patient data](https://slpflow.com/), SLPFlow

### Forecasts and exposure studies

22. [BLS Employment Projections 2025-35, National Employment Matrix: 29-1127 Speech-language pathologists (2025: 193.4 thousand; 2035: 225.5 thousand; +16.6%)](https://data.bls.gov/projections/nationalMatrix?queryParams=29-1127&ioType=o), Bureau of Labor Statistics
23. [Eloundou, Manning, Mishkin & Rock (2023), "GPTs are GPTs", occupation-level exposure data occ\_level.csv (O\*NET-SOC 29-1127.00, human-rated β 0.39)](https://github.com/openai/GPTs-are-GPTs/blob/main/data/occ_level.csv), OpenAI

### Historical notes

24. [ASHA — "History of ASHA": founding 25 charter members (1925), name change timeline, and 100-year membership arc to 247,000 (2025)](https://www.asha.org/about/history/), American Speech-Language-Hearing Association
25. [Wikipedia — Education for All Handicapped Children Act (PL 94-142, 1975): speech therapy as a mandated related service; foundation for school-based SLP employment](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Education_for_All_Handicapped_Children_Act), Wikipedia
26. [ASHA Practice Portal — Dysphagia: 1990 ASHA position statement formally established swallowing assessment and treatment within SLP scope of practice](https://www.asha.org/practice-portal/clinical-topics/dysphagia/), American Speech-Language-Hearing Association
27. [ASHA — "ASHA's Legacy: 100 Years of Leadership and Growth": centennial membership 247,000; 100-year professional arc](https://www.asha100.org/legacy/), American Speech-Language-Hearing Association

### Predecessors & successors

28. [SpeechEasy — "The History of Speech-Language Pathology": elocutionist tradition and its role in the formation of the speech correction profession](https://speecheasy.com/the-history-of-speech-language-pathology/), SpeechEasy
29. [University at Buffalo — "History Overview": neurological tradition from Broca and Wernicke into WWI and WWII veteran rehabilitation programs](https://ubwp.buffalo.edu/history-of-cds/history-overview/), University at Buffalo
30. [Wikipedia — Education for All Handicapped Children Act (PL 94-142): speech therapy as a mandated related service drew educators into SLP-adjacent and SLP assistant roles](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Education_for_All_Handicapped_Children_Act), Wikipedia
31. [ASHA — "History of ASHA": audiology and speech-language pathology shared organizational history until the 1978 name change formalized distinct professional identities](https://www.asha.org/about/history/), American Speech-Language-Hearing Association
32. [ASHA Leader 2025 — "AI, Digital Health, and the Future-Ready SLP": SLPs developing AI tool literacy positioned for health informatics and clinical AI evaluation career pathways](https://leader.pubs.asha.org/do/10.1044/leader.FTR1j.30092025.slp-digital-health-artificial-intelligence.38/full/), American Speech-Language-Hearing Association
33. [O\*NET 29-1127.00 — career pathway to Medical and Health Services Managers (11-9111.00) as an identified advancement route for experienced SLPs](https://www.onetonline.org/link/summary/29-1127.00), O\*NET / Bureau of Labor Statistics
34. [ASHA 2025 — "Generative AI for Clinicians": SLPs with AAC and assistive technology expertise identified as a clinical technology leadership pathway with salary premium](https://www.asha.org/practice/generative-artificial-intelligence-for-clinicians/), American Speech-Language-Hearing Association

### Present-day analysis

- [O\*NET 30.3 — Speech-Language Pathologists (29-1127.00): tasks, technology skills, work activities, knowledge areas, employment data](https://www.onetonline.org/link/summary/29-1127.00), accessed 2026-05-24
- [BLS OOH — Speech-Language Pathologists: 187,400 employed May 2024; +15% growth 2024-2034 (much faster than average); ~13,300 annual openings projected; median annual wage $95,410](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/speech-language-pathologists.htm), accessed 2026-05-24
- [ASHA 2025 — Generative Artificial Intelligence for Clinicians in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology: AI enhances efficiency for documentation, therapy materials, and activity brainstorming; "AI cannot replace the SLP" and cannot interpret diagnostic data or individualize care; ethical responsibility to evaluate all technology](https://www.asha.org/practice/generative-artificial-intelligence-for-clinicians/), accessed 2026-05-24
- [JSLHR Vol. 67, 2024 — "Artificial Intelligence in Communication Sciences and Disorders: Introduction to the Forum": AI active in diagnostic assessment, AAC, documentation automation, and home practice; clinical reasoning, dynamic in-session assessment, and therapeutic alliance remain beyond current AI](https://pubs.asha.org/doi/10.1044/2024_JSLHR-24-00594), accessed 2026-05-24
- [ASHA Leader 2025 — "AI, Digital Health, and the Future-Ready SLP": SLPs who develop AI tool literacy (documentation AI, AAC programming, speech analytics) positioned as clinical technology leaders; health informatics and AT specialist pivots emerging](https://leader.pubs.asha.org/do/10.1044/leader.FTR1j.30092025.slp-digital-health-artificial-intelligence.38/full/), accessed 2026-05-24
- [Eloundou et al. 2024 — GPTs are GPTs (Science): occupational LLM exposure framework; SLP moderate LLM exposure β̃₁=0.31, β̃₂=0.48](https://arxiv.org/abs/2303.10130), accessed 2026-05-24
- [SLPFlow — HIPAA-compliant AI documentation platform for SLPs; auto-generates SOAP/DAP/BIRP notes and IEP reports from session recordings; ASHA cue detection; $20/month professional plan; 256-bit encryption; does not train on patient data](https://slpflow.com/), accessed 2026-05-24
- [Tenalog (Ambiki) — AI HIPAA-compliant session documentation: transcribes audio, auto-generates SOAP notes, analyzes articulation errors at phoneme level, produces parent summaries; reduces note time from 5-10 min to 1-2 min per session](https://ambiki.com/blog/how-speech-language-pathologists-slps-can-use-ai-in-their-daily-practice), accessed 2026-05-24
- [ASHA 2025 — Generative AI for Clinicians: AI documentation use requires HIPAA-compliant tools; informed consent; clinician review of all drafts for accuracy; citation of AI tool use in documentation; ChatGPT not HIPAA-compliant for SLP use (no BAA)](https://www.asha.org/practice/generative-artificial-intelligence-for-clinicians/ai-considerations-for-csd-professionals/), accessed 2026-05-24
- [Constant Therapy Health — NeuroPerformance Engine AI adapts exercise difficulty to individual progress; 90+ therapy areas; multilingual; research: 5× more practice vs. usual care with faster standardized test improvement; 150M+ exercises completed; TIME Magazine Top Health Tech](https://constanttherapyhealth.com/constant-therapy/), accessed 2026-05-24
- [Tactus Therapy — Language Therapy 4-in-1 for aphasia and acquired communication disorders; Cambridge University study: 20 min/day × 4 weeks showed significant standardized language test improvement vs. control activity; one-time app purchase + Virtual Rehab Center subscription for SLPs](https://tactustherapy.com/), accessed 2026-05-24
- [speechlp.com 2025, "The Ultimate SLP Paperwork Checklist": AI tools draft IEP PLAAFP present levels and SMART goal frameworks; SLPs must review and customize for individual student accuracy; specialized SLP AI documentation tools are HIPAA-compliant, general chatbots are not](https://speechlp.com/the-ultimate-slp-paperwork-checklist-20-documents-you-can-auto-draft-with-ai/), accessed 2026-05-24

How to read these figures: https://futurehistory.earth/methodology. Every figure links to its own source; gaps stay gaps.