Also called: Speech Therapist, SLP
Treats problems with speech, language, voice, stuttering, and swallowing.
In a school, plays word games with kids learning to say their 'r' sounds; in a hospital, watches an X-ray video of a stroke patient swallowing to see if food is going into the lungs. Some help transgender clients with voice training or actors with vocal strain.
BLS May 2024.
Master's degree, about 6 years after high school. Bachelor's plus a 2-year master's in speech-language pathology, a clinical fellowship, and licensure.
Ways in: 4-year college, Graduate school. Training cost: $60k – $150k.
Majors to look at: Communication Sciences & Disorders, Linguistics, Psychology.
Growing much faster than average (about 15% over 10 years). Much faster than average.
Low risk for 10 years. Speech apps and AI scoring speed up practice and paperwork; diagnosing, swallow studies and live therapy need a trained human.
Classes: Psychology, Spanish or ASL, English/linguistics, Biology.
Official data: O*NET occupation 29-1127.
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