Jobs Similar to Speech-Language Pathologists
The careers below use the most similar skills, knowledge and work activities to speech-language pathologists, according to O*NET 31.0. The closest are Speech-Language Pathology Assistants, Neuropsychologists and Nursing Instructors and Teachers.
Speech-Language Pathologists: $97,870 median pay · usual preparation: Graduate degree.
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
The 20 most similar careers
| # | Career | Similarity | Median pay (vs. Speech-Language Pathologists) | Usual preparation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Speech-Language Pathology Assistants | 83% | $48,430Broader BLS group · not compared | Training or associate |
| 2 | Neuropsychologists | 82% | $110,840Broader BLS group · not compared | Graduate degree |
| 3 | Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondary | 82% | $80,250−18% | Graduate degree |
| 4 | Occupational TherapistsSame group | 81% | $100,330+3% | Graduate degree |
| 5 | Special Education Teachers, Secondary School | 81% | $74,260−24% | Bachelor's degree |
| 6 | Marriage and Family Therapists | 81% | $66,940−32% | Graduate degree |
| 7 | School Psychologists | 81% | $95,990−2% | Graduate degree |
| 8 | Clinical and Counseling Psychologists | 81% | $100,580+3% | Graduate degree |
| 9 | Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary | 80% | $80,340−18% | Graduate degree |
| 10 | Clinical Neuropsychologists | 80% | $110,840Broader BLS group · not compared | Graduate degree |
| 11 | PsychiatristsSame group | 80% | $281,870+188% | Graduate degree |
| 12 | Nurse PractitionersSame group | 80% | $132,300+35% | Graduate degree |
| 13 | Advanced Practice Psychiatric NursesSame group | 80% | $97,550Broader BLS group · not compared | Graduate degree |
| 14 | Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers | 80% | $60,280−38% | Graduate degree |
| 15 | Family Medicine PhysiciansSame group | 80% | $244,180+149% | Graduate degree |
| 16 | Nurse MidwivesSame group | 80% | $134,040+37% | Graduate degree |
| 17 | Genetic Counselors | 79% | $100,040+2% | Graduate degree |
| 18 | Healthcare Social Workers | 79% | $67,880−31% | Graduate degree |
| 19 | Social Work Teachers, Postsecondary | 79% | $77,570−21% | Graduate degree |
| 20 | Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary | 79% | $107,310+10% | Graduate degree |
- 1Speech-Language Pathology Assistants
83% similar · $48,430 (broader group) · Training or associate
- 2Neuropsychologists
82% similar · $110,840 (broader group) · Graduate degree
- 3Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondary
82% similar · $80,250 (−18%) · Graduate degree
- 4Occupational Therapists
81% similar · $100,330 (+3%) · Graduate degree · Same group
- 5Special Education Teachers, Secondary School
81% similar · $74,260 (−24%) · Bachelor's degree
- 6Marriage and Family Therapists
81% similar · $66,940 (−32%) · Graduate degree
- 7School Psychologists
81% similar · $95,990 (−2%) · Graduate degree
- 8Clinical and Counseling Psychologists
81% similar · $100,580 (+3%) · Graduate degree
- 9Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary
80% similar · $80,340 (−18%) · Graduate degree
- 10Clinical Neuropsychologists
80% similar · $110,840 (broader group) · Graduate degree
- 11Psychiatrists
80% similar · $281,870 (+188%) · Graduate degree · Same group
- 12Nurse Practitioners
80% similar · $132,300 (+35%) · Graduate degree · Same group
- 13Advanced Practice Psychiatric Nurses
80% similar · $97,550 (broader group) · Graduate degree · Same group
- 14Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers
80% similar · $60,280 (−38%) · Graduate degree
- 15Family Medicine Physicians
80% similar · $244,180 (+149%) · Graduate degree · Same group
- 16Nurse Midwives
80% similar · $134,040 (+37%) · Graduate degree · Same group
- 17Genetic Counselors
79% similar · $100,040 (+2%) · Graduate degree
- 18Healthcare Social Workers
79% similar · $67,880 (−31%) · Graduate degree
- 19Social Work Teachers, Postsecondary
79% similar · $77,570 (−21%) · Graduate degree
- 20Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary
79% similar · $107,310 (+10%) · Graduate degree
Similarity: weighted correlation of O*NET 31.0 transferable skills (35%), knowledge (25%), work activities (15%) and interests (15%). Pay and schooling do not change it. Pay change compares BLS May 2025 national medians; careers with only a broader BLS group wage are not compared. “Same group”: the same BLS occupation group (SOC minor group). Methodology
Similar jobs that pay more
Only careers that usually need no more preparation than speech-language pathologists.
- Psychiatrists80% similar · $281,870 (+188%)
- Family Medicine Physicians80% similar · $244,180 (+149%)
- Nurse Midwives80% similar · $134,040 (+37%)
- Nurse Practitioners80% similar · $132,300 (+35%)
- Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary79% similar · $107,310 (+10%)
- Occupational Therapists81% similar · $100,330 (+3%)
Similar jobs that need less preparation
Thinking of a career change?
Similar is not the same as a good next step. Our career-change list for speech-language pathologists also weighs pay drops and extra schooling, and puts jobs outside the field first.
Jobs that can lead here
Careers where speech-language pathologists is one of the best career-change matches (match score in brackets).
- Neuropsychologists (82)
- Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondary (82)
- Clinical and Counseling Psychologists (81)
- Marriage and Family Therapists (81)
- School Psychologists (81)
- Clinical Neuropsychologists (80)
- Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers (80)
- Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary (80)
- Family and Consumer Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary (79)
- Genetic Counselors (79)
Questions about jobs like speech-language pathologists
What jobs are most similar to speech-language pathologists?
By O*NET 31.0 data, the closest are Speech-Language Pathology Assistants (83% similar), Neuropsychologists (82% similar), Nursing Instructors and Teachers (82% similar), Occupational Therapists (81% similar) and Special Education Teachers (Secondary School) (81% similar).
Which jobs like speech-language pathologists pay more?
Among the 20 most similar careers, Psychiatrists ($281,870, +188%; usually a graduate degree), Family Medicine Physicians ($244,180, +149%; usually a graduate degree) and Nurse Midwives ($134,040, +37%; usually a graduate degree) have the highest BLS median pay compared with speech-language pathologists ($97,870). Without more preparation than speech-language pathologists usually need: Psychiatrists, Family Medicine Physicians and Nurse Midwives.
How is the similarity percentage worked out?
We compare how important each transferable skill, knowledge area, work activity and interest area is in both jobs (O*NET 31.0 ratings) with a weighted correlation. 100% would mean the same profile. Unlike our career-change matches, pay and extra schooling do not lower the similarity on this page.