Career comparison
Preschool Special Education Teacher vs. Speech-Language Pathologist
Side-by-side pay, training, growth and day-to-day duties to help you choose between two related careers.
Speech-language pathologists earn more at the median ($97,870 vs. $64,830), while preschool special education teachers usually get to work faster (4 years plus licensure of training). Preschool special education teachers teach young children with disabilities and developmental delays. Speech-language pathologists help people with speech, language, voice and swallowing problems.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
| Preschool Special Education Teacher | Speech-Language Pathologist | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $64,830 | $97,870 ($47.05/hr) |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $45,620 – $130,040 | $62,900 – $134,160 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | +2.4% (slower than average) | +16.6% (much faster than average) |
| Openings per year | 2,000 | 12,500 |
| Typical entry education | Bachelor's degree | Master's degree |
| Training time | 4 years plus licensure | 6–7 years |
| Key credential | State special education license | CCC-SLP (ASHA) |
| Work setting | Teachers work in public school preschools, inclusive classrooms and sometimes in homes.. | SLPs work in schools, hospitals, rehab centers, nursing facilities, private practices and via telehealth.. |
What each job does
Preschool Special Education Teacher
- Teach play-based lessons
- Write and carry out IEPs
- Build communication and social skills
- Work with speech and occupational therapists
- Track progress on goals
Speech-Language Pathologist
- Evaluate speech, language and swallowing
- Diagnose communication disorders
- Plan and lead therapy
- Treat swallowing disorders
- Teach communication strategies
How they’re similar
Both careers involve helping others and working with people. They sit in different fields, education & childcare and healthcare, but share transferable skills such as patience and patience.
Which should you choose?
Choose preschool special education teacher if…
- I love young children
- I’m very patient
- I like play-based teaching
Choose speech-language pathologist if…
- I want to help people communicate
- I’m patient and creative
- I like working with kids or adults
Still torn? Take the Preschool Special Education Teacher fit quiz and the Speech-Language Pathologist fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, preschool special education teacher or speech-language pathologist?
Speech-Language Pathologists earn more at the median: $97,870 versus $64,830 for preschool special education teachers, based on BLS May 2025 data.
Which takes less time to train for?
Preschool Special Education Teachers typically train faster (4 years plus licensure) than speech-language pathologists (6–7 years).
Which career has better job growth?
BLS projects speech-language pathologists to grow +16.6% from 2025–35, compared with +2.4% for preschool special education teachers.