how much can a speech therapist earn

Average Speech Therapist Hourly Pay

The average hourly pay for a Speech Therapist is $40.85 in 2024

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What is the pay by experience level for speech therapists .

An entry-level Speech Therapist with less than 1 year experience can expect to earn an average total compensation (includes tips, bonus, and overtime pay) of $32.96 based on 32 salaries. An early career Speech Therapist with 1-4 years of experience earns an average total compensation of $36.93 based on 135 salaries. A …Read more

What Do Speech Therapists Do?

Social skills are a must for speech therapists, since this job demands that they know a lot about why people do the things they do. Speech therapists usually must have a master’s degree in speech therapy, as well as a state license to administer therapy. Speech therapists must be able to work with people from all walks of life, such as individuals with learning disabilities, trauma victims, and others with speech-related issues.

Speech therapists need to be compassionate and open-minded …Read more

How do Speech Therapists Rate Their Jobs?

Common health benefits for a speech therapist, gender breakdown for speech therapists.

FAQs About Speech Therapists

What is the highest pay for speech therapists.

Our data indicates that the highest pay for a Speech Therapist is $54.78 / hour

What is the lowest pay for Speech Therapists?

Our data indicates that the lowest pay for a Speech Therapist is $31.11 / hour

How can Speech Therapists increase their salary?

Increasing your pay as a Speech Therapist is possible in different ways. Change of employer: Consider a career move to a new employer that is willing to pay higher for your skills. Level of Education: Gaining advanced degrees may allow this role to increase their income potential and qualify for promotions. Managing Experience: If you are a Speech Therapist that oversees more junior Speech Therapists, this experience can increase the likelihood to earn more.

Speech-Language Pathologist Salary Guide

Speech-language pathologists specialize in evaluating and treating conditions that affect one’s ability to speak and swallow. Speech-language pathologists are also called speech therapists, or abbreviated as SLPs. Their work helps people improve and regain functions related to speech, language, vocalization, communication, swallowing, and more.  

In this guide, we’ll discuss the average salary, how to find the highest-paying speech therapist jobs, how to maximize your SLP pay, and more.  

This rewarding career path is needed in all 50 states, and demand is only projected to grow. Check out Trusted’s Speech-Language Pathologist Career Guide to learn how to get started in this rewarding career path. Now, let’s talk about speech and language pathologist salary.  

How Much Does a Speech Pathologist Make?

The average speech pathologist salary is $89,290 annually, or $42.93 per hour.  

• The highest-earning 10% of SLPs earn $129,930 annually or more, which is approximately $62.47 per hour.
• The lowest earning 10% of SLPs earn approximately $57,910 annually, equal to $27.84 per hour.  

What Type of Speech Pathologist Makes the Most Money?

Your speech-language pathologist salary will vary depending on the environment you work in. SLPs have the flexibility to work in a wide variety of healthcare settings. Currently, the highest-paid speech therapists work in:

• Civic and social organizations- $130,620 per year
• Home health care services- $121,410 per year
• Management- $112,110 per year
• Child care services- $109,110
• Skilled nursing facilities- $108,640

Here are even more types of speech pathologist work settings and the average salaries for each:

• Specialty hospitals- $105,830 per year
• General hospitals- $ 98,790 per year
• Healthcare offices- $96,540 per year
• Education and schools- $83,720 per year

Speech-language pathologists are skilled healthcare providers needed in a wide variety of clinical environments. Each work setting allows you to specialize in a certain area of speech therapy, allowing you to gain experience, grow your skillset, and increase your salary as a speech-language pathologist.

Speech-Language Pathologist Salary by Experience

To be a speech-language pathologist, you must have a master’s degree in speech pathology. Additionally, SLPs must be state-licensed and nationally certified through the American Speech-Langage-Hearing Association (ASHA).

What is a speech pathologist salary with a master’s degree? Since all speech pathologists hold master's degrees, the wages of master’s prepared SLPs are the same as those listed above. Here’s a brief review:

• The average speech pathologist salary with a master’s degree is $89,290.  
• The highest earning 10% of SLPs earn $129,930.
• The lowest earning 10% of SLPs earn $57,910 annually.  

On average, it can take six years or more to earn a master’s degree and get started in speech therapy. First, a bachelor’s degree is needed, which takes approximately four years. After that, your next step is a master’s degree, which takes an average of two years to complete.

How much does an SLP make as they gain experience?

As you gain experience in speech and language pathology, you can expect your salary to increase. The number of years worked in this field will translate to higher pay. Learning advanced skills, expanding your expertise, and moving into leadership and management roles are great ways to earn more.

What are the Top-Paying States for Speech-Language Pathologists?

The top-paying states for SLPs , by average yearly salary, are:

• California- $112,030 per year
• Washington, DC- $111,110 per year
• Colorado- $107,780 per year
• Hawaii- $106,790 per year
• New Jersey- $102,820 per year

SLP pay varies by geographic region and location. In general, areas of the country with higher costs of living pay more than areas with lower costs of living. Larger, urban cities tend to pay more than smaller, rural ones.

SLP Salary Range Considerations:

Many other factors affect speech-language pathologist pay, including work setting and location. Obtaining voluntary certification can unlock opportunities for career advancement, increase job mobility, and boost earning potential.

• The Speech-Language Pathology Certificate of Clinical Competence (CCC-SLP) is an additional certification that SLPs can obtain to showcase their dedication and expertise.  

Don’t forget that gaining experience, taking on additional responsibilities, growing your skills, and expanding into leadership or management roles are all great ways to increase your speech therapy salary in addition to certification.

What is the Job Outlook Like for SLPs?

Speech and language pathology has an impressive 19% projected growth rate over the next ten years! This is much faster than average compared to all professions, with an expected 33,100 additional speech therapists needed to meet demand by 2032.

As healthcare needs continue to grow, the demand for skilled and experienced speech therapists will only increase. Staff and travel SLPs will be needed to fill this gap, and becoming a travel SLP is one of the most effective ways to increase your speech therapist salary.

Travel SLP Salary

Trusted Health's current median travel speech therapist salary is $2130 weekly. Working at this rate for 50 weeks annually would net you approximately $106,500 annually!

Travel speech therapists are expert healthcare providers who can work in a wide range of SLP roles with minimal orientation and guidance. Consequently, travel SLP pay is often higher than SLP pay. Travel SLPs are experts in their field and can hit the ground running to ensure patients’ healthcare needs are promptly met despite regional staffing shortages.

Find a Speech-Language Pathologist Job with Trusted Health

Taking your skills on the road as a travel speech-language pathologist is a great way to maximize your earning potential! It is also an excellent way to see the United States, enjoy new experiences, and expand your speech-therapist career.

Trusted Health proudly offers the industry’s highest-paying travel SLP jobs, outstanding benefits, and unmatched clinical support. Becoming an allied health traveler is the start of the adventure of a lifetime, and Trusted Health is here for you every step of the way.

Get started by searching our current travel speech language pathologist jobs today!

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Speech-Language Pathology Salary

The demand for speech and linguistic therapy has been trending upward as public school systems are now more than ever making SLP services available to students, as strides are being made to identify and diagnose disorders early, and as a greater number of elderly stroke survivors undergo therapy, among other factors.

Speech-language pathologists (SLPs) have landed, once again, on the U.S. News & World Report’s 100 Best Jobs list, holding down the #8 spot for 2020, and for good reason. A strong demand for SLPs has driven salaries up and unemployment down (just 0.8% as of 2020), and everyone from young children to seniors are benefitting from the services they provide related to speech, language, and swallowing disorders.

• Emerson College - Master's in Speech-Language Pathology online - Prepare to become an SLP in as few as 20 months. No GRE required. Scholarships available.
• Arizona State University - Online - Online Bachelor of Science in Speech and Hearing Science - Designed to prepare graduates to work in behavioral health settings or transition to graduate programs in speech-language pathology and audiology.
• NYU Steinhardt - NYU Steinhardt's Master of Science in Communicative Sciences and Disorders online - ASHA-accredited. Bachelor's degree required. Graduate prepared to pursue licensure.
• Calvin University - Calvin University's Online Speech and Hearing Foundations Certificate - Helps You Gain a Strong Foundation for Your Speech-Language Pathology Career.

More kids in preschool than ever before…expanded services being made available in schools under Individualized Education Programs that address students’ specific needs…and increasing numbers of seniors living with age-related medical conditions like dementia and strokes are just a few of the factors contributing to the rising demand for SLPs. It’s a red-hot profession, and demand is far outpacing supply in many cases.

Earn the credentials it takes to become part of this profession and you just might end up with your pick of job offers, while definitely being in line for strong salary offers and fantastic perks like hiring and relocation bonuses.

Keep reading to learn how much SLPs are earning, how experience, setting, and geographic location can and do influence earning potential, and how to position yourself as one of the top earners in the profession.

SLP Salaries and How Experience Influences Earning Potential

From hospitals to in-home service: what slps earn in different practice settings, and the top-paying cities and states for slps are…, hiring bonuses and other salary perks for speech-language pathologists, a guide to slp salaries in all 50 states, speech pathology graduate salaries by state.

• Connecticut
• District of Columbia
• Massachusetts
• Mississippi
• New Hampshire
• North Carolina
• North Dakota
• Pennsylvania
• Rhode Island
• South Carolina
• South Dakota
• West Virginia

Strong salaries continue to dominate the SLP field and reaching a six-figure salary isn’t out of the question here.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), speech-language pathologists earned an average, annual salary of $77,510 as of May 2019. The top earners in the profession (top 25 th percentile) earned an average salary of $97,770.

The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association’s (ASHA) 2019 annual  SLP Healthcare Survey reported a similar annual average salary for speech-language pathologists of $78,000. Those in the top 25 th percentile earned an average salary of $92,000.

Speech-language pathologists share similar qualifications, including a graduate education in speech-language pathology that’s been accredited by the Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology (CAA) , pre-licensure professional experiences, a state license and, in many cases, the  through the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (many states either require the Certificate of Clinical Competence (CCC-SLP) for licensure or recognize it as a path to licensure).

Because of these fairly standard license and practice requirements, you won’t find much difference in salaries here. However, where you practice (both setting and location) and how long you’ve been practicing does influence your earning power in the SLP field.

According to ASHA, SLPs with 1-3 years of experience earned an average salary of $66,000. Salaries continue to grow until reaching a peak at about 20 years of experience:

• 4-6 years: $72,000
• 7-9 years: $79,000
• 10-12 years: $78,000
• 13-15 years: $87,500
• 16-18 years: $82,000
• 19-21 years: $100,000

You’ll find significant salary differences depending on the setting in which SLPs work. According to the ASHA 2019 salary survey, the highest-paid SLPs worked in skilled nursing facilities, where they earned an annual average salary of $95,000. The BLS also reported a similar annual mean salary for SLPs in this setting, at $94,840.

SLPs in VA, long-term acute care, and general medical hospitals also earned an average salary that far exceeded the national average – $85,798, according to ASHA. BLS stats also mirrored ASHA, with SLPs in these settings earning a mean salary of $85,220.

According to ASHA, other average salaries according to setting include:

• Home Health: $76,000
• Outpatient clinics/offices: $73,500
• Pediatric hospitals: $78,000
• Rehabilitation hospitals: $79,000

The top earners in the field (top 25 th percentile) earned the following average salaries, according to ASHA:

• General medical/VA/long-term acute care hospitals: $98,000
• Home health: $90,000
• Outpatient clinics: $86,200
• Pediatric hospitals: $90,000
• Rehabilitation hospitals: $90,000
• Skilled nursing facilities: $105,000

While ASHA didn’t reveal salaries for SLPs in elementary and secondary schools, the BLS reported an average mean salary of $72,480 for these professionals. SLPs in school settings remain among the lowest paid in the field and are often among the busiest due to high caseloads.

According to ASHA, the top earners in the field are in the western part of the U.S., with these SLPs earning an average salary of $85,000. This isn’t surprising, considering that the cost of living in this area of the country tends to be higher than in other parts of the country.

Other average salaries according to geographical location include:

• South: $79,000
• Northeast: $78,000
• Midwest: $73,520

The BLS provided even more insight into where SLPs earn the highest salaries by highlighting the top-paying states for these professionals (according to annual mean salary):

• New Jersey: $95,000
• Washington D.C.: $93,570
• California: $93,510
• Connecticut: $92,280
• Colorado: $90,980

And according to metro area:

• Napa, CA: $106,620
• Jackson, MI: $105,130
• San Francisco, CA (includes Oakland and Hayward): $103,890
• Vallejo-Fairfield, CA: $103,030
• Tulsa, OK: $102,680
• Wichita Falls, TX: $102,540
• Chico, CA: $101,990
• Battle Creek, MI: $101,810
• Gainesville, FL: $101,750

Total compensation in the SLP field includes both salary and bonuses, often as a result of holding the CCC-SLP. It’s quite common for employers in states that don’t require the CCC-SLP for licensure to encourage SLPs to earn this national designation by offering hiring/annual bonuses and/or higher salaries. Also, many of the nation’s top employers of SLPs now require this designation as a condition of employment, so holding the CCC-SLP may be your ticket to more and higher-paying job opportunities.

Employers across the country continue to struggle with recruitment and retention of SLPs, so it’s quite common to find employers offering sign-on bonuses, relocation bonuses, and more. A quick search of current SLP jobs throughout the country revealed signing bonuses reaching $2,500, relocation assistance, and even student loan repayment.

Learn more about the earning power of SLPs in your state by checking out the following BLS salary stats for SLPs in the 50 th -90 th percentiles:

• Alabama: $65,510 – $102,470 (approximately 1,700 licensed SLPs)
• Alaska: $88,250 – $122,110 (approximately 250 licensed SLPs)
• Arizona: $74,540 – $108,920 (approximately 2,730 licensed SLPs)
• Arkansas: $67,930 – $118,470 (approximately 1,990 licensed SLPs)
• California: $93,060 – $126,000 (approximately 14,980 licensed SLPs)
• Colorado: $87,910 – $132,740 (approximately 3,980 licensed SLPs)
• Connecticut: $94,460 – $156,350 (approximately 2,290 licensed SLPs)
• Delaware: $82,270 – $120,250 (approximately 630 licensed SLPs)
• District of Columbia: $99,160 – $138,470 (approximately 390 licensed SLPs)
• Florida: $82,560 – $112,360 (approximately 9,120 licensed SLPs)
• Georgia: $76,170 – $115,350 (approximately 3,440 licensed SLPs)
• Hawaii: $78,540 – $101,560
• Idaho: $72,150 – $104,700 (approximately 820 licensed SLPs)
• Illinois: $76,010 – $116,720 (approximately 7,510 licensed SLPs)
• Indiana: $75,940 – $107,760 (approximately 2,610 licensed SLPs)
• Iowa: $74,470 – $107,770 (approximately 1,230 licensed SLPs)
• Kansas: $70,670 – $111,830 (approximately 1,490 licensed SLPs)
• Kentucky: $68,900 – $108,110 (approximately 2,130 licensed SLPs)
• Louisiana: $80,770 – $120,550 (approximately 1,260 licensed SLPs)
• Maine: $65,130 – $88,700 (approximately 790 licensed SLPs)
• Maryland: $85,160 – $123,930 (approximately 3,020 licensed SLPs)
• Massachusetts: $86,310 – $122,690 (approximately 3,990 licensed SLPs)
• Michigan: $76,860 – $118,190 (approximately 4,300 licensed SLPs)
• Minnesota: $75,300 – $106,150 (approximately 3,240 licensed SLPs)
• Mississippi: $64,880 – $98,230 (approximately 1,460 licensed SLPs)
• Missouri: $78,360 – $120,450 (approximately 3,410 licensed SLPs)
• Montana: $71,270 – $109,950 (approximately 380 licensed SLPs)
• Nebraska: $73,150 – $101,110 (approximately 1,020 licensed SLPs)
• Nevada: $76,870 – $118,990 (approximately 1,070 licensed SLPs)
• New Hampshire: $75,800 – $101,480 (approximately 750 licensed SLPs)
• New Jersey: $89,510 – $154,210 (approximately 5,750 licensed SLPs)
• New Mexico: $71,760 – $111,820 (approximately 880 licensed SLPs)
• New York: $88,910 – $149,470 (approximately 13,130 licensed SLPs)
• North Carolina: $70,680 – $112,420 (approximately 4,450 licensed SLPs)
• North Dakota: $67,940 – $90,940 (approximately 560 licensed SLPs)
• Ohio: $74,280 – $113,570 (approximately 6,200 licensed SLPs)
• Oklahoma: $70,260 – $113,980 (approximately 1,700 licensed SLPs)
• Oregon: $83,240 – $115,800 (approximately 1,650 licensed SLPs)
• Pennsylvania: $76,570 – $121,250 (approximately 5,700 licensed SLPs)
• Rhode Island: $85,710 – $119,050 (approximately 600 licensed SLPs)
• South Carolina: $71,700 – $102,070 (approximately 1,830 licensed SLPs)
• South Dakota: $59,180 – $83,760 (approximately 360 licensed SLPs)
• Tennessee $78,080 – $102,580 (approximately 3,150 licensed SLPs)
• Texas: $71,280 – $110,960 (approximately 14,820 licensed SLPs)
• Utah: $79,100 – $106,940 (approximately 1,360 licensed SLPs)
• Vermont: $73,140 – $101,630 (approximately 280 licensed SLPs)
• Virginia: $86,350 – $124,600 (approximately 3,090 licensed SLPs)
• Washington: $77,340 – $106,900 (approximately 3,110 licensed SLPs)
• West Virginia: $59,000 – $102,910 (approximately 800 licensed SLPs)
• Wisconsin: $72,090 – $99,450 (approximately 2,360 licensed SLPs)
• Wyoming: $75,820 – $121,270 (approximately 300 licensed SLPs)

Salary and employment data compiled by the  United States Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics in May of 2019 . Figures represent accumulated data for all employment sectors in which speech-language pathologists work. BLS salary data represents average and median earnings for the occupations listed and includes workers at all levels of education and experience. This data does not represent starting salaries. 

Salary and employment data compiled by ASHA’s 2020 SLP Healthcare Survey . Figures represent accumulated data for all employment sectors in which speech-language pathologists work. This data does not represent starting salaries. 

All salary and employment data accessed September 2020.

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• Career Resources
• How to Become a Speech-Language Pathologist
• Both Sides of the Frenectomy Debate
• Certification
• State Licensing Overview
• Student Resources
• What is Speech-Language Pathology?
• CAA-Accredited Graduate Programs
• Directory of CSD and SLP Undergraduate Programs
• Master’s in Speech-Language Pathology
• SLP Clinical Fellowship
• SLP Thesis Track
• 2022 SLP Scholarship Guide
• 2022 Top SLP Master’s Programs
• Practice Settings
• Private Practice
• Telepractice
• Specialty Areas and Disorders
• Ankyloglossia (Tongue Tie) and Lip-Tie Issues
• Aphasia (Post Stroke)
• Apraxia of Speech
• Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC)
• Child Language Disorders
• Communication Competency Assessment
• Early Intervention
• Fluency Disorders
• Forensic Speech-Language Pathology
• Laryngeal Imaging
• Late Talkers
• Low-Incidence Disorders
• Multilingual Patients
• Occupational Therapy
• Otoacoustic Emissions Screening
• Patients with Autism
• Patients with Cochlear Implants
• Percutaneous Electrical Stimulation (E-stim)
• Public Health
• Rehabilitation
• Spasmodic Dysphonia
• Stuttering and Cluttering
• Swallowing and Feeding Disorders (Dysphagia)
• Transnasal Esophagoscopy and Pharyngeal/Esophageal Manometry
• Transgender Voice Modification Therapy
• Voice Therapy
• Dual Certification in SLP and Lactation Consultancy
• Continuing Education is Key to Career Versatility and Longevity in This Field
• Do You Speak with an Accent? … You Can Still Be an Outstanding SLP
• The Challenges and Rewards of Working with English Language Learners
• Some Advice on How to Approach Your Clinical Fellowship
• 4 Things a Job Description Can’t Tell You About the Profession
• 5 Things I Love Most About Being an SLP
• Your Guide to Getting Started in Telepractice
• Why Team Player SLPs are Even More Effective Than Superstars
• Why Working With the Entire Family Gets the Best Results in Kids Struggling with Speech-Language Issues

Average Salaries for Speech Therapists by State (2022)

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On average, speech therapists earn about $96,000 per year in the United States in 2022. This number is affected by where you work and how many years of experience you have. Entry-level speech therapist salaries average around $66,000, while speech therapists with 20 years of experience report average earnings of $100,000 or more.

Data collected by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association shows that speech therapists working in health care positions typically earn more than speech therapists working in education. Likewise, administrative and supervisor roles pay more than clinical service provider positions.

Speech therapists are also likely to earn more if they work in large cities and in certain states. Top-paying areas for speech therapists in 2020 included California, Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, and Illinois.

Careers in Speech Therapy

Speech-language pathologists (SLPs) are graduate-level professionals who have earned a Certificate of Clinical Competence in Speech-Language Pathology (CCC-SLP). In order to earn the CCC-SLP, speech therapists must first complete graduate coursework, a clinical practicum, and pass a national exam.

SLPs work with clients struggling with speech, language, voice, or fluency problems.

Once speech therapists are certified, they can work in a variety of settings, including education, health care, and research. They can also work in private practice but will most likely always be part of an interdisciplinary team established to help their clients. Speech therapists frequently collaborate with teachers, parents, doctors, audiologists, psychologists, social workers, occupational therapists, and rehabilitation counselors to ensure that their clients are receiving the comprehensive care they need.

Average Speech Therapy Salary

While the average speech therapy salary in the United States is about $96,000 per year, or $51 per hour, exact salary numbers vary based on a number of factors, such as employment setting, job position, geographic location, and years of experience. Speech therapists working in health care settings, for example, tend to earn more than speech therapists working in educational settings.

According to 2021 data collected by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA), the annual salaries of SLPs working in health care positions were as follows:

• $97,616 for administrators or supervisors
• $77,000 in outpatient clinics or offices
• $91,000 in skilled nursing facilities
• $78,000 for SLPs who were primarily clinicians
• $64,000 for SLPs with one to three years of experience
• $95,000 for SLPs with 31 or more years of experience

According to 2020 data on speech-language pathologists working in school settings, the average speech therapist salaries were as follows:

• $66,000 for SLPs working 9 or 10 months
• $80,000 for SLPs working 11 or 12 months
• $63,000 for clinical service providers in preschools
• $75,000 for clinical service providers in secondary schools

Speech Therapy Salary by State

Data collected by ASHA shows that speech therapists earn higher average salaries in some states than in others. California, for example, reported the highest average salary for SLPs in school settings, at $95,000 per year in 2020. North Carolina, on the other hand, reported the lowest average salary at $54,060. Overall, average academic salaries are higher in Pacific states, at about $90,000 per year.

Speech therapist salaries in health care settings tend to be higher in the western U.S. According to ASHA, the average salary for an SLP in 2021 in the West was $90,000, up 5K from 2019. Salaries were lower in the Northwest at $79,830.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), these are the top-paying states for SLPs:

• California: $102,650 per year
• Hawaii: $100,120 per year
• New York: $98,850 per year
• New Jersey: $98,270 per year
• District of Columbia: $98,240 per year

These are the states with the highest concentration of speech therapy jobs and their respective salaries as of 2019:

• Colorado: $93,460 per year
• Illinois: $82,590 per year
• Vermont: $84,290 per year

Top Cities for Speech Therapists

In general, speech therapists who work in urban settings earn higher average salaries than speech-language pathologists in more remote work settings. Just as some states offer more lucrative opportunities for speech therapists, so do some cities.

According to June 2022 data provided by Indeed, these are the highest paying cities for speech therapists:

• Los Angeles, CA: $104,745 per year
• Chicago, IL: $103,612 per year
• Denver, CO: $101,561 per year
• Queens, NY: $100,049 per year
• Houston, TX: $97,591 per year
• Bronx, NY: $95,225 per year
• Las Vegas, NV: $94,017 per year
• Easton, PA: $84,999 per year

Popular Companies for Speech Therapists

Companies that employ speech therapists include large corporations, nonprofit organizations, and community clinics. Selecting the right company for you depends on your personal goals, such as working full-time, part-time, as a direct care provider, or as an administrator or supervisor.

Here is a selection of top-rated companies on Indeed for speech therapists in the U.S.:

• First Choice Home Care
• JayCare Therapy
• Dynamicare Health, Inc.
• CareMeridian

Therapists report that they enjoy working at the above companies because of the excellent work environments, outside-of-the box thinking, professional work etiquette, and care for both clients and employees.

In many positions, SLPs are able to set their own schedules, and companies are supportive of their employees receiving further education and training.

Job Growth & Future Expectations

The BLS predicts that the field of speech-language pathology will see 27% job growth from 2018 to 2028, which is much higher than the national average job growth rate.

An increased number of SLPs will be needed across the country to work with the aging baby boomer population and young children with speech disorders who are becoming more widely identified.

Rising rates of autism around the country also contribute to the increased need for speech therapists. Often, SLPs work with children on the spectrum to improve their communication and social skills.

• 2020 Schools Survey: SLP Annual Salaries and Hourly Wages . American Speech-Language-Hearing Association.
• Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2019: Speech-Language Pathologists . U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
• SLP Health Care 2021 Survey: Annual Salary Report . American Speech-Language-Hearing Association.
• Speech-Language Pathologists . American Speech-Language-Hearing Association.
• Speech-Language Pathologists: Job Outlook . U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
• Speech Therapist . Indeed.

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SLP Speech Therapist Salary in the United States

Slp speech therapist salary, how much does a slp speech therapist make.

Last Updated on July 29, 2024

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Average Salary

Speech Therapist SLP

Crescent City Skilled Nursing - Crescent City, CA

Speech Therapist - Home Health (ST/SLP)

Alars Home Health, LLC - Sacramento, CA

Speech Therapist

Everhome Hospice - Mansfield, MO

Northern Pines Rehabilitation and Nursing - Cut Bank, MT

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View SLP Speech Therapist Salary by Experience Levels

An entry-level SLP Speech Therapist with under 1 year experience makes about $90,020. With less than 2 years of experience, a mid-level SLP Speech Therapist makes around $92,210. After 2-4 years, the SLP Speech Therapist pay rises to about $96,428. Those senior SLP Speech Therapist with 5-8 years of experience earn roughly $96,850, and those SLP Speech Therapist having 8 years or more experience are expected to earn about $97,553 on average.

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For those exploring the changing dynamics of SLP Speech Therapist salaries, Salary.com offers detailed insights through our Job Trending in CA Labor Market analysis. Our research highlights a notable shift in SLP Speech Therapist compensation over the past six years. For instance, the median salary has moved from $112,260 in 2023 to about $113,619 in 2024 (for a comprehensive analysis of SLP Speech Therapist salary trends, click here). It's crucial to consider several elements, including geographical location, experience level, industry demand, and economic development, as they play a significant role in influencing salary variations.

Average Annual Salary of SLP Speech Therapist Over Time

Slp speech therapist salary by year.

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Job Openings of SLP Speech Therapist

Salary.com job board provides millions of SLP Speech Therapist information for you to search for. Click on search button below to see SLP Speech Therapist job openings or enter a new job title here.

Crescent City Skilled Nursing

Crescent City, CA

Responsibilities. Conduct patient assessments to evaluate speech, language, and swallowing disorders. Develop and implement individualized treatment plans ... more

7 Months Ago

Alars Home Health, LLC

Sacramento, CA

All home health speech therapy services are provided in the patient's place of residence. Willingness to drive within Greater Sacramento are is required. T... more

3 Months Ago

Everhome Hospice

Mansfield, MO

Overview. We are seeking a dedicated Speech Therapist contract services. The ideal candidate will have a passion for helping patients improve their communi... more

18 Days Ago

Northern Pines Rehabilitation and Nursing

Cut Bank, MT

Overview We are seeking a dedicated Speech Therapist to join our team. The ideal candidate will have a passion for patient care, particularly in pediatrics... more

1 Month Ago

Community Nursing Services

The Tooele *office is looking to hire a FULL TIME and PRN Speech Therapist who is responsible for helping people communicate and swallow appropriately. The... more

Classic Rehab

Philadelphia, PA

Speech Language Pathologist Job Summary: *We are seeking a Speech Therapist to join our Early Intervention team in the Philadelphia, PA area. You will prov... more

9 Months Ago

Common Company Salaries for SLP Speech Therapist

Here are companies hiring for SLP Speech Therapist and their salaries, click below for more details.

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Star therapeutics inc, narrow lane co, anteater pest & lawn services, happy tails veterinary hospital, most common benefits for slp speech therapist.

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SLP Speech Therapist Salary by Educational Level

Salaries for slp speech therapist with a high school diploma or technical certificate.

According to our 100% employer reported salary sources the median salary for a SLP Speech Therapist with a Master's Degree or MBA is $89,376 - $94,319. Please try our salary wizard to explore how other factors like location, Years of experience and number of direct reports can impact your base pay and bonus.

SLP Speech Therapist Salaries by Degree Level

FAQ about SLP Speech Therapist

1. what are the responsibilities of slp speech therapist.

The SLP Speech Therapist evaluates speech and language skills as related to educational, medical, social, and psychological factors. Diagnoses and treats speech and language problems, and engages in scientific study of human communication. Being a SLP Speech Therapist is responsible for assessing, diagnosing, and treating speech, language, cognitive, communication, voice, swallowing, fluency, and other related disorders. Plans, directs, or conducts rehabilitative treatment programs to restore communicative efficiency of individuals with communication problems of organic and nonorganic etiology. In addition, SLP Speech Therapist maintains records, monitors progress, and counsels patients and their family members. May require a certificate of clinical competence in speech-language pathology (CCC). Requires a master's degree of speech-language pathology. Typically reports to a manager or head of a unit/department. SLP Speech Therapist's years of experience requirement may be unspecified. Certification and/or licensing in the position's specialty is the main requirement.

2. What are the skills of SLP Speech Therapist

Specify the abilities and skills that a person needs in order to carry out the specified job duties. Each competency has five to ten behavioral assertions that can be observed, each with a corresponding performance level (from one to five) that is required for a particular job.

Commitment: An agreement or pledge to do something in the future a commitment to improve conditions at the prison especially : an engagement to assume a financial obligation at a future date.

Rehabilitation Services: Rehabilitation services is a special healthcare service that help a person regain physical, mental, and/or cognitive (thinking and learning) abilities that have been lost or impaired as a result of disease, injury, or treatment.

Infection Control: Infection control is the discipline concerned with preventing nosocomial or healthcare-associated infection, a practical (rather than academic) sub-discipline of epidemiology. It is an essential, though often underrecognized and undersupported, part of the infrastructure of health care. Infection control and hospital epidemiology are akin to public health practice, practiced within the confines of a particular health-care delivery system rather than directed at society as a whole. Anti-infective agents include antibiotics, antibacterials, antifungals, antivirals and antiprotozoals. Infection control addresses factors related to the spread of infections within the healthcare setting (whether patient-to-patient, from patients to staff and from staff to patients, or among-staff), including prevention (via hand hygiene/hand washing, cleaning/disinfection/sterilization, vaccination, surveillance), monitoring/investigation of demonstrated or suspected spread of infection within a particular health-care setting (surveillance and outbreak investigation), and management (interruption of outbreaks). It is on this basis that the common title being adopted within health care is "infection prevention and control."

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Speech/Language Therapist salary

Average speech/language therapist salary, how much does a speech/language therapist make.

The average speech/language therapist salary in the United States is $67,378. Speech/language therapist salaries typically range between $48,000 and $93,000 yearly. The average hourly rate for speech/language therapists is $32.39 per hour.

Speech/language therapist salary is impacted by location, education, and experience. Speech/language therapists earn the highest average salary in California.

Where can a Speech/Language Therapist earn more?

• Speech/Language Therapist

A speech/language therapist with 0-2 years of experience earns an average entry-level salary of $64,327. A mid-career speech/language therapist with 3-6 years of experience makes $67,378 a year on average. A senior level speech/language therapist with 7-12 years of experience enjoys an average annual salary of $74,707.

Average speech/language therapist salary by state

The average speech/language therapist salary in California, Virginia, and Nevada are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average speech/language therapist salary states are West Virginia, Tennessee, and Nebraska.

• County View

Highest paying states for speech/language therapists

Highest paying cities for speech/language therapists

The highest-paying cities for speech/language therapists are Rohnert Park, CA, Winchester, VA, and Independence, MO.

Speech/Language Therapist salary details

A speech/language therapist's salary ranges from $48,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $93,000 at the 90th percentile.

What is a speech/language therapist's salary?

Highest paying speech/language therapist jobs

The highest paying types of speech/language therapists are speech therapist, speech-language pathologist teacher, and language pathologist.

Top companies hiring speech/language therapists now:

• Aya Healthcare Jobs (10)
• Therapy Source Jobs (3)
• Basis Technologies Jobs (8)
• Momentum Pediatric Therapy Network Jobs (2)
• California University of Pennsylvania Jobs (6)

Which companies pay speech/language therapists the most?

Speech/language therapist salaries at Aya Healthcare and Hackensack Meridian Health are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average speech/language therapist salary at companies like Houston Healthcare and Froedtert Hospital are highly competitive.

Wage gap by gender, race and education

Speech/language therapist salary by industry.

The average speech/language therapist salary varies across industries:

• The average speech/language therapist salary in the health care industry is $72,327, the highest of any industry.
• The average speech/language therapist salary in the finance industry is $64,859.
• Speech/language therapists in the education industry earn an average salary of $59,714, the lowest of any industry.

Highest paying industries for speech/language therapists

High Paying Speech/Language Therapist Jobs

Speech/language therapist salary trends.

The average speech/language therapist salary has risen by $9,528 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average speech/language therapist earned $57,850 annually, but today, they earn $67,378 a year. That works out to a 8% change in pay for speech/language therapists over the last decade.

Compare speech/language therapist salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.

Average speech/language therapist salary over time

Compare speech/language therapist salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.

Speech/Language Therapist salary by year

Recently added speech/language therapist salaries

Speech/Language Therapist salary FAQs

What state pays speech/language therapists the most, how do i know if i'm being paid fairly as a speech/language therapist.

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Speech/Language Therapist Related Salaries

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How Much Do Speech-Language Pathologists Make?

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Speech-language pathologists (SLPs) perform  a range of duties  to improve their patients’ lives and wellbeing. From evaluating patients to diagnosing speech, language, and swallowing disorders to creating and implementing treatment plans and more, SLPs play a critical role in the mental health and healthcare industries. 

To become an SLP, an individual must complete a graduate-level degree (such as a Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology), pass a national examination, and apply for licensure in the state they wish to practice. Together, these steps serve to demonstrate their future effectiveness in the role. 

Clearly, becoming an SLP is no small feat. It takes dedication and an investment of time, effort, and money to earn the degree alone. It is for this reason that speech-language pathologists are well-rewarded for their work. In addition to the satisfaction that comes from working to improve the lives of their patients every day, speech-language pathologists also enjoy competitive salaries and significant job security.

Below, we examine the average salary that speech-language pathologists can expect to earn and discuss some of the factors that can influence this salary. 

Speech-Language Pathologist Salary

According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median annual salary of all speech-language pathologists is approximately  $80,500 per year . The highest 10 percent of professionals earn more than $122,750 per year. This figure typically correlates with those who have the most experience in the field. 

However, several factors will influence your compensation as a speech-language pathologist. These factors include:

• The specific environment you work in 
• How long you have worked in the field
• Where in the country you are employed 

Speech-Language Pathologist Salary by Work Environment

The specific facility or work environment you are employed in will significantly impact your salary. Per the BLS, those who work in nursing and residential care facilities earn the highest average wages, while those working in educational facilities, such as schools, earn the lowest average wages:

• Nursing and residential care facilities:  $95,010 per year
• Hospitals:  $87,110 per year
• Private practice:  $83,250 per year
• Educational services:  $71,410 per year

The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) compiled a  similar report  in 2019 that breaks these facilities down in more granular detail. That study reported salary by facility and work environment as follows:

• Skilled nursing facility (SNF):  $95,000 per year
• General medical:  $85,798 per year
• Home health:  $76,000 per year
• Outpatient clinic or office:  $73,500 per year
• Pediatric hospital:  $78,000 per year
• Rehab hospital:  $79,000 per year

Speech-Language Pathologist Salary by Experience

ASHA also found that SLPs with greater levels of experience will typically earn more than those with fewer years of experience:

• 1 to 3 years of experience:  $66,000 per year
• 4 to 6 years of experience:  $72,000 per year
• 7 to 9 years of experience:  $78,000 per year
• 10 to 12 years of experience:  $78,000 per year
• 13 to 15 years of experience:  $87,500 per year
• 16 to 18 years of experience:  $82,000 per year
• 19 to 21 years of experience:  $100,000 per year
• 22 to 24 years of experience:  $83,000 per year
• 25 to 27 years of experience:  $90,000 per year
• 28 to 30 years of experience:  No data
• 31 or more years of experience:  $95,000 per year

Speech-Language Pathologist Salary by Location

Finally, the specific location in which you work can impact your salary as well. According to ASHA, the region with the highest median salary for SLPs is the Western United States, while the region with the lowest average salary is the Midwest:

• West:  $85,000 per year
• South:  $79,000 per year
• Northeast:  $78,000 per year
• Midwest:  $73,520 per year

Speech-Language Pathology Job Outlook

Between 2019 and 2029, the number of speech-language pathologists is expected to grow by approximately  25 percent — a much faster growth rate than the 4 percent growth expected across all occupations in the U.S. This growth translates into an additional 40,500 open positions in the coming decade. 

There are a number of trends driving this increased demand. One of the most consequential developments is the aging of the Baby Boomer population. As this significant population ages, they are increasingly experiencing medical problems such as dementia and stroke that lead to speech and swallowing conditions addressed by SLPs. Additionally, medical advances have increased the likelihood of survival for those who experience serious medical episodes (such as stroke), increasing the number of older patients in need of the services offered by speech-language pathologists. 

Another critical consideration is the impact that the COVID-19 pandemic has had on the field of speech-language pathology. For example, more SLPs are needed to help treat speech and swallowing complications that have resulted from the disease in some patients. Additionally, the rapid shift toward telehealth sparked by the pandemic has made getting treatment by SLPs much more accessible for many populations (while also notably limiting access for other populations).

The First Step Into a Promising SLP Career

Speech-language pathologists enjoy high salaries, robust job growth, and numerous avenues for career growth. If you believe that becoming an SLP is the right move for you, the first step toward breaking into the field is to complete a related master’s degree, such as a  Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology . 

When selecting a program to enroll in, there are several factors to consider, including the quality of the facilities, whether or not the faculty consists of individuals with experience in the field, and clinical placement opportunities.

Students enrolled in the MS in Speech-Language Pathology program at Northeastern complete their initial clinical training in the on-campus  Speech-Language and Hearing Center  to develop competence in the foundation skills they will use throughout their careers. Faculty members are active in the fields of speech-language pathology and audiology, in addition to being world-renowned researchers contributing to the progression of the discipline. 

Students must complete a total of four clinical courses, gaining the hands-on experience that they will need to be successful in the field. Once the first semester of clinical training is completed at the on-campus Speech-Language and Hearing Center, the following semesters include Advanced Clinical Programming at the Center along with off-campus work in community-based hospitals, clinics, educational facilities, etc. 

Interested in becoming a Speech-Language Pathologist? Learn more about the  Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders  at Northeastern University. 

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Kamala Harris Addresses Economy In Speech—Here’s What To Know About Her Policy Agenda

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Vice President Kamala Harris unveiled more details about her economic agenda in a speech Friday in North Carolina, proposing an “opportunity economy” as the Democratic nominee focused on lowering the price of groceries and prescription drugs and addressing the housing crisis with an eye on bolstering the middle class.

Vice President Kamala Harris speaks at Wake Tech Community College in Raleigh, N.C., on Aug. 16.

Grocery Prices: The candidate would work in her first 100 days to help Congress pass a national ban on “price gouging” for food and groceries, as well as give the Federal Trade Commission and prosecutors authority to go after companies they determine price gouge, support small businesses in the industry, take a closer look at mergers between big grocery companies and “aggressively” investigate price-fixing in meat supply chains specifically.

Housing Costs: Harris wants to provide $25,000 in down payment assistance for first-time home buyers and is calling for the creation of three million new housing units within the next four years, proposing a tax credit for developers who build starter homes and investing $40 million in an innovation fund to tackle the housing crisis.

Rental Costs: Harris would also expand a tax credit for housing developers who build affordable housing rental units, and is calling on Congress to pass legislation that would stop predatory investors who buy up rental homes and collude with each other to raise rental prices.

Child Tax Credit: Harris proposed giving families a $6,000 tax credit for newborns in their first year of life, and restore a pandemic-era tax credit of $3,600 per child for middle and lower-class families.

Taxes: Harris also wants to expand the Earned Income Tax Credit for workers in lower-income jobs, which would cut taxes by up to $1,250, and has previously said she would continue President Joe Biden’s promise not to raise taxes on American households earning $400,000 or less annually, and does support raising taxes for high earners and corporations, according to The New York Times.

No Tax On Tips: Harris has separately endorsed a plan to get rid of taxes on tips for hospitality and service workers, echoing a proposal by former President Donald Trump—which has been criticized by some experts—though a campaign official told CNN tips would still be subject to payroll taxes, and would include an income limit and guardrails to prevent people like hedge fund managers from taking advantage of the policy.

Prescription Drug Prices: Harris proposed a $35 cap on insulin and capping out-of-pocket expenses on prescription drugs at $2,000 per year on Friday, also saying she would speed up Medicare negotiations on the price of prescription drugs—after the Biden administration announced a deal lowering costs on 10 medications—and crack down on anti-competitive practices in the pharmaceutical industry that cause higher prices.

Healthcare: The Harris campaign also announced her intention to work with states to cancel Americans’ medical debt, and she proposed expanding subsidies for Affordable Care Act plans that would save health insurance customers an average of $700 on their health insurance premiums.

Paid Leave: Harris has not released a specific paid leave proposal, but she has previously co-sponsored 12-week paid leave legislation, Politico notes, with Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., telling the outlet, “I absolutely believe that when they are in office, we will get a paid leave bill done finally.”

Minimum Wage: Harris called for raising the minimum wage in a Las Vegas speech earlier in August, but her campaign has not specified how high she believes it should be raised.

Fed Independence: Harris has vowed to maintain the Federal Reserve’s independence after Trump said he believed “the president should have at least [a] say” on the Federal Reserve’s decisions, with Harris telling reporters, “The Fed is an independent entity and as president I would never interfere in the decisions that the Fed makes.”

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Crucial Quote

Harris said Friday she’d be “laser focused on creating opportunities for the middle class” if elected president, calling for “an economy where everyone can compete and have a real chance to succeed.” “Now is the time to chart a new way forward, to build an America where everyone’s work is rewarded and talents are valued, where we work with labor and business to strengthen the American economy, and where everyone has the opportunity not only to get by, but to get ahead,” the vice president said.

What To Watch For

Harris said in her North Carolina speech that she intends to unveil more economic proposals in the weeks ahead. The vice president has still not issued a full policy platform or unveiled proposals for policy issues beyond the economy, and those are also expected in the near future.

How Do Harris’ Policies Compare With Biden’s?

Harris’ economic policy agenda is largely in line with Biden’s economic platform, with some tweaks to emphasize causes that are more important to her, like the child tax credit. “Same values, different vision,” a Harris aide told The Guardian. “She’s not moving far away from him on substance, she will highlight the ones that matter most to her.” The initial plans from Harris’ campaign also suggest the vice president plans to be more aggressive in her policy approaches than Biden, however, as polls have suggested voters hold dim views of how the president has handled the economy. While Biden has also opposed price gouging, Harris’ proposal to enable the FTC and U.S. attorneys to go after companies that hike up prices goes beyond what the president has proposed, Politico notes , and her proposed $40 million investment in the housing crisis is double the amount the Biden administration spent.

Harris’ economic agenda released Friday didn’t go fully in depth about her proposals, which The New York Times reports is by design. The Times reported prior to Harris’ speech that the Harris campaign has adopted a “strategic vagueness” for her economic proposals, believing that being more of a “blank slate” will help ward off attacks and attract more support from business groups.

How Do Harris’ Policies Compare With Trump’s?

Trump’s economic agenda is largely focused on raising tariffs on imported goods, which Harris has said she opposes. The ex-president has also called for cutting taxes and regulations in hopes of lowering inflation, including lowering the corporate tax rate, and has encouraged increasing oil production in order to lower energy prices. In addition to his “no tax on tips” proposal that Harris has also endorsed, Trump has called for ending taxes on Social Security benefits, which Harris has not yet responded to. Experts believe the ex-president’s proposal could speed up Social Security and Medicare becoming insolvent, with the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget projecting exempting taxes on benefits would result in Social Security and Medicare receiving $1.6 trillion less in revenue between 2026 and 2035. The Trump campaign opposed reports of Harris’ economic proposals Wednesday, with spokesperson Steven Cheung saying in a statement, “Kamala Harris can’t hide from her disastrous record of skyrocketing inflation … Americans are struggling under the Biden-Harris economy, and now she wants to gaslight them into believing her bald-faced lies.”

42%. That’s the share of voters who trust Harris more to handle the economy, according to a Financial Times/University of Michigan poll released Sunday, versus 41% who trust Trump more. That’s down from Trump holding a six-point lead over Biden in July, though the poll also showed 42% believe a Trump presidency would leave them better off financially, while only 33% said the same for Harris.

Key Background

Harris became the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee in July after Biden stepped down suddenly from the presidential race, following weeks of pressure over mounting concerns about his mental fitness. While the vice president has quickly garnered Democrats’ support and risen in the polls, Harris has released few concrete policy proposals in the first few weeks of her campaign—drawing some criticism as a result—with her speech Friday expected to be the most substantive remarks she’s given on policy so far. Her focus on the economy comes as polling has repeatedly shown it’s the most important issue to voters in this election cycle, with the vice president hoping to attract support amid low approval ratings for Biden’s handling of the economy. Harris’ speech also comes days after news that inflation fell in July to its lowest point in more than three years, with federal data released Wednesday showing inflation at 2.9% in July, the first time it’s been below 3% since March 2021.

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Musk’s Trump Talk: After Glitchy Start, a Two-Hour Ramble

Problems in the livestream renewed questions about X’s ability to handle big events, but it also showed how the platform can still grab attention.

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By Kate Conger and Ryan Mac

Kate Conger reported from San Francisco and Ryan Mac from Los Angeles.

At 8:35 p.m. Eastern time on Monday, a live audio stream on X of a conversation between Elon Musk and former President Donald J. Trump flickered to life after a 35-minute delay — but only for a moment.

Mr. Trump’s mic came on, and a shuffling sound was heard. A second later, his mic cut out. Mr. Musk’s account, which had been logged in and ready, then momentarily disappeared from the conversation entirely.

Seven minutes later, the glitches appeared to be resolved and the discussion began. Mr. Musk, who has endorsed Mr. Trump ’s presidential run, and Mr. Trump greeted each other as “Donald” and “Elon.” They then began a friendly chat about immigration, the economy and President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee. The two men talked for over two hours with more than one million people listening in at the same time, according to X.

“I congratulate you,” Mr. Trump, who appeared to lisp at times, said to Mr. Musk about the livestream’s audience. “Do I get paid for this or what?”

The conversation on X between Mr. Musk and Mr. Trump had been billed as a triumphant moment for the social media platform, which Mr. Musk bought in 2022. He had been trying to woo Mr. Trump to become active again on a site he once wielded like a megaphone before being barred in 2021 and then, by Mr. Musk’s doing, reinstated . In the end, the event’s bumpy beginning and ensuing banter showcased both the weaknesses and strengths of X under Mr. Musk.

The hiccups getting the livestream going renewed questions about X’s ability to handle high-profile events. Without providing evidence, Mr. Musk blamed the snafu on a “massive” distributed denial of service attack, a type of cyberattack that uses floods of malicious web traffic to overwhelm sites and knock them offline.

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What is ChatGPT? Here's everything you need to know about OpenAI's chatbot

• ChatGPT is getting a futuristic human update. 
• ChatGPT has attracted users at a feverish pace and spurred Big Tech to release other AI chatbots.
• Here's how ChatGPT works — and what's coming next.

OpenAI has started rolling out an advanced voice mode for its blockbuster chatbot ChatGPT.

Sam Altman's company began rolling out the chatbot's new voice mode to a small group of ChatGPT Plus users in July. OpenAI said the new voice feature "offers more natural, real-time conversations, allows you to interrupt anytime, and senses and responds to your emotions."

The feature is part of OpenAI's wider GPT-4o launch, a new version of the bot that can hold conversations with users and has vision abilities. The chatbot's vision features are expected as a later release. 

The move is a big step for the future of AI-powered virtual assistants, which tech companies have been racing to develop.

Since its release in late 2022, hundreds of millions of people have experimented with the tool, which is already changing how the internet looks and feels to users.

Users have flocked to ChatGPT to improve their personal lives and boost productivity . Some workers have used the AI chatbot to develop code , write real estate listings , and create lesson plans, while others have made teaching the best ways to use ChatGPT a career all to itself.

ChatGPT offers dozens of plug-ins to ChatGPT Plus subscribers. An Expedia plug-in can help you book a trip, while one from OpenTable will nab you a dinner reservation. OpenAI has also launched Code Interpreter, a version of ChatGPT that can code and analyze data .

While the personal tone of conversations with an AI bot like ChatGPT can evoke the experience of chatting with a human, the technology that runs on large language model tools doesn't speak with sentience and doesn't "think" the way humans do. 

That means that even though ChatGPT can explain quantum physics or write a poem on command, a full AI takeover isn't exactly imminent , according to experts.

"There's a saying that an infinite number of monkeys will eventually give you Shakespeare," said Matthew Sag, a law professor at Emory University who studies copyright implications for training and using large language models like ChatGPT.

"There's a large number of monkeys here, giving you things that are impressive — but there is intrinsically a difference between the way that humans produce language, and the way that large language models do it," he said. 

Chatbots like ChatGPT are powered by large amounts of data and computing techniques to make predictions to string words together in a meaningful way. They not only tap into a vast amount of vocabulary and information, but also understand words in context. This helps them mimic speech patterns while dispatching an encyclopedic knowledge. 

Other tech companies like Google and Meta have developed their own large language model tools, which use programs that take in human prompts and devise sophisticated responses.

Despite the AI's impressive capabilities, some have called out OpenAI's chatbot for spewing misinformation , stealing personal data for training purposes , and even encouraging students to cheat and plagiarize on their assignments. 

Some efforts to use chatbots for real-world services have proved troubling. In 2023, the mental health company Koko came under fire after its founder wrote about how the company used GPT-3 in an experiment to reply to users. 

Koko cofounder Rob Morris hastened to clarify on Twitter that users weren't speaking directly to a chatbot, but that AI was used to "help craft" responses. 

Read Insider's coverage on ChatGPT and some of the strange new ways that both people and companies are using chat bots: 

The tech world's reception to ChatGPT:

Microsoft is chill with employees using ChatGPT — just don't share 'sensitive data' with it.

Microsoft's investment into ChatGPT's creator may be the smartest $1 billion ever spent

ChatGPT and generative AI look like tech's next boom. They could be the next bubble.

The ChatGPT and generative-AI 'gold rush' has founders flocking to San Francisco's 'Cerebral Valley'

Insider's experiments: 

I asked ChatGPT to do my work and write an Insider article for me. It quickly generated an alarmingly convincing article filled with misinformation.

I asked ChatGPT and a human matchmaker to redo my Hinge and Bumble profiles. They helped show me what works.

I asked ChatGPT to reply to my Hinge matches. No one responded.

I used ChatGPT to write a resignation letter. A lawyer said it made one crucial error that could have invalidated the whole thing .

Read ChatGPT's 'insulting' and 'garbage' 'Succession' finale script

An Iowa school district asked ChatGPT if a list of books contains sex scenes, and banned them if it said yes. We put the system to the test and found a bunch of problems.

Developments in detecting ChatGPT: 

Teachers rejoice! ChatGPT creators have released a tool to help detect AI-generated writing

A Princeton student built an app which can detect if ChatGPT wrote an essay to combat AI-based plagiarism

Professors want to 'ChatGPT-proof' assignments, and are returning to paper exams and requesting editing history to curb AI cheating

Related stories

ChatGPT in society: 

BuzzFeed writers react with a mix of disappointment and excitement at news that AI-generated content is coming to the website

ChatGPT is testing a paid version — here's what that means for free users

A top UK private school is changing its approach to homework amid the rise of ChatGPT, as educators around the world adapt to AI

Princeton computer science professor says don't panic over 'bullshit generator' ChatGPT

DoNotPay's CEO says threat of 'jail for 6 months' means plan to debut AI 'robot lawyer' in courtroom is on ice

It might be possible to fight a traffic ticket with an AI 'robot lawyer' secretly feeding you lines to your AirPods, but it could go off the rails

Online mental health company uses ChatGPT to help respond to users in experiment — raising ethical concerns around healthcare and AI technology

What public figures think about ChatGPT and other AI tools:

What Elon Musk, Bill Gates, and 12 other business leaders think about AI tools like ChatGPT

Elon Musk was reportedly 'furious' at ChatGPT's popularity after he left the company behind it, OpenAI, years ago

CEO of ChatGPT maker responds to schools' plagiarism concerns: 'We adapted to calculators and changed what we tested in math class'

A theoretical physicist says AI is just a 'glorified tape recorder' and people's fears about it are overblown

'The most stunning demo I've ever seen in my life': ChatGPT impressed Bill Gates

Ashton Kutcher says your company will probably be 'out of business' if you're 'sleeping' on AI

ChatGPT's impact on jobs: 

AI systems like ChatGPT could impact 300 million full-time jobs worldwide, with administrative and legal roles some of the most at risk, Goldman Sachs report says

Jobs are now requiring experience with ChatGPT — and they'll pay as much as $800,000 a year for the skill

ChatGPT may be coming for our jobs. Here are the 10 roles that AI is most likely to replace.

AI is going to eliminate way more jobs than anyone realizes

It's not AI that is going to take your job, but someone who knows how to use AI might, economist says

4 careers where workers will have to change jobs by 2030 due to AI and shifts in how we shop, a McKinsey study says

Companies like Amazon, Netflix, and Meta are paying salaries as high as $900,000 to attract generative AI talent

How AI tools like ChatGPT are changing the workforce:

10 ways artificial intelligence is changing the workplace, from writing performance reviews to making the 4-day workweek possible

Managers who use AI will replace managers who don't, says an IBM exec

How ChatGPT is shaping industries: 

ChatGPT is coming for classrooms, hospitals, marketing departments, and everything else as the next great startup boom emerges

Marketing teams are using AI to generate content, boost SEO, and develop branding to help save time and money, study finds

AI is coming for Hollywood. 'It's amazing to see the sophistication of the images,' one of Christopher Nolan's VFX guy says.

AI is going to offer every student a personalized tutor, founder of Khan Academy says

A law firm was fined $5,000 after one of its lawyers used ChatGPT to write a court brief riddled with fake case references

How workers are using ChatGPT to boost productivity:  

CheatGPT: The hidden wave of employees using AI on the sly

I used ChatGPT to talk to my boss for a week and she didn't notice. Here are the other ways I use it daily to get work done.

I'm a high school math and science teacher who uses ChatGPT, and it's made my job much easier

Amazon employees are already using ChatGPT for software coding. They also found the AI chatbot can answer tricky AWS customer questions and write cloud training materials.

How 6 workers are using ChatGPT to make their jobs easier

I'm a freelance editor who's embraced working with AI content. Here's how I do it and what I charge.

How people are using ChatGPT to make money:

How ChatGPT and other AI tools are helping workers make more money

Here are 5 ways ChatGPT helps me make money and complete time-consuming tasks for my business

ChatGPT course instruction is the newest side hustle on the market. Meet the teachers making thousands from the lucrative gig.

People are using ChatGPT and other AI bots to work side hustles and earn thousands of dollars — check out these 8 freelancing gigs

A guy tried using ChatGPT to turn $100 into a business making 'as much money as possible.' Here are the first 4 steps the AI chatbot gave him

We used ChatGPT to build a 7-figure newsletter. Here's how it makes our jobs easier.

I use ChatGPT and it's like having a 24/7 personal assistant for $20 a month. Here are 5 ways it's helping me make more money.

A worker who uses AI for a $670 monthly side hustle says ChatGPT has 'cut her research time in half'

How companies are navigating ChatGPT: 

From Salesforce to Air India, here are the companies that are using ChatGPT

Amazon, Apple, and 12 other major companies that have restricted employees from using ChatGPT

A consultant used ChatGPT to free up time so she could focus on pitching clients. She landed $128,000 worth of new contracts in just 3 months.

Luminary, an AI-generated pop-up restaurant, just opened in Australia. Here's what's on the menu, from bioluminescent calamari to chocolate mousse.

A CEO is spending more than $2,000 a month on ChatGPT Plus accounts for all of his employees, and he says it's saving 'hours' of time

How people are using ChatGPT in their personal lives:

ChatGPT planned a family vacation to Costa Rica. A travel adviser found 3 glaring reasons why AI won't replace experts anytime soon.

A man who hated cardio asked ChatGPT to get him into running. Now, he's hooked — and he's lost 26 pounds.

A computer engineering student is using ChatGPT to overcome learning challenges linked to her dyslexia

How a coder used ChatGPT to find an apartment in Berlin in 2 weeks after struggling for months

Food blogger Nisha Vora tried ChatGPT to create a curry recipe. She says it's clear the instructions lacked a human touch — here's how.

Men are using AI to land more dates with better profiles and personalized messages, study finds

Lawsuits against OpenAI:

OpenAI could face a plagiarism lawsuit from The New York Times as tense negotiations threaten to boil over, report says

This is why comedian Sarah Silverman is suing OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT

2 authors say OpenAI 'ingested' their books to train ChatGPT. Now they're suing, and a 'wave' of similar court cases may follow.

A lawsuit claims OpenAI stole 'massive amounts of personal data,' including medical records and information about children, to train ChatGPT

A radio host is suing OpenAI for defamation, alleging that ChatGPT created a false legal document that accused him of 'defrauding and embezzling funds'

Tips on how to write better ChatGPT prompts:

7 ways to use ChatGPT at work to boost your productivity, make your job easier, and save a ton of time

I'm an AI prompt engineer. Here are 3 ways I use ChatGPT to get the best results.

12 ways to get better at using ChatGPT: Comprehensive prompt guide

Here's 9 ways to turn ChatGPT Plus into your personal data analyst with the new Code Interpreter plug-in

OpenAI's ChatGPT can write impressive code. Here are the prompts you should use for the best results, experts say.

Watch: What is ChatGPT, and should we be afraid of AI chatbots?

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