# Will AI replace speech therapists? Updated October 2026 Speech-language pathologists score 39 of 100 for AI exposure. The largest share of their task time, 67%, is work AI speeds up while they stay in charge. AI can take over 11% outright, and 22% stays with people. - **11%** AI can do it - **67%** AI helps - **22%** Needs a person Moderate exposure Higher than 51% of the 923 occupations we scored. ## Task by task We graded 23 tasks, listed here from most to least exposed. AI can do 2 of them today, speeds up 15 and leaves 6 to people. | Task | AI exposure | | --- | --- | | Write reports and maintain proper documentation of information, such as client Medicaid or billing records or caseload activities, including the initial evaluation, treatment, progress, and discharge of clients. Documentation and billing notes are routine text AI can draft. | 80% AI can do it | | Complete administrative responsibilities, such as coordinating paperwork, scheduling case management activities, or writing lesson plans. Scheduling, paperwork and lesson plan drafts are largely software tasks. | 70% AI can do it | | Use computer applications to identify or assist with communication disabilities. Software and AI apps can screen and assist communication needs. | 55% AI helps | | Develop individual or group activities or programs in schools to deal with behavior, speech, language, or swallowing problems. AI drafts program designs; running student groups is in person. | 50% AI helps | | Conduct or direct research on speech or hearing topics and report findings for use in developing procedures, technologies, or treatments. AI speeds literature review and analysis; researchers lead design. | 50% AI helps | ## How speech-language pathologists compare All occupations (923) Healthcare practitioners and technical (89) **Speech-language pathologists score 39**, marked by the dark line. Each dot is a score, darker where more occupations share it. The short marks show the averages, 37 for all occupations and 34 for healthcare practitioners and technical. ## Pay and outlook in the US Median pay $97,870 a year, May 2025 People employed 183,390 in the US, May 2025 Projected change in jobs +16.6% from 2024 to 2034 ## Skills to build - Hold the ASHA CCC-SLP credential and a state licence - Deliver hands-on oral motor therapy for swallowing and articulation - Administer standardized speech and language tests in person - Review and sign off AI-drafted notes in eClinicalWorks - Select and fit AAC systems for nonverbal clients - Lead live school group sessions on fluency and articulation ## Safer roles nearby 5 related occupations with lower scores. - [Occupational therapists38 out of 100](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/occupational-therapists/) - [Occupational therapy assistants27 out of 100](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/occupational-therapy-assistants/) - [Occupational therapy aides28 out of 100](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/occupational-therapy-aides/) - [Recreational therapists34 out of 100](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/recreational-therapists/) - [Vision rehabilitation therapists33 out of 100](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/vision-rehabilitation-therapists/) ## Questions about speech-language pathologists and AI Will speech therapists be replaced by AI? Partly. About 4 in 10 working hours go to tasks AI can already do, mostly clinical documentation and administrative paperwork. Live testing, hands-on therapy and conversation with clients stay with clinicians because they need a person in the room. Which tasks is AI taking over for speech-language pathologists? Writing reports and billing records scores 80 on exposure, the highest in this job, because Medicaid notes and progress summaries are routine text AI can drafts. Scheduling, paperwork and lesson plan drafts score 70 and are largely software tasks. Screening for communication disabilities with apps scores 55, so software assists the screen while the clinician decides. Which speech-language pathology tasks stay human? Teaching oral motor exercises scores 8 on exposure, the lowest in this job, because tongue, jaw and breathing work needs hands-on physical guidance. Live testing, supervising students and assistants, and conversation with AAC users each score 15 because they need real time human response. Tasks that stay human make up 22% of task weight. How can speech-language pathologists stay valuable? Keep hands-on work such as oral motor therapy and live testing at the center of the caseload. Draft notes in eClinicalWorks and Microsoft Word with software help, then check each Medicaid billing record before you sign off. Learn AAC device fitting and run live school groups, since those tasks score 12 to 20 on exposure. ## Related jobs - [Speech-language pathology assistants43 out of 100](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/speech-language-pathology-assistants/) - [Psychologists46 out of 100](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/psychologists/) - [Physical therapists38 out of 100](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/physical-therapists/) - [Psychiatric technicians22 out of 100](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/psychiatric-technicians/) ## Next steps for speech-language pathologists - ### Check your job Your job title is a rough guide. Your actual tasks decide your score. Paste your job description or CV and see which of your tasks AI can do. [Check your job](https://www.aigentcy.com/tools/ai-exposure-checker/) [Check your CV](https://www.aigentcy.com/tools/cv-checker/) ### Check which roles in your team AI can take on We map your team's tasks, show what AI can do today and build the automations that pay back first. [Book an AI audit](https://www.aigentcy.com/audit/) ## Related topics - [**Jobs AI can't replace**Cement masons score lowest, at 8.](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/jobs-ai-cant-replace/) - [**Jobs most at risk from AI**Proofreaders score highest, at 76.](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/jobs-most-exposed-to-ai/) - [**High-paying jobs with low AI exposure**Radiologists earn a median $420,860 and score 46.](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/high-paying-jobs-low-ai-exposure/) - [**Entry-level jobs with low AI exposure**Cement masons need little prior training and score 8.](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/entry-level-jobs-low-ai-exposure/) - [**Jobs AI speeds up the most**For natural sciences managers, AI speeds up 96% of task time.](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/jobs-ai-speeds-up/) - [**AI and jobs in Malta**15 iGaming roles graded task by task.](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/malta/) - [**Skills that keep work human**The skills to build in the jobs AI changes least.](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/skills/) - [**Jobs A to Z**Every job we publish, by first letter.](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/jobs/) - [**AI exposure by industry**Average scores for 22 occupation groups.](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/industries/) - [**Write a CV screening software can read**How applicant tracking systems read a CV, and what to change.](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/cv-screening-guide/) - [**AI for businesses**The tasks to automate first in each team and industry.](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-for/) - [**How we score AI exposure**The grading, the weights and every source.](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/methodology/) Occupation data from the O\*NET 30.3 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under [CC BY 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) and modified by Aigentcy. O\*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. Wage, employment and projection data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. EU occupation names from ESCO, European Commission. AI usage signals from the Anthropic Economic Index (CC BY) and Microsoft Research (CC BY 4.0). [Methodology and sources](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/methodology/). Scores © Aigentcy. Quote them with a link to the page.