Speech-Language Pathology Assistants
Machines can already do 23% of this job's tasks. By 2035 that rises to 50%. The job changes before it disappears.
Share of the work machines can do
Worldwide baseline, 2026 to 2050
Speech-Language Pathology Assistants in 2026: the short answer
- Today: machines can do 23% of this job's tasks, and AI use is already seen in 0% of them.
- Forecast: machines can do half of its tasks by 2035, and 50% by 2035, according to the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit.
- Size: 109,740 people do this job in the United States, on a median pay of $48,430 a year.
- Contact with people: it scores 82% for contact with people.
- Also called: Communication Assistant, Speech Assistant, Speech Paraeducator, Speech Pathologist Assistant.
Updated by the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit. These are worldwide baseline figures; the Workforce Starburst shows them for your country. Go deeper: How ready am I? or an executive briefing.
How the work changes, task by task
The tasks that take up most of the day, with the share of each that machines can do in 2026 (dark) and 2035 (pink). Worldwide baseline.
| Task | Share of the day | Machines can do | 2026 to 2035 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Implement treatment plans or protocols as directed by speech-language pathologists | 39% | 10% to 32% | |
| Assist speech-language pathologists in the remediation or development of speech and language skills | 17% | 10% to 32% | |
| Document clients' progress toward meeting established treatment objectives | 11% | 70% to 95% | |
| Perform support duties, such as preparing materials, keeping records, maintaining supplies, and scheduling activities | 11% | 20% to 60% | |
| Collect and compile data to document clients' performance or assess program quality | 7% | 70% to 95% | |
| Select or prepare speech-language instructional materials | 7% | 20% to 60% | |
| Assist speech-language pathologists in the conduct of client screenings or assessments of language, voice, fluency, articulation, or hearing | 4% | 3% to 30% | |
| Prepare charts, graphs, or other visual displays to communicate clients' performance information | 1% | 70% to 95% |
The skills this job runs on
The skills speech-language pathology assistants use most, most used first.
Safer jobs nearby
Jobs with a similar skill shape where machines can do less of the work by 2035.
- Patient Representatives49% of tasks by 2035 · US median $50,290
- Psychiatric Technicians32% of tasks by 2035 · US median $45,130
- Obstetricians and Gynecologists44% of tasks by 2035 · US median $292,910
- Low Vision Therapists, Orientation and Mobility Specialists, and Vision Rehabilitation Therapists44% of tasks by 2035 · US median $100,330
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Questions
When will machines do half of the tasks of Speech-Language Pathology Assistants?
Machines can do half of its tasks by 2035. That is the worldwide baseline from the 311 Workforce Starburst, before adjusting for country.
Will AI take the job of speech-language pathology assistants?
Machines can do 23% of the tasks of speech-language pathology assistants today and 50% by 2035. The job changes before it disappears: the routine tasks move first.
Sources and citing
Tasks and their share of the day: O*NET 31.0, occupation 31-9099.01 (US Department of Labor, CC BY 4.0). Pay and jobs: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. AI use today: Anthropic Economic Index (CC BY). Scoring and forecast: the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit; after 2035 the figures extend each trend, with lower confidence. Foresight, not advice.
Cite as: 311 Institute (2026). Speech-Language Pathology Assistants: the outlook to 2050. 311 Workforce Starburst. https://www.311institute.com/jobs/speech-language-pathology-assistants/