Speech-Language Pathology / Communication Disorders degree: salary, jobs & colleges
Bachelor's graduates in speech-language pathology / communication disorders earn a median $58,587 four years after finishing, across 213 U.S. colleges. At ages 25-34, people whose degree is in communication disorders sciences and services earn $48,881, $13,168 less than all bachelor's holders. The most common job is speech-language pathologists (9%).
Median across 213 colleges; middle half $54,963–$62,720.
College Scorecard field of study (graduates who received federal aid)
Middle half $31,484–$62,946. 853 survey respondents.
Census ACS 2020-2024 microdata; field "Communication Disorders Sciences And Services"; EducationGuide calculation
- All bachelor's, 25-34$62,049
- High school, 25-34$35,638
- This degree vs high school+$13,243/yr
Census ACS 2020-2024 microdata, workers not in school
Median across colleges reporting.
College Scorecard field of study
Jobs speech-language pathology / communication disorders graduates hold
What employed 25-34-year-olds whose bachelor's is in communication disorders sciences and services actually do, with U.S. wages and the outlook for each job. The first column comes from the Census survey; wages and growth from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
| Job | Share of graduates | U.S. median wage | Jobs growth 2025-35 | Typical entry | Interests |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Speech-Language Pathologists | 9% | $97,870 | +16.6% | Master's degree | SIC |
| Elementary And Middle School Teachers | 4% | $64,170 | -0.4% | — | — |
| Registered Nurses | 4% | $97,550 | +5.6% | Bachelor's degree | SCI |
| Teaching Assistants | 3% | $37,010 | +0.0% | — | — |
| Human Resources Workers | 3% | $76,700 | +6.1% | — | — |
| Customer Service Representatives | 3% | $44,770 | -5.3% | High school diploma or equivalent | CES |
| Other Healthcare Support Workers | 3% | — | — | — | — |
| Secretaries And Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, And Executive | 2% | $47,540 | -6.0% | High school diploma or equivalent | CES |
These 8 jobs account for 30% of employed graduates: people with this degree spread across many kinds of work.
Census ACS 2020-2024 microdata (ages 25-34, bachelor's as highest degree, employed); BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025; BLS Employment Projections 2025-35; O*NET 31.0 interest codes (R realistic, I investigative, A artistic, S social, E enterprising, C conventional).
Speech-Language Pathology / Communication Disorders earnings by state
Two views of pay: recent graduates of the state's colleges four years out (College Scorecard), and everyone ages 25-34 living in the state with this field of degree (Census). States show a figure only with at least 3 colleges or 100 survey respondents.
| State | Graduates, 4 yrs (colleges) | Ages 25-34 (respondents) |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $54,856 (4) | — |
| Arizona | $53,532 (3) | — |
| Arkansas | $59,112 (6) | — |
| California | $66,404 (16) | $52,793 (116) |
| Colorado | $57,508 (3) | — |
| Florida | $58,374 (4) | — |
| Georgia | $55,426 (3) | — |
| Illinois | $60,190 (10) | — |
| Indiana | $59,624 (6) | — |
| Kansas | $57,537 (4) | — |
| Kentucky | $51,816 (4) | — |
| Louisiana | $51,611 (7) | — |
| Maryland | $72,055 (3) | — |
| Massachusetts | $58,126 (5) | — |
| Michigan | $58,526 (7) | — |
| Minnesota | $58,362 (5) | — |
| Mississippi | $51,381 (3) | — |
| Missouri | $53,952 (8) | — |
| New York | $61,761 (19) | — |
| North Carolina | $57,372 (4) | — |
| Ohio | $57,085 (13) | — |
| Oklahoma | $57,186 (5) | — |
| Pennsylvania | $62,754 (10) | — |
| Tennessee | $59,347 (3) | — |
| Texas | $59,624 (15) | $50,762 (103) |
| Virginia | $57,623 (6) | — |
| Washington | $64,148 (4) | — |
| West Virginia | $54,252 (3) | — |
| Wisconsin | $56,878 (7) | — |
College Scorecard field of study (median of each college's graduates); Census ACS 2020-2024 microdata; EducationGuide calculations.
Colleges where speech-language pathology / communication disorders graduates earn the most
In the states we cover so far (Florida, Virginia, California): 8 in Florida, 6 in Virginia, 18 in California offer this major. Open a college to see cost to finish and payback for your income.
| # | College | Earnings, 4 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of the PacificCA | $77,549 | $18,500 |
| 2 | California State University-Long BeachCA | $75,137 | $12,000 |
| 3 | University of RedlandsCA | $71,767 | $25,000 |
| 4 | California State University-San MarcosCA | $71,068 | $15,998 |
| 5 | San Francisco State UniversityCA | $70,532 | $19,250 |
| 6 | University of VirginiaVA | $70,141 | $19,282 |
| 7 | Biola UniversityCA | $69,087 | $27,000 |
| 8 | California Baptist UniversityCA | $67,621 | $26,375 |
| 9 | Florida State UniversityFL | $67,180 | $15,267 |
| 10 | James Madison UniversityVA | $65,770 | $19,975 |
| 11 | University of FloridaFL | $65,370 | $15,000 |
| 12 | California State University-NorthridgeCA | $65,188 | $15,356 |
College Scorecard field of study. Colleges meeting our core-data standard; online campuses left out.
Speech-Language Pathology / Communication Disorders degree questions
How much do Speech-Language Pathology / Communication Disorders graduates make?
Speech-Language Pathology / Communication Disorders graduates earn a median $58,587 four years after finishing, across 213 U.S. colleges that report it (the middle half of colleges: $54,963 to $62,720; College Scorecard, graduates who received federal aid). Among all workers ages 25-34 whose bachelor's degree is in communication disorders sciences and services, the median is $48,881 (Census ACS 2020-2024).
Is a Speech-Language Pathology / Communication Disorders degree worth it?
At ages 25-34, people with a bachelor's in communication disorders sciences and services earn a median $48,881: $13,168 less than all bachelor's degree holders ($62,049) and $13,243 more than high school graduates ($35,638). EducationGuide calculation from Census ACS 2020-2024 microdata, workers not in school.
What jobs do Speech-Language Pathology / Communication Disorders graduates get?
Among employed 25-34-year-olds whose bachelor's is in communication disorders sciences and services, the most common jobs are speech-language pathologists (9%), elementary and middle school teachers (4%), registered nurses (4%). Speech-Language Pathologists earn a U.S. median $97,870.
How much do Speech-Language Pathology / Communication Disorders graduates earn in Florida?
Across 4 Florida colleges reporting, Speech-Language Pathology / Communication Disorders graduates earn a median $58,374 four years after graduating.
Sources: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard; U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey microdata; Bureau of Labor Statistics; O*NET 31.0 (U.S. Department of Labor, CC BY 4.0). Method
Data: JSON · Markdown · all degrees
Cite this: “Speech-Language Pathology / Communication Disorders degree: salary, jobs and colleges,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/degrees/speech-language-pathology-communication-disorders.