Compensation varies by state and setting, with nursing and residential care facilities typically paying the highest wages (median of $92,220) and educational services providing the lowest compensation (median of $65,540).Īs a research-driven field, speech-language pathology is always evolving and SLPs must be constantly learning to stay on top of advances in the field. In 2016, the median annual wage for SLPs was $74,680, with an hourly median pay of $35.90 per hour, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) data. He said one of the great joys of his job is sending “people home eating and swallowing who never thought they could do that again.”
Melchionna’s specialty is swallowing disorders. They can treat a range of clients, from NICU infants to geriatric patients to people recovering from brain injuries. Speech-language pathologists (SLPs) work with a diverse client population across a variety of settings including schools, pediatric practices, home health agencies, nursing facilities, hospitals, inpatient and outpatient clinics, and rehabilitation centers. So what does a career in speech-language pathology look like? “Baby boomers are getting older and autism rates are higher, and I think we’re just going to see increased growth overall.” “There has been a steady increase in demand for speech-language professionals and that’s a great thing,” Melchionna said. As of 2018, job site Glassdoor rated speech-language pathology as the 35th best job in the United States. Job creation in the profession is outpacing other occupations and is expected to grow by 18 percent from 2016 to 2026, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Speech-language pathologists have a deep concentration in the practice of evaluating and treating speech, language, voice, and swallowing disorders.
“No two clients are ever the same, and the challenges of the job can simultaneously be of the best parts.” “That moment was amazing,” said Melchionna, an Emerson College alumnus. Using head movements, the patient typed, “I love you.” It was the first time he’d communicated with anyone in months. Just as the lesson was underway, the client’s fiancée walked through the door. Melchionna, now president of the Massachusetts Speech-Language Hearing Association, was teaching the patient to use a Dynavox, a speech-generating device that allows the user to communicate without using his or her voice. Speech-language pathologist Robert Melchionna was helping a client who had been in an accident that left him paralyzed and unable to speak clearly.
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