Speech-Language Pathologists build social perceptiveness, instructing and complex problem solving skills that carry over to other work. Below are 25 careers ranked by how closely their skills match, with pay from BLS May 2025. The closest match is Genetic Counselors (79%).
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
Sorted by skill match.
| # | Career | Skill match | Median pay | Pay change | Extra education |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Genetic Counselors | 79% | $100,040 | +2% | None |
| 2 | Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary | 79% | $107,310 | +10% | None |
| 3 | Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondary | 77% | $80,250 | −18% | None |
| 4 | Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary | 76% | $80,340 | −18% | None |
| 5 | Sociology Teachers, Postsecondary | 74% | $84,290 | −14% | None |
| 6 | Social Work Teachers, Postsecondary | 73% | $77,570 | −21% | None |
| 7 | Health Informatics Specialists | 72% | $105,850Pay for the broader BLS group “Computer Systems Analysts” | Not compared | None |
| 8 | Marriage and Family Therapists | 72% | $66,940 | −32% | None |
| 9 | Library Science Teachers, Postsecondary | 72% | $80,340 | −18% | None |
| 10 | Anthropology and Archeology Teachers, Postsecondary | 71% | $99,650 | +2% | None |
Compared with Speech-Language Pathologists, median $97,870. Skill match is our estimate (0–99) from O*NET 31.0 skills, knowledge, work activities and interests, adjusted for preparation and big pay drops. Pay: BLS OEWS May 2025, national median.
How important each skill is in work as speech-language pathologists (O*NET importance, scale 1–5).
The gaps that show up most often across your top 10 matches.
Free and low-cost training: use the CareerOneStop training finder below.
A concrete first step, the skills to add, and the hard parts of each job, from O*NET 31.0 education, training and work context data.
79% skill match · $100,040 · +2% pay
79% skill match · $107,310 · +10% pay
Management of Financial Resources · Management of Material Resources · Equipment Maintenance
77% skill match · $80,250 · −18% pay
Management of Financial Resources · Management of Material Resources · Management of Personnel Resources
If you want to stay close to what you do now, these roles are the nearest.
The closest matches are Genetic Counselors (79% skill match, median $100,040), Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary (79% skill match, median $107,310) and Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondary (77% skill match, median $80,250), based on O*NET 31.0 data and BLS May 2025 pay.
Among the 25 matches, 9 pay more than speech-language pathologists at the median. The biggest increases: Law Teachers, Postsecondary (+31%, $128,500), Economics Teachers, Postsecondary (+27%, $123,920) and Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary (+10%, $107,310).
25 of the 25 matches usually need no more education than you have now, based on O*NET Job Zones.
We compare the importance of skills, knowledge, work activities and interests in O*NET 31.0 for your job and every other career, then adjust for extra preparation and big pay drops. The full method is on our Methodology page.