Quick answer: The Springfield metro employs about 290 speech-language pathologists (BLS OEWS, May 2025), and licensing is set at the state level, through your state licensing board for current SLP requirements.
Compare communication disorders programs enrolling now:
Licensing
Licensing is a state matter, not a city one. The bachelor’s is the first stage of a two-stage credential: clinical practice as a speech-language pathologist requires a graduate degree and state licensure the undergraduate degree does not confer. Requirements are set state by state and change.
See the Missouri licensing and pay overview for the statewide picture, and confirm current requirements with your state licensing board for current SLP requirements.
Schools Near You
Schools in our database near this area, ranked by BOC Score. The list favors schools with a related program on record, but program availability and delivery format change, so confirm directly with any school that it currently offers the program you want.
How we rank schools – graduation rate, graduate earnings, cost and retention.
Advertising plays no part.
This page lists 4 schools
within 210 miles, closest group first, then ordered by
BOC Score with the highest at the top.
4 of them carry a score.
LOCAL RANK
Location / proximity to this page
Defines the local group
Graduation rate how often students finish
30%
Median earnings, 10 years after entry whether it paid off
25%
Average net price what students actually pay after aid; lower ranks higher
20%
Retention rate how many come back for year two
15%
Fully online availability whether you can study while working
10%
Scores come from IPEDS (2024) and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Earnings are for all graduates of a school, not one program, so treat them as a signal
about the institution rather than about this subject.
Sponsored listings are paid placements and are labelled as such; they are separate from
this ranking and never change it. Read the full methodology.
What Speech-Language Pathologists Earn in Springfield
Speech-Language Pathologists in the Springfield area earn a median $92,460 per year, below the national median of $97,870 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
Communication Disorders Pay in Springfield, MO
Metric
Springfield metro
Missouri
National
Median annual wage
$92,460
$89,280
$97,870
10th percentile
$60,180
$58,180
$62,900
25th percentile
$76,240
$71,520
$77,730
75th percentile
$106,700
$103,240
$114,570
90th percentile
$122,370
$119,240
$134,160
Employment
290
3,230
183,390
Location quotient
1.12
-
1.00
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. Metro figures cover the Springfield, MO metropolitan statistical area.
What the Numbers Say About This Market
The Springfield median of $92,460 is below the national median of $97,870, and above the Missouri statewide median of $89,280 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
The metro’s location quotient of 1.12 means speech-language pathologists are more concentrated here than in the average U.S. labor market (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Higher concentration generally means more employers competing for the same people, and an easier job change later.
Speech-language pathology employment follows schools and health systems, which puts real hiring in every market, not just the biggest metros.
Wage and employment figures describe the occupation as measured by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, not the graduates of any particular program, and individual outcomes may vary. Licensing rules change; confirm current requirements with the responsible state board before enrolling.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do speech-language pathologists make in Springfield?
The median annual wage for speech-language pathologists in the Springfield, MO metro area is $92,460, below the national median of $97,870 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
How many speech-language pathologists work in the Springfield area?
The Springfield, MO metro area employs about 290 speech-language pathologists (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
Do speech-language pathologists in Springfield need a license?
Licensing is handled at state level rather than by city. The bachelor's is the first stage of a two-stage credential: clinical practice as a speech-language pathologist requires a graduate degree and state licensure the undergraduate degree does not confer. Requirements are set state by state and change. Confirm current requirements with your state licensing board for current SLP requirements.
Can I study communication disorders online from Springfield?
The academic portion of these programs is widely available online for working adults, while labs, clinical hours or supervised field work are completed in person. Check that the program's accreditation satisfies your state licensing board for current SLP requirements.
Is Springfield a better market than the rest of Missouri?
The Springfield metro median is $92,460 against a statewide median of $89,280 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Compare that gap with the difference in living costs before treating it as a raise.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 - Speech-Language Pathologists (SOC 29-1127), national, state and metropolitan estimates
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, 2024-34
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook - education and licensing requirements
About this guide: Researched and written by the TradeCareerPath Editorial Team. Our editorial team researches and sources every trade school and career guide using federal labor and education data, including BLS OEWS and Employment Projections, DOL apprenticeship records, IPEDS, College Scorecard, and state licensing boards. We follow the editorial standards documented at /editorial-policy/.
