Speech-Language Pathology Assistants build social perceptiveness, service orientation 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 Occupational Therapy Assistants (91%).
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 | Occupational Therapy Assistants | 91% | $72,300 | — | None |
| 2 | Psychiatric Technicians | 87% | $45,130 | — | None |
| 3 | Occupational Therapy Aides | 85% | $39,160 | — | None |
| 4 | Physical Therapist Assistants | 82% | $68,380 | — | None |
| 5 | Patient Representatives | 79% | $50,290Pay for the broader BLS group “Health Technologists and Technicians, All Other” | Not compared | None |
| 6 | Psychiatric Aides | 79% | $44,910 | — | None |
| 7 | Speech-Language Pathologists | 78% | $97,870 | — | Graduate degree |
| 8 | Special Education Teachers, Secondary School | 77% | $74,260 | — | Bachelor's degree |
| 9 | Physical Therapist Aides | 77% | $35,240 | — | None |
| 10 | Tutors | 75% | $43,350 | — | None |
Compared with Speech-Language Pathology Assistants, median —. 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 pathology assistants (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.
91% skill match · $72,300
Troubleshooting · Time Management · Management of Personnel Resources
87% skill match · $45,130
Coordination · Troubleshooting · Management of Personnel Resources
85% skill match · $39,160
Troubleshooting · Quality Control Analysis · Operation and Control
If you want to stay close to what you do now, these roles are the nearest.
The closest matches are Occupational Therapy Assistants (91% skill match, median $72,300), Psychiatric Technicians (87% skill match, median $45,130) and Occupational Therapy Aides (85% skill match, median $39,160), based on O*NET 31.0 data and BLS May 2025 pay.
None of the 25 closest matches pays more than speech-language pathology assistants at the national median (BLS May 2025). Higher-paying moves usually need more training.
13 of the 25 matches usually need no more education than you have now, based on O*NET Job Zones. One usually needs a graduate degree: Speech-Language Pathologists.
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.