travel slp pay

Helping therapists find adventure and freedom through travel jobs

Travel Speech Therapy (Travel SLP): The Step-by-Step Guide

Travel speech-language pathologists take short-term contracts across the United States to fill temporary staffing needs. As a travel SLP, one month you might be working in a skilled nursing facility in Virginia, and the next month doing home health in California. If this sounds like your dream job, then you might be wondering how to become a travel SLP. 

I’m Julia, a travel SLP, and I’m here to guide you through this journey. Being a travel SLP has broadened my personal, clinical, and professional horizons. I have worked in six states and over 50 different healthcare facilities across the country. As a travel SLP, I learned about the diverse subcultures in the United States and have learned to become an advocate for myself and my patients.

To say that being a travel SLP changed my life is an understatement. Yet, travel is something I didn’t even know existed until I was a couple of months into my clinical practice. Here are the basic steps you need to follow to become a travel SLP.

Steps to become a travel SLP

• Determine if travel is for you
• Obtain state licensure
• Research the industry
• Connect with recruiters
• Get credentialed 
• Job search and submission
• Phone interview
• Accept or decline position
• Onboard with agency
• Move to your assignment
• Start your job!
• Extend your assignment or travel to a new location 

We will break those steps down further in this piece. 

Determine If Being a Travel SLP is for You

A travel SLP is not just a job, it’s a lifestyle and it’s not for everybody. The SLPs who seem to enjoy travel the most are the ones who are up for an adventure and are flexible in new situations. Every assignment is a new adventure and you are constantly walking into the unknown.

Traveling can be a wonderful way to not only see the country but also to expand your clinical skills and learn from new clinicians across the country.

As a traveler, you will work short-term, temporary assignments that may last anywhere from 13 weeks to a year. Due to the temporary nature of the contracts, you are an at-will employee who can be canceled or replaced anytime. There is not guaranteed work, so you may find yourself without a job. 

Employers will also expect you to be clinically independent in your work. While there isn’t a standard minimum experience requirement to be a travel SLP, you will be expected to see your caseload independently with little to no orientation or supervision. 

If you are considering being a travel SLP, I would take this time to pause and think about the lifestyle, pros, and cons of travel life. Take a moment to write down goals, both professional and personal, that you have for yourself. Envision where you see yourself in five years. Then, decide if being a traveler fits into those goals and visions for yourself.

If you can see yourself as a traveling SLP and want to learn more, keep reading!

Exploring Joshua Tree National Park while on assignment in Indio, CA

Obtain State Licensure

In a dream world, having an ASHA certification would allow you to work in every state across the country. However, that is not how it works. Even the much-anticipated SLP compact is not slated to cover licensing for all 50 states. Thus, for each state you work in, you need state licensure for that specific state.

States require that you complete their state application. However, you may also need to complete verification letters from every other state in which you have carried a license. The state to state license verification process can take weeks and is completed via snail mail.

Applying for state licensure can be a long process

While some states may turn over an application in as little as a couple of weeks, others can take months. Meanwhile, when a travel job is posted, it may be filled in as little as a day. Thus, you need to have your licenses active if you are planning to apply to travel jobs.

If you are serious about travel and serious about getting a travel position, I would start your journey by getting licensed in multiple states. To determine which states are hot for SLP jobs, I recommend this resource by Nomadicare which provides an average number of open jobs for each state over the month.

I personally recommend that SLPs consider licensure in California. California is a vast state with continual needs for SLP coverage in multiple settings including schools, SNFs, outpatient clinics, and acute care facilities. California is a great license to have and opens the door to many contracts. If there is one state to get licensed in, this is it!

Research the Travel SLP Industry

If you landed on this blog, you may already be researching the travel SLP industry. This website is full of fantastic resources for travelers of all experience levels. I also encourage you to follow my content on Instagram @thetravelingtraveler_ and TikTok @juliakuhnslp to stay up to date on all things travel SLP.

For a more in depth journey into how to become a traveling therapist, I recommend taking my premier course, The Guide to Travel Therapy.

Good reads for all travelers:

• How to become a travel therapist
• How to Find Short-Term Housing 
• Understanding travel therapy pay rates 

I also highly recommend attending The Traveler Conference: TravCon . TravCon is held annually in Las Vegas and provides education, networking, and community for traveling healthcare professionals. This event has speakers from leaders in the industry and boasts over 1700+ attendees. It is kind of a one-stop shop for all things travel, including meeting other travelers and recruiters/agencies.

Travelers connected at TravCon

Connect with Recruiters and Agencies

There are hundreds of agencies that staff travel therapy jobs. Most travelers work with somewhere between 2 to 5 agencies to find the right assignments for them. Each agency you work with, you will primarily communicate with one individual, your recruiter. Your recruiter is going to be your main point of contact for that agency and will present you with jobs and assist you to submit jobs, get interviews, and land assignments. 

When finding an agency to work with, it is important to consider not only the agency itself, but also your relationship with the recruiter you’re working with. 

When looking for a travel SLP agency/recruiter, here are some things to consider:

• Benefits (e.g. day 1 health insurance versus insurance after 30 days, etc.)
• Communication with a recruiter. The recruiter you work with is your professional tie to the company. Make sure you have a good working relationship and mutual respect with them. Be clear on your communication preferences up front and make sure that you can both work mutually.
•  Jobs in a particular location/setting. Some agencies have exclusive contracts with certain facilities and you have a greater selection of jobs working with certain companies. When you are interviewing companies, you can ask them upfront if they have any exclusive contracts in the location or setting that you are interested in. 

What travel SLP agency do I recommend?

To be honest, I’ve worked extensively with so many agencies and have seen a lot of good and bad out there. I cannot broadly recommend an agency because of the bullet points I mentioned above. What works for me may not work for you, and every agency is different. Some travel SLP agencies cater more towards school SLPs, while others are more medical. Bigger agencies might be a better fit for certain individuals while smaller ones work better for others. 

I am happy to share the recruiters that I work with! I love the recruiters that are a part of my team and will send your information their way if you fill out this contact form.

Get Credentialed With Agencies

Once you find an agency or agencies that you want to work with, the next step is to complete the credentialing process. This process tends to be a bit time consuming, so you only want to do it if you know you are serious about working with an agency. 

The credentialing process involves getting all of the required materials together for job submission. This can include sending in copies of state licenses, ASHA cards, BLS certification, vaccination history, a criminal background check, two or three professional references, and a detailed resume of your work history.

By completing the credentialing process, you will be ready for your agency to submit you to assignments.

On assignment in Hawaii

Travel Speech Therapy Job Browsing and Submission

When you are credentialed and ready to go, your agency can submit you to jobs. Jobs in the travel world can be very hot. Some jobs may open and close in one day, because they have so many candidates submitted. Others may be kinda stale and linger open for weeks and months. You can browse jobs and connect with recruiters r ight here on my website .

Because jobs may fill so fast, it is important to have good communication with your recruiter during this time. Your recruiter will be your go-to person to tell you about open job listings. Act quickly by communicating regularly with your recruiter.

When presenting a job, your recruiter should tell you all of the identifying information about that job, such as pay rate, anticipated schedule, location of the facility, name of the facility, and any other important details.

If you are interested in a job, based on a recruiter’s description, then you can agree to submit your application for the position. The recruiter will be the one to submit your file, based on the information you provided during the credentialing process. However, more information may be needed for your job application at this time, so make sure you are in contact with your recruiter.

Travel Speech Therapy Phone Interview

If the facility is interested in your application, you may receive a phone interview with the manager or director of the job. Make the most of your phone interview, this is your only chance to make a good impression to be considered for the position. 

The phone interview is also your only time to directly ask questions about the job. You should use the time on the phone interview to ask all of your questions and find out as much about the facility as possible. 

About 90% of the time, a job offer will be presented to you on the phone interview. You don’t have to commit to the job over the phone, although it can happen. If you don’t receive an offer over the phone, you can ask the interviewer why they didn’t present an offer and when you should expect to hear back from them. 

Accept or Decline an Offer

If you get a job offer on the phone interview, you want to let your recruiter know ASAP, especially if you are accepting the job. If you are unsure about the offer, you can anticipate having 24 hours to consider an offer. After 24 hours, the position may be offered to somebody else if you haven’t accepted yet. Although, there can always be room for more time, just communicate with your recruiter. 

Accepting an offer verbally or written over email is considered the beginning of your contract. So if you say “yes” make sure that you mean it. Then, you will get a written copy of your contract to review and sign. Review your contract carefully to ensure that the information is correct, including start date/end date, any guaranteed hours per week, pay rate, cancellation policy, and requested time off during the contract.

Onboard with the Agency and Facility

When you accept a travel SLP position, you have to complete onboarding requirements for both your agency and the facility you are working for. This can include drug screens, TB tests, vaccinations, a physical, respirator fit test, online competency modules, and more background checks.

Onboarding can take a LOT of time!

If you accept a position, be prepared to act quickly to complete your onboarding tasks. It really feels like a whirlwind to get everything done. 

Start Your Job as a Travel SLP!

While it has taken a lot of work to get to this point, now your real work is just beginning. You get to move to your new location and begin work at your new job. For the next 13 weeks you can explore a new area, live like a local, and work in a new building.

Here are some blogs that you may want to read at this step:

• How To Find Short-Term Housing
• Preparing For Your First Day

Extend or Travel

Time flies while you are on contract. Before you know it, it may be time to start looking for your next assignment (usually about three to six weeks from your end date). Your facility may ask you to extend your time with them and you could extend your contract. Or, you could move on to a new job.

Life as a travel SLP can open up a lot of new opportunities.

Please join my email list to stay up-to-date on my new posts and to receive a free PDF copy of my Crash Course to Travel Therapy Guide. This has lots of tips on how to become a travel SLP. Best of luck on your journey!

Related posts:

• Can I Take a Local Travel Contract
• Travel Therapy Tax Home Basics
• Travel Therapy Recruiter: The Basics
• Why Traveling Healthcare Professionals Should Have An Emergency Fund

10 thoughts on “Travel Speech Therapy (Travel SLP): The Step-by-Step Guide”

I love your website! I’d like to subscribe to your email list and get the PDF for beginners!

Thank you so much for the compliment! You can subscribe to the email list on the bottom of each blog post and on the home page. Hope you enjoy it and the ebook helps out 🙂

Nontraditional grad student here. This is a career choice I would love to consider in a few years when my children are all out of the house. Please add me to your email list so I can keep getting updates on new posts. Thanks for all the great information!

Sounds exciting! You can sign up for the email list on the bottom of the blog pages and on the main homepage. Hope you enjoy the information!

Hi! I am currently in my final year as an undergraduate student in the Speech Language Pathology Program at The University of Akron. I have been looking at grad schools, and was wondering where you went, and if you have any recommendations of where to go to become a travel SLP? Thanks!

Hi, thanks for the questions! I went to Emerson College in Boston. I would recommend going somewhere where you are not going to accumulate a large amount of debt and has plenty of strong externship opportunities. As a traveler, you’ll need to be clinically independent and it helps a lot not to have huge student debt payments to make because your pay is variable.

Hi, I am third speech-language pathology student at a university of fort hare. In south africa, I would like to know whether it possible for me to be a travel speech therapy and do I have to have a masters degree? What advice could you give me for I am interested in working around the worlld and providing my services after my community services year. Thank you very much

I’m not sure but it will likely depend on where you work and the agreement that your national organization has with that country for license reciprocation

Travelling therapy is really very exciting but I’m not much familiar with this concept. As it’s not very popular here.

Hello! I wanted to ask whether SLP-A’s can work internationally. I am trying to figure out where I can find more information about this. Thank you so much! 🙂

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Unlocking the Speech Therapy Travel Job Market

Table of Contents

The world of speech therapy provides multiple avenues for passionate practitioners. Amongst these, the role of a Travel Speech Language Pathologist (SLP) has emerged as a notable path for many. Is it the allure of working in new environments, or does it have more to do with earning potential? In this in-depth discussion, we'll review the salary, work environment, unique characteristics, and educational requirements of a Travel versus Regular Speech Language Pathologist. Plus, we'll compare this career with others in the allied medical travel professions. Join us as we delve into the exciting career of a Travel SLP.

What Does the Speech Therapist Travel Job Outlook & Salary Look Like?

The career outlook for speech-language pathologists in general is quite positive, with the Bureau of Labor Statistics projecting 23% job growth between 2020 and 2030. This is much faster than average across all occupations. However, the prospects for travel speech therapists are even more promising due to the high demand for their flexible, temporary services.

Travel SLPs can expect to earn a higher salary than traditional speech therapists. The average pay for a travel SLP ranges from $60,000-$80,000 per year, sometimes over $100,000 for experienced therapists willing to take on extra assignments. Compare this to the median salary for all speech-language pathologists of around $80,480 per year according to 2021 BLS data.

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What is the Average Salary for a Travel SLP?

The average salary for a travel speech therapist falls between $60,000 and $80,000 annually. However, there is a wide range based on experience, certifications, types of facilities worked, and geographic regions.

For example, a travel SLP just starting out can expect to earn around $60,000 per year if working at schools and outpatient clinics. More experienced travel therapists who take on hospital and skilled nursing assignments may earn over $80,000. Those willing to travel to very remote or undesirable locations can make over $100,000.

How Does the Career Outlook for a Travel SLP Compare to a Regular Speech Pathologist?

The career outlook for travel speech therapists is extremely strong. While the overall job growth for speech pathologists is projected at 23% through 2030, the demand for travel SLPs in particular is rapidly increasing.

Healthcare facilities need the flexible support travel therapists provide to fill in for leaves, vacations, and staffing shortages. Many travel companies report the number of assignments for SLPs has doubled in recent years. There is no expectation of this demand decreasing anytime soon.

What Factors Influence the Earning Potential for a Speech Therapist?

There are several key factors that impact how much a travel SLP can earn:

• Years of experience - more experienced SLPs earn higher pay
• Types of facilities - hospitals pay more than schools
• Geographic region - higher pay for less desirable locations
• Certifications - specialized certs increase pay
• Flexibility - taking on more assignments means more pay
• Contract negotiations - higher pay for longer contracts

The top earning travel speech therapists are those with 5+ years experience, willing to take on hospital contracts in locations with staff shortages, for longer periods of time (13 week+ contracts). Specialized certifications like dysphagia expertise also command higher pay in travel roles.

Why Choose a Career as a Travel Speech Language Pathologist?

What are the unique work environment aspects of travel slps.

There are several unique work environment factors for travel speech therapists compared to traditional permanent roles:

• Get to work in new facilities and locations frequently
• Experience new cities and towns as part of the job
• Typically no duties outside of patient care (no meetings, paperwork)
• Greater autonomy and independence
• Flexible schedule as assignments end
• Higher pay for less predictable work

Travel SLPs need to be comfortable with the uncertainty of changing locations frequently. However, this provides the advantage of continual new experiences without being tied down.

Why would a Speech Therapist Choose the Path of a Travel SLP?

There are many potential motivations for a speech pathologist to pursue travel therapy roles:

• Earn a higher salary
• Gain experience in different settings
• Have a flexible schedule with time off between contracts
• Work in new cities/states across the country
• Try out different locations before settling down
• Advance clinical skills with exposure to new cases
• No workplace politics or bureaucracy

Travel allows SLPs to explore while advancing their career and earning great pay. It provides a change of pace from the limitations of permanent jobs.

How is a Travel Speech Language Pathologist Job Different from Regular Speech Therapy Roles?

There are some key differences between being a travel SLP versus working a permanent job:

• Travel between assignments, don't have one set workplace
• Temporary 13 week contracts rather than permanent employment
• Typically no administrative duties
• Greater flexibility and autonomy
• Higher pay to compensate for travel
• Less stability but more adventure
• New experiences instead of set routines

The life of a travel therapist allows more freedom and much higher pay, but requires comfort with frequent changes and flexibility. It's ideal for SLPs who crave new experiences and challenges.

What Educational Pathways Lead to a Career in Travel Speech Therapy?

To become a travel speech-language pathologist (SLP), you must first earn a master's degree in speech-language pathology. There are several educational pathways that can lead to this career:

Complete an undergraduate degree in communication sciences and disorders or speech-language pathology. Many universities offer bachelor's degrees specifically tailored for students interested in eventually pursuing a master's in the field. Coursework typically includes classes in linguistics, anatomy, physiology, and introductory topics in speech disorders.

Major in a related field and minor in communication sciences. Some students choose to major in a field like psychology, human development, or education, while minoring in communication sciences. This provides a strong liberal arts background while still completing prerequisites for a graduate program.

Complete prerequisite coursework as a post-baccalaureate student. If you hold a bachelor's degree in an unrelated field, look for schools that offer leveling coursework for non-majors. You can complete any prerequisite classes you're missing before applying to master's programs.

Once you've completed an undergraduate education, you'll apply to accredited master's programs in speech-language pathology. Graduate courseworkdeepens your knowledge in areas like language disorders, motor speech disorders, swallowing disorders, and clinical methods. Most programs include clinical rotations where you'll get hands-on experience evaluating and treating patients under supervisor.

After earning a master's degree and completing a clinical fellowship, you'll be eligible for national certification and state licensure as an SLP. From there, you can search for travel therapy jobs that allow you to provide speech therapy services while traveling across the country!

What are the Requirements of an Online Master's in Speech Pathology for a Career as a Travel SLP?

An online speech pathology master's program must meet the same academic and clinical standards as traditional programs to prepare you for national certification. Here are some key requirements to look for:

Accreditation by the Council on Academic Accreditation. Make sure any graduate program you consider holds valid accreditation for training speech-language pathologists.

Extensive coursework in assessment and intervention. Your classes should cover diagnosis and treatment for a wide variety of communication and swallowing disorders across different age groups.

At least 400 hours of supervised clinical rotations. You'll need to complete clinical hours across various settings like schools, hospitals, and clinics.

Capstone research project. Most programs require completion of a data-driven research study and paper under the guidance of a faculty mentor.

Student teaching opportunities. Look for a program that can help arrange local school placements for any required student teaching assignments.

One benefit of an online program is the flexibility to complete your degree while working. This can help offset costs and provide exposure to clinical settings in your area.

How Does Online Education Support Career Growth in Speech Therapy?

Pursuing online education as a speech therapist provides several advantages for career advancement:

Convenient access to continuing education. Online CEUs allow working SLPs to stay updated on emerging research and best practices without extensive travel.

Opportunities to specialize. Post-graduate online certificates and doctorates offer the chance to gain expertise in niche areas like voice disorders, bilingual speech therapy, dysphagia, and more.

Networking and collaboration. Digital learning platforms connect you to peers and mentors across the country to share knowledge and experiences.

Job mobility. The flexibility of online education allows you to continue advancing your education and career while relocating or working as a travel SLP.

No disruption to work. The remote format prevents having to take time off for education - you can study and complete assignments outside of working hours.

From clinical fellowships to PhDs, online options make continuing education more accessible for speech therapists at any stage of their career. This supports increased earning potential and leadership opportunities in the field.

How can Applied Behavior Analysis Enrich the Career Path of a Speech Therapist?

Pursuing training in applied behavior analysis (ABA) can expand a speech therapist's skill set and job opportunities. Here are some of the benefits:

Tools to improve communication and language skills. ABA utilizes reinforcement, prompting, and other techniques that can complement speech therapy when working with children with autism or developmental delays.

Assessment of challenging behaviors. Training in functional behavior assessments allows SLPs to analyze and modify behaviors that interfere with communication progress.

Collaboration with behavioral analysts. Shared knowledge of ABA facilitates effective interface with behavior therapists as part of an interdisciplinary care team.

Employer demand. ABA training provides an advantage for SLP jobseekers, as more facilities want clinicians cross-trained in both disciplines.

Dual credentialing. SLPs can pursue certification as Board Certified Behavior Analysts to provide standalone ABA therapy.

Career advancement. Supervisory and leadership roles in ABA may become available to experienced SLPs with this augmented expertise.

While graduate programs are adding ABA coursework, SLPs can also obtain training through certificates, seminars, and supervised fieldwork. Expanding your capabilities with applied behavior analysis enhances clinical practice and job prospects.

How Does a Career as a Travel SLP Compare to Other Allied Travel Careers?

What are the average annual salaries in allied travel professions like occupational therapy and nurse practitioner.

Here are average salary ranges for some of the top allied healthcare travel professions:

• Travel speech-language pathologist: $60,000 - $80,000
• Travel occupational therapist: $70,000 - $90,000
• Travel physical therapist: $75,000 - $100,000
• Travel nurse practitioner: $90,000 - $120,000
• Travel physician assistant: $100,000 - $130,000

*Salaries are influenced by factors like certifications, work setting, geographic region, and years of experience.

Working as a travel SLP can be one of the more lucrative paths early in your career. With a lowerbarrier to entry than some clinical doctorate professions, combined with high demand, travel speech therapy offers strong earning potential right out of graduate school.

How Does the Job Growth Forecast Look for Other Travel Jobs in the Medical Field?

The latest employment projections bode well for increased opportunities in travel healthcare roles:

• Occupational therapist jobs expected to grow 16% from 2020-2030
• Physical therapist jobs expected to grow 18% from 2020-2030
• Nurse practitioner jobs expected to grow 45% from 2020-2030
• Physician assistant jobs expected to grow 31% from 2020-2030

All of these fields are predicted to grow much faster than the average across all occupations. The rapidly expanding healthcare sector, aging population, and clinical staffing shortages signal strong continued demand for travel allied health professionals.

How Does the Work Environment in Travel Speech Therapy Compare to that of a Travel Nurse or Other Allied Travels Professions?

There are some key differences in the typical work settings and conditions between travel SLPs and other traveling health providers:

• Travel SLPs often work in school settings rather than hospitals or medical clinics.
• The patients of travel SLPs are more commonly pediatric versus adult.
• Travel SLPs tend to work daytime hours rather than shifts on nights/weekends.
• Travel nurses deal with more urgent acute illnesses and hospital politics.
• Travel physical and occupational therapists may face higher productivity quotas.

However, travel SLPs share the same benefits as other allied travelers when it comes to schedule flexibility, freedom in choosing assignments, and variety of locations. Overall, travel speech therapy offers a great balance of career growth and enhanced quality of life.

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Travel speech language pathologist salary

Table of Contents

A career as a travel speech language pathologist, or travel SLP, can be a rewarding path for clinicians looking to achieve their financial and professional goals. According to the  Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) , the demand for speech language pathologists is projected to grow an exceptional 21% by 2031. This bodes well for the profession–as facilities strive to meet this high demand, the opportunities for travel SLPs to increase their pay while providing quality patient care across the country will only continue to flourish. 

At Nomad, we believe the fastest and surest way to increase your salary as a speech language pathologist is through travel. To empower our clinicians with the knowledge to navigate travel salary, we’ve created this comprehensive salary guide. With this guide, you’ll get an overview of the factors that can influence your pay as a travel speech language pathologist, along with the most current salary data for both staff and travelers. So whether you’re trying to negotiate higher pay for an assignment, or are simply wanting to understand industry-wide salary benchmarks for travel SLP jobs , take a look at our guide below. 

Average travel speech language pathologist salary

The average weekly salary or total compensation for travel speech language pathologists at Nomad Health is $2,059 including stipend. Compared to staff speech language pathologists who earn an average pay of around $1,647 per week, becoming a traveler is an excellent way to increase a speech language pathologist's salary.

Speech language pathologist travel salary range

Salary ranges for travel speech language pathologists can change frequently based on compensable factors like location, certifications, and specializations, and more. At Nomad Health, the average weekly salary range or compensation range for travel speech language pathologists is $1,692 to $2,800 including stipend.

Average travel speech language pathologist pay rate

Travel speech language pathologists at Nomad Health earn an average hourly pay rate of $53 per hour. On the high end, travelers can earn as much as $70 per hour.

What is the highest salary for a travel SLP therapist?

The highest weekly salary or compensation reported for travel speech language pathologists at Nomad Health is $2,800 including stipend. Keep in mind that travel speech language pathologist salaries can always increase or decrease depending on factors like the ones mentioned above.

Speech language pathologist salary factors

Travel speech language pathologist pay is influenced by a number of compensable factors, which include but are not limited to:

Travel speech language pathologist experience

Facilities are always looking for highly skilled speech language pathologists with experience who can start their assignments at full speed. The more relevant experience you have as a travel speech language pathologist, the more willing a facility is to pay you a higher salary for your skills.

Travel speech language pathologist education

Travel speech language pathologists are required to have a Master’s degree in Speech Language Pathology from an accredited school, along with a set number of Required Professional Experience (RPE) hours. The clinician must also pass the national exam, the Praxis test in Speech Language and Pathology.

Travel SLP specialization

Travel speech language pathologists who specialize in different populations such as pediatrics and neonatal may be able to negotiate a higher pay rate compared to travel speech language pathologists without specialization experience.

Certifications

As a travel speech language pathologist, earning certifications such as the Certificate of Clinical Competence in Speech-Language Pathology (CCC-SLP) issued by American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) demonstrates advanced clinical proficiency and increased knowledge. Having more credentials can help you stand out amongst your peers and give you more bargaining power with facilities. Some states require SLPs to have this certification.

Facility demand

When facilities experience speech language pathologist shortages, they often rely on travel SLPs to fill those gaps. Depending on the severity of the shortage, travel SLPs may be able to negotiate a higher pay with the facility.

The cost of living in each city and state will directly influence how much pay facilities can offer travel speech language pathologists. For example, a travel SLP assignment in a rural area is likely to pay less than a travel assignment in a big city where the cost of living is higher.

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Travel speech language pathologist salary in the united states.

How much does a Travel Speech Language Pathologist make in the United States? The salary range for a Travel Speech Language Pathologist job is from $80,175 to $98,089 per year in the United States. Click on the filter to check out Travel Speech Language Pathologist job salaries by hourly, weekly, biweekly, semimonthly, monthly, and yearly.

• Per semimonth
• Connecticut
• District of Columbia
• Massachusetts
• Mississippi
• North Carolina
• North Dakota
• New Hampshire
• Pennsylvania
• Rhode Island
• South Carolina
• South Dakota
• West Virginia
• San Francisco, CA
• Washington, DC
• Chicago, IL
• New York, NY

HOW SHOULD YOU USE THIS DATA?

Employees: Use this as a guide for salary expectations, but be aware that responsibilities can change across companies for the same job title, so there may be differences between this data, other free site and our subscription products bought by employers.

Employers: This data could be used as reference point in your market pricing, but not the only source, due to differences across jobs locations, and sizes of companies.Consider additional sources like our Employer reported data.

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Highest Paying Cities for Travel Speech Language Pathologist in the United States

States with higher salaries for travel speech language pathologist, how much do similar professions get paid in the united states, how much should you be earning, what does a travel speech language pathologist do.

Waiting for speech-language pathology services: A randomised controlled trial comparing therapy, advice and device.

Applicants for the Certificate of Clinical Competence in Speech-Language Pathology (CCC-SLP) must earn a graduate degree, successfully complete the required clinical experiences, and pass a national examination.

The Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology (CAA) requires that student outcome data are made available for the three most recently completed academic years.

USAHS’ Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology program is rooted in our student-FIRST philosophy: Everything we do is focused on student success.

As the trimester begins, USAHS is offering speech-language pathology sessions via teletherapy to Texas residents who have a suspected communication or swallowing difficulty.

View Job Skills and Competency Data for more than 15,000 Job Titles, 18 Industries, and 26 Job Families.

Most Common Benefits for Travel Speech Language Pathologist

Related companies for travel speech language pathologist in the united states, frequently asked questions, do i receive fair pay as a travel speech language pathologist currently, what are the responsibilities of a travel speech language pathologist, how much do similar jobs to travel speech language pathologist make.

• Speech Language Pathologist
• School Speech Language Pathologist
• Bilingual Speech Language Pathologist
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8 Things to know if you aspire to be a traveling SLP

New Year’s means new resolutions and that could mean checking new places and adventures off your bucket list. What do you aspire to accomplish? Learning to surf in Hawaii, skiing the Rockies or hiking that mountain in California? For the SLP with a sense of adventure you may want to consider becoming a traveling therapist. Being a traveling therapist allows you to travel and explore the United States while maintaining a job as an SLP and getting paid for work.

The term “travel therapy” can be vague; it generally refers to the industry that staff’s therapists in short term contracts across the United States. Travel therapists are used to fill short-term, immediate staffing needs secondary to staffing shortages or temporary leaves.  Jobs can be in any setting and are typically between 3 to 9 months in duration.

Here are some things to know if you are considering a career as a traveler…

1. be prepared to “hit the ground running”.

As a traveling SLP you will be working in places that have immediate staffing needs, some more dire than others.  From the start of your assignment, you may be expected to perform your job and assume a full caseload with little to no orientation.   Having strong clinical skills and caseload management abilities can help make the transitions easier.

2. You will learn A LOT

The idea of taking over a new caseload with little orientation may sound challenging and scary.  However, you do not need to be a veteran clinician to be a traveler. Being a traveler will introduce you to new settings, buildings, new patients and new co-workers.  It is a great way to enhance your clinical skills and expand your practice.

3.  Nothing is Ever Free

As a traveling SLP you will be subcontracted to a facility through a staffing agency.  There are hundreds of staffing agencies competing for your business and their marketing tactics can be misleading.  Agencies advertise free housing, CEU’s, relocation, etc, but of course there is a catch.

Everything you need to know about being a traveling therapist is in the “Guide to Travel Therapy” !

What is important to know about reimbursements is that nothing is truly ever free.  A staffing agency essentially gets paid a sum of money for each 13-week contract that you complete. Think of that money as one big pie that can be cut in many different pieces.  First, the staffing agency is going to take their share of the pie to cover expenses to run the agency and make a profit.  After that the rest of the pie is yours and can be split different ways.  You may choose to split the pie into 13 equal paychecks every week. You may also choose to have money allotted for housing expenses, moving expenses, ASHA dues, etc. and then make less money per week.  Make your money and contract work for you and divide it as needed.

4. You May Qualify for Tax-Free Stipends

As a traveling SLP you may qualify for tax free living and housing stipends if you maintain both a residence at home and duplicate expenses by traveling to a temporary location for work.  If you qualify for a tax-free stipend, it is again coming out of the big pie, as mentioned above.  Staffing agencies follow government guidelines to determine the amount of stipend that they can allocate based on geographic area.  Thus, your stipend may be different if you are working in San Francisco vs Omaha.

5. You Can Extend Your Time

You may be asked to extend your contract for more than the initial time.  Taking an extension is your decision and has pros and cons. Extensions can ease the burden of moving so frequently, but they can hinder our wanderlust souls.

Thank you to Julia Kuhn, blogger, over at The Traveling Traveler Blog. For those times you wish you could be an SLP in Hawaii, check out her “Guide to Travel Therapy” .

If you continue to extend at a location for a whole year, you would no longer be considered a temporary employee; per IRS guidelines.  You would still be eligible to work in the same location after a year, but would no longer be considered a temporary employee and would no longer qualify for tax-free stipends.

6. Research the Industry

As you can tell from the last three bullet points, there is a lot to learn and know about working in the travel industry.   Do your research before becoming a traveler. This could include:

• Find a mentor who has travel experience
• Join groups on social media to connect with other travelers i.e. “Travel Therapists” and “Travel Therapy”
• Read websites and blogs about the industry
• Attend “The Traveler’s Conference” which is an annual 3-day conference in Las Vegas every September.  TravCon has seminars on travel and connects more than 1000 travelers and agency representatives in one location.
• Speak to an accountant or tax professional knowledgeable in traveling professionals and filing multi state income taxes

7. Explore Your New Surroundings

While three months may sound like a long time to be at a place, it goes by very quickly. Take advantage of your time at your new location to explore and engage in your surroundings. Think about your bucket list and New Year’s resolutions; remember what it is you want to accomplish this year and go for it!  Make a list of things you want to do or places to see at every contract and stay proactive in checking items off that list. Join community groups, take classes and engage in your new environment! Before you know it three months will be over.

8. Attitude is everything

Your attitude is a big part of what will determine your success and happiness as a traveling therapist.  Traveling can be a challenge, but it can also be an extremely rewarding and enriching experience.  If you go into an assignment with a negative attitude you will likely have a negative assignment. Going into a building with a positive attitude is key for success.

Best of luck and happy travels to everybody beginning new adventures!

Links of Interest

Check out Julia’s E-course “The Guide to Travel Therapy”

Check out Julia’s blog at The Traveling Traveler

Join her Traveling Therapist Facebook Forum

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