Bilingual Speech Pathologist Salary and Careers

What Is a Bilingual Speech Pathologist?

The journey to becoming a bilingual speaker is unique to each person, from when the second language is learned to how often each language is spoken to how one’s primary language influences the way a second language is spoken, as many variables make each bilingual experience its own. That said, it is not surprising that many speakers with bilingual speech disorders require care from a speech-language pathologist (SLP) with a firm grasp of these complexities. Bilingual speech pathologists, referred to by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) as bilingual and multilingual service providers (MSPs). MSPs are audiologists and speech-language pathologists (SLPs) who have the knowledge and skills to address the unique needs of bilingual speakers and the specific languages they use.

Bilingual Speech Pathology Job Requirements

According to ASHA, one must meet several skill requirements, in addition to those already needed to become a speech pathologist, to have a bilingual speech pathology career:

Near Native Proficiency in a Second Language: Bilingual SLPs must know a second spoken or signed language at near native proficiency or better. This includes near native understanding of that language’s vocabulary, pronunciation, semantics (meaning), usage and grammar.

Describe Typical Speech and Language Acquisition in Second Language: A BSP must be able to tell clients what normal speech and language development looks like in the primary and secondary language, in terms of written, spoken, and, if applicable, signed words.

Assessment Selection and Delivery: MSPs must understand how to select appropriate bilingual speech and language assessment tools and interpret the results accurately in the required languages. Assessment of a bilingual speaker considers when the patient learned each language, how often each language is used, and in what context it is used.

Diagnose and Treat in a Second Language: Near native proficiency of the BSP’s language must extend to his or her ability to diagnose and treat bilingual speech disorders, including speech, language, swallowing, vocal and cognitive disorders in the preferred language of each client that he or she serves using the method of communication favored by that client.

Understand the Difference Between Communication Difference and Communication Disorder: Learning two languages can create normal differences in how a bilingual speaker speaks each language that do not indicate a bilingual speech disorder. A BSP must understand this to properly diagnose patients. Examples of communication differences include inferences and transfers—errors in one’s use of a secondary language due to the structure of one's primary language.

Silent Period: When children are learning a second language, they often go through a period during which they can understand much more than they can put into words, resulting in a “silent period” in which the child listens to further develop their skills in that language. Some may confuse this with selective mutism.

Code-switching: Switching between languages within a sentence or phrase is very normal for bilingual speakers. A properly qualified BSP will understand when variations are used outside of the typical constraints of code-switching and, therefore, may indicate disorder.

Cultural Understanding: MSPs must be sensitive to how a patient’s culture may affect their needs.

Bilingual Speech Pathologist Salary

While the Bureau of Labor Statistics does not break down bilingual service provider salaries specifically, it lists the median annual salary for speech-language pathologists as $95,410 in May 2024. Employment of speech-language pathologists is projected to grow 15 percent from 2024 to 2034, much faster than the average for all occupations.

Bilingual Speech Pathology Work Environment

According to the Profile of ASHA Multilingual Service Providers, Year-End 2025 survey, MSPs work in the following settings:

• Schools: 42.6%
• Colleges/Universities: 4.2%
• Health care facilities (total): 44.0%
• Nonresidential health care facilities: 26.8%
• Hospitals: 11.5%
• Residential health care facilities: 5.7%

At year-end 2025, 20,854 ASHA constituents (excluding National NSSLHA members) self-identified as multilingual service providers—8.8% of the 236,761 constituents ASHA represents.

Although everyone’s journey is different, below are some typical steps to become a bilingual speech pathologist.

How to Become a Bilingual Speech Pathologist in Four Steps

To become a Multi-Lingual Service Provider or MSP through ASHA, you must complete 4 steps:

1. Complete Bilingual Speech Pathology Education Requirements Bilingual speech pathology careers require following the same path as traditional speech pathology, with a few additional considerations. According to ASHA, some speech pathology master’s programs offer bilingual training programs, but participation in these programs is not required as long as you meet the skill and language requirements. Learn more about the path to becoming a general speech pathologist in our resource, Becoming a Speech Pathologist: A Step-by-Step Guide.
2. Consider a Bilingual Extension Speech Language Pathology Program ASHA does not accredit any university programs for bilingual service delivery, meaning MSP is not a separate ASHA-accredited “designation,” but some schools will offer such concentrations or opportunities to earn a certificate in bilingual speech pathology. These programs vary greatly, so do your research to find a program that will help you gain the skills required to consider yourself a BSP. The ASHA code of ethics puts the responsibility on you to only claim that you are an MSP if you truly have the skills to do so.
3. Check State and Local Requirements According to ASHA, regulations vary state-by-state for bilingual speech pathologists. Always check with your state’s certifying body to determine if there are additional requirements for MSPs in your state. Once you ensure you have the necessary skills to call yourself a BSP and meet any state requirements, it is time to self-identify as an MSP.
4. Self-Identify as a Multilingual Service Provider (MSP) Despite no formal certification for MSPs, you can list yourself as an MSP by self-identifying in your ASHA member profile. As an SLPA, as long as you use more than one language in service delivery and follow state and any supervision rules, you may self-identify as an MSP. If you are an ASHA-certified (CCC-SLP), you may self-identify as an MSP through the ASHA ProFind database.

Information last updated: March 2026