Speech and Language Therapist
Also advertised as: Communication Therapist, language therapist, logopaedics therapist, logopaedist, Paediatric SLT, paediatric speech and language therapist
Assesses and treats difficulties with speech, language, communication and swallowing.
What the job involves
Speech and language therapists work with children who have delayed language development and adults recovering from stroke, brain injury or living with dementia. Swallowing assessment is a core part of the role, since safe eating and drinking can be life-threatening if impaired. Caseloads span schools, hospitals and community clinics.
Typical responsibilities
- Assess communication and swallowing difficulties
- Design and deliver therapy programmes
- Train carers, teachers and families
- Assess swallowing safety
- Write reports for education and health teams
Common employers
- NHS trusts
- Schools and local authorities
- Private clinics
Pay, hours and working environment
Typical pay
£27,000 – £31,000 a year
With experience
£35,000 – £45,000 a year
Typical hours
37.5 hours, term-time patterns available in education settings
Working environment
Clinics, schools and hospital wards
Remote working
on_site
Demand for this work
high
Pay ranges are indicative guidance drawn from advertised UK vacancies and published careers information. They are not an offer, and actual pay varies by employer, location and experience.
Skills and qualifications
Core skills
- Clinical assessment
- Therapy planning
- Patience
- Communication
- Collaborative working
Transferable skills you may already have
- Working with children or vulnerable adults
- Teaching or coaching experience
- Report writing
Requirements employers ask for
- Clinical assessment
- Therapy planning
- Patience
- Communication
- Collaborative working
- BSc Speech and Language Therapy degree
- HCPC registration
- HCPC registration
- Enhanced DBS check
- follow clinical guidelines
- ensure safety of healthcare users
- evaluate the psychological impact of speech problems
- record healthcare users' progress related to treatment
- treat swallowing disorders
- communicate effectively in healthcare
- behavioural neurology
- speech techniques
- paediatrics
- formulate a case conceptualisation model for therapy
- listen actively
- logopaedics
Useful but not essential
- Working with children or vulnerable adults
- Teaching or coaching experience
- Report writing
- Experience with SEND or stroke rehabilitation
- Makaton or sign language skills
- refer healthcare users
- cued speech
- bobath therapy
- pedagogy
- employ foreign languages in care
- employ foreign languages for health-related research
- undertake clinical audit
- ensure proper appointment administration
Helpful qualifications
- Experience with SEND or stroke rehabilitation
- Makaton or sign language skills
Licences and checks
- HCPC registration
- Enhanced DBS check
Ways into this career
A degree is only one route. Where an apprenticeship, work-experience or qualification route exists, it is listed here alongside the academic option.
Apprenticeships and work-based routes
- Speech and Language Therapist (Degree Apprenticeship, limited)
Degree and college routes
- Related subject: English
- Related subject: Biology
- Related subject: Psychology
Where this career can lead
next
Specialist SLT
next
Clinical Lead SLT
next
Independent Practitioner
The good parts and the hard parts
What people enjoy
- Life-changing impact on communication
- Wide variety of client groups
- Strong demand across sectors
What people find hard
- Competitive university places
- Progress can be slow and gradual
Common questions
- Do you need a degree to become a speech and language therapist?
- No. As well as degree routes, this career can be entered through an apprenticeship or by building experience and qualifications on the job. required
- How much does a speech and language therapist earn in the UK?
- Typical advertised pay runs from £27,000 to £31,000 a year, rising towards £45,000 with experience. Figures are indicative guidance rather than an offer.
- What skills transfer into this career?
- Skills that transfer well include Working with children or vulnerable adults, Teaching or coaching experience, Report writing.
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Where this information comes from
- National Careers Service
- Institute for Apprenticeships
Last reviewed 14 September 2026.
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