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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.

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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
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• Pediatric Speech Language Pathologist
• Speech Language Pathologist Assistant
• CF Speech Language Pathologist
• Teletherapy Speech Language Pathologist
• Virtual Speech and Language Pathologist
• Virtual Speech Language Pathologist

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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 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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Travel Therapy Mentor

Travel PT duo helping PTs, OTs and SLPs to become successful travel therapists!

Working Internationally as a Speech Language Pathologist

Since we have personally spent a lot of time traveling abroad , we often get questions about working internationally as travel therapists. We have actually never worked abroad and don’t have plans to; we choose to only work in the US as travel therapists. However, we do know that there are American therapists who do work abroad in different capacities. We want to share with you Noel’s story: a speech language pathologist (SLP) who has had a unique career working internationally. Noel highlights his variety of work experiences, some of which have been unconventional, and he provides insights to other American therapists who are considering trying to find work abroad. Get ready to be inspired!

Noel’s Story

My name is Noel Erik Simon and I’ve been an ASHA (American Speech-Language-Hearing Association) certified SLP since 2006. During my time as an SLP I’ve worked internationally in several different countries. If I had to point to the reason why I’ve chosen my current lifestyle, it would probably go back to my time as an ESL teacher in the Peace Corps. I was stationed about 3.5 hours south of Moscow at an experimental school in Ryazan. After repatriating and finishing grad school, I always had the dream of living abroad again.

The opportunity came as I was completing my clinical fellowship year (CFY). I saw a posting on the ASHA website for an SLP position at an international school in Jakarta, Indonesia. Serendipitously, I had taken a linguistics course in the past couple of years and remembered my professor saying that he had grown up in Indonesia. I reached out to him and he was very excited about this possible opportunity for me. That was the first step that led me to an SLP career abroad. Ironically, I didn’t end up moving to Indonesia. I ended up moving to Cairo, Egypt in August 2007 instead. Since that time, I’ve lived in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam; Beijing, China; Warsaw, Poland; and I’m currently in Hong Kong.

Even after moving abroad, I haven’t always worked in an international school setting. In Vietnam, a friend introduced me to a group of related professionals made up of special education teachers, pediatricians, a school psychologist, a play therapist, and an occupational therapist. I quickly found that I was the only practicing SLP in the country at that time. My new colleagues started sending me referrals; I made some business cards; and I built a reputation for myself in the expat and international school parent community providing private SLP services. I took my fee schedule from my OT colleague. This allowed me to make a good amount of money and make my own schedule.

Because of this flexibility and increased income, I was able to gain a lot of great experience with some side pro bono work as well. I traveled with Operation Smile on surgical missions to Cambodia, China, Uzbekistan, and Rwanda. I was able to partner with local NGOs (non-governmental organizations) and special education schools in the city to provide workshops and training for teachers and parents. One of my proudest achievements was partnering with an NGO that rescues women from human trafficking. I worked with the survivors to help them modify their accents so that they could tell their stories to a wider audience in their own voices.

The variety of work that I had done by this time convinced me that I wasn’t as pigeonholed as I thought with my profession. Typically an SLP is seen as either educational (pediatric) or medical (adult). Of course, there are many other sub-categories, but these seem to be the biggest areas. With a little bit of creativity, I was able to branch out of my mindset of what I could do with my skill set and really extend myself.

Advice for Others Job Searching Abroad

I would say that there are several routes you could take if you’re looking for a job abroad as an SLP:

First: You could go the route of taking advantage of the mutual recognition if you want to work in five of the other primary English-speaking countries. This route requires a lot of research and finding a job first. After that, the job should help you with licensing and a working visa.

Second: If you’re an education-based SLP, I would suggest some search sites for international schools. Most of these have a fee (some cheap, others pretty expensive). A few examples are:

• tieonline.com
• searchassocitates.com
• its-schrole.com
• db.grcfair.org
• linkedin.com

Working for an international school means you get to take advantage of school holidays: 6-10 weeks off during the summer, 2-3 weeks off around Christmas/New Year’s, a week off in the fall and spring, and depending on which part of the world you’re in, another 1-2 weeks some time in winter for Chinese New Year. All of these are what I like to call “Travel Holidays”. These are great because one of the things that can make travel prohibitive from the US is the cost of getting out of the US (unless you’re a proficient credit card hacker ). Once you’re abroad, travel becomes significantly less expensive from one place to another. There are usually multiple discount airlines to choose from around the world.

Third: For pediatric and medical-based SLPs, I think there is a misconception about a large part of the world. People assume some kind of language barrier if you’re not looking at just the Anglophone countries. This is not entirely true. There are many countries that are officially another language but they use English as the lingua franca, or English is somewhat of a co-official language and it may not immediately occur to people. I would recommend checking job postings in the Middle East (specifically the Gulf States) or SE Asia (Singapore especially, but also Malaysia and Thailand). 

Fourth: I’ve talked to many people who’ve also recommended government jobs like the DOD, Veteran Affairs, Department of the Army, etc. All of these jobs have been centralized on USASjobs.com. Of course, these are more like a traditional job on a U.S. Army base (or Army base adjacent), but the people who I’ve talked to have highly recommended this lifestyle.

If you’re searching for travel therapy jobs in the US instead of abroad, check out our Hot Jobs List and Recruiter Recommendations page for help getting started as a US-based travel therapist.

Almost every country has a sizable expat population. Even countries that you wouldn’t consider probably have a great need for “allied health” professionals. If there is a specific country that you have in mind, I would say to just do some research. Better yet, take a vacation and backpack around there and do some recognizance. You’d be surprised what you might find. I had no idea what the situation would be like in Vietnam. I got a job as a whole-school SLP and elementary school learning support teacher. I wouldn’t have known until I got there that there was enough of a need that I could start my own private practice.

I know that, in addition to the Anglophone countries, Europe is always big on people’s wish list. I would say these are all possible, but if you’re trying to do this for the money, then put these places out of your head (except possibly some places in Eastern Europe). If you want to make much more than you could in the US, then Asia and the Middle East are much better options. If you get a teaching job at an international school, even if your salary looks smaller than what you might be making in the states, keep in mind that housing is usually provided separately from this, and your salary will probably be tax-free. What you’re are being quoted is often (depending on the country) your net salary, without housing, flights, visa, etc. (these are provided separately). Plus, often these countries are much less expensive to live in than the US. For example, my first teaching job abroad was in Egypt. My salary was a little more than half of what I was making in the US. However, because Egypt is an extremely inexpensive country to live in (much more so than to travel through as a tourist), I found a cheaper place to live (pocketing the difference in the housing stipend), and I picked up some clients on the side, I was able to save significantly more than I was able to in the US. In fact, my two side clients paid all of my day-to-day expenses, so I was able to save all of my salary (except for what I used to travel on). I also had a 3-bedroom house, a driver, a house cleaner, a gardener, and a cook.

Another thing about working abroad is that many ‘developing’ countries don’t have the same standards as far as licensing goes. Some of our professions don’t have an equivalent in these countries, so there is no license. I was the only SLP in Vietnam when I was there. There was no need to seek out a licensing body. If you’re working at an international school, you’re often seen as a “foreign expert”. It’s more important to have a teaching certification than a license. I think that, with some major exceptions, a lot of the strategies are the same for occupational therapy and physical therapy professionals. I’ve only heard of a handful of international schools around the world that have employed occupational therapists. So, physical therapy might be the only profession out of the three that may already exist as a local profession in most countries. You would need a bit more research, but if I were trying to find a job in those fields, I would still check with clinics in the same areas (Asia and the Middle East). I would also just do a Google search on “working as a (insert job) in (insert country).” Checking LinkedIn, Glassdoor, and Indeed have also given me a lot of ideas.

In my experience, most contracts for international schools are initially two years (with school holidays) and then the option to renew yearly after that. Clinics may be just one year. I have been traveling with my wife since 2007. At least one of us has always had a job offer before we’ve moved to a country, sometimes both of us. Obviously, we both try to find jobs, but we have the added challenge that we’re both specialists (SLP and librarian), and basically, we’re both non-teachers. Out of the five countries that we’ve moved to together, we were both offered jobs at the same school for three of them. We’re not naïve going into jobs, but most of the time, when we’ve been offered jobs, it’s because we usually go by our motto “Leap and the net will appear”. Even bad job decisions aren’t permanent, and you can learn from them.

Cultural Considerations

The countries where I’ve lived have been very easy to go about your daily life with little to no knowledge of the local language except niceties and “taxi language”. But, one of the reasons that I’ve chosen to live abroad is for a chance to learn a new language. I really don’t think there’s any better way to immerse yourself into the culture of another country than trying to learn as much of the language as you can. In most of the jobs abroad, you’re going to be with a mix of locals and expats, probably mostly speaking English. It can be challenging to force yourself out of your “easy” group of English-speaking friends and try to make more local friends, but the payoff is huge.

Most of the places I’ve worked have a very diverse staff. There are many international schools that are only international in that the curriculum is taught in English and most of the staff are native speakers. The student body could be 90% host country nationals. However, the average international school might look like a public school in Brooklyn or Queens, with students from 50-60 different countries. There are definitely cultural differences between colleagues and families. Sometimes it’s misunderstandings with host country people, but I’ve found most of my cultural misunderstandings have been with other “westerners”. I would say for anyone working abroad, it might be helpful to keep in mind that just because you might look like someone doesn’t mean you share the same cultural assumptions. I also think that in many ways it’s easier to live in a country in which you might not look like the majority of the people there. People look at you and assume that you’re a “foreigner”. You’re often treated as a guest. But I’ve also worked in countries in which I more or less look like I could be indigenous to that country. People assume that I must understand the language and the cultural nuances. They might have a little less understanding of my mistakes as I get acclimated to how things are done there.

For me, settling into a new country and discovering how to live, pay bills, find the best deals on groceries, learn to cook local food, etc. are the biggest pluses to living there instead of just traveling there. Most countries don’t have a Home Depot or a Costco. Most shopping is done at little shops or open-air markets. It sounds so mundane, but one of the best feelings I get is when I need to buy something that I wouldn’t think twice about in the states (e.g. a lightbulb). Finding the specific local shop that sells the lightbulb that I need and being able to conduct the entire transaction in the local language is incredible. Having a tourist stop and ask you directions is a cool feeling too. In some places I’ve lived, I’ve even had locals ask me how to get to an address because they weren’t familiar with the neighborhood. 

If it’s your dream to work abroad, there are a lot of different possibilities out there. First, suspend all of your preconceptions about licensing and language ability. Secondly, don’t be held back by your job title. There are more opportunities than you think in related fields. Do some research on a desired location to get started, and then plan a trip to get a feel for what it’s actually like on the ground. Reach out to schools, clinics, etc. Be willing to move on if things end up not fitting. Decide what’s important to you and keep at it!

Noel Erik Simon is an American-trained Speech Language Pathologist. He has worked in a variety of settings including international schools, group homes, early intervention programs, clinics, and NGOs. He has presented workshops and training to parents and other professionals on a range of topics related to speech and language. Over the past 15 years, he has lived and worked in the US, Russia, Egypt, Vietnam, China, and Poland assisting children and adults with a wide range of needs. You can find him via the following social media platforms: Instagram: @vaguely_vagrant Linkedin:   www.linkedin.com/in/nesimon1

We’d like to thank Noel for his insights in this educational guest post! If you’re an SLP, PT, or OT who’s interested in working abroad, feel free to contact Noel for further insights. If you’re interested in travel therapy opportunities in the US, feel free to contact us here at Travel Therapy Mentor with any questions, or get connected with our recommended travel therapy recruiters by filling out this form .

~Whitney and Jared, Travel Therapy Mentor

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Published by Travel Therapy Mentor

Travel Therapy Mentor is brought to you by two traveling physical therapists, Jared and Whitney Casazza who have been working as travel healthcare professionals since 2015. We are here to help mentor others who are considering starting a travel career, as well as provide information to current travelers to grow and expand their knowledge. View all posts by Travel Therapy Mentor

One thought on “ Working Internationally as a Speech Language Pathologist ”

Hi Noel, my name is Elizabeth at Parkinson Voice Project. I came across your page and LOVE the work you are doing! We are a nonprofit that helps people with Parkinson’s regain and retain their speech and swallowing. Currently, we are trying to get SLPs trained in our program worldwide. A woman reached out to us from Bali saying her voice is almost all the way gone. We don’t have any SLPs that are licensed there, and are desperately wanting to help her, and others in Eastern Asia. Please check out our program, if you, or any other international SLPs you know are interested please let us know.

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Τhe Top 10 EuroLeague salaries of 2019-20

Aris Barkas

It’s time to present the Top 10 EuroLeague salaries of the upcoming season and set the record straight on many reports about European salaries

By Aris Barkas/ [email protected]

With China taking a hit due to the new CBA rules  and the NBA Supermax deals not leaving a lot of money on the table for mid-level players, EuroLeague is having a phenomenal offseason.

With FC Barcelona setting the tone, most European powerhouses were forced to open up their wallets and pay up. Considering the fact that there’s no salary cap in Europe and the financial landscape in the EuroLeague remains a work in progress , practically the market is what defines the top salaries without any holding bars. Of course, Europe can’t offer top NBA money, but still is the top alternative for many players, especially if you consider the money spend by European top clubs in conjunction to the level of play.

The reported salaries are not official. The clubs in Europe contrary to the NBA are not obliged to present those data in public. However, they are confirmed by multiple sources and can be considered accurate.

And like in last year’s list , the reported sums are the net salaries. Due to the various tax laws in Europe, it’s hard to calculate the gross amount of each contract, and in many cases, the tax is almost equal to the net salary.

Furthermore, the Euro is not the official currency in countries like Israel, Russia, and Turkey. That’s why many of the EuroLeague deals are made in US dollars. In order to avoid confusion and to have an easier comparison to NBA contracts, all salaries are calculated in US dollars. With that been said, if you want to compare with NBA contracts, the easiest way is to double the amount of money mentioned, due to US taxes.

Νikola Mirotic, FC Barcelona 5,400,000 $

  Alexey Shved, Khimki Moscow Region 4,000,000 $

Edy Walter Τavares, Real Madrid 3,000,000 $

Nando De Colo, Fenerbahce BEKO 2,600,000 $