Speech Pathologist Jobs in Arkansas
Speech Pathologist jobs in Arkansas are concentrated in Little Rock, Fayetteville, and Jonesboro, where school districts, hospital systems, and outpatient rehabilitation clinics generate steady demand for pediatric, dysphagia, and early intervention specialists at every career stage. Arkansas Children's Hospital, Baptist Health, and the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences are among the most consistent employers in the state. Demand is particularly strong in school-based and pediatric settings, where caseloads remain high and licensed clinicians are in short supply. See the openings below and apply to the ones that match your experience.
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Req ID: 59365
Location:
Jonesboro, AR, US, 72404
#job-location.job-location-inline { display: inline; }
Category: AR DEPT OF HUMAN SERVICES
Anticipated Starting Salary: $94,387.07
Position Number: 22097313
County: Craighead
Posting End Date: September 7, 2026
The Department of Human Services is a place for people passionate about serving others and changing lives for the better. We care for Arkansans of all ages and ensure places like child care centers and nursing homes are safe. We are the safety net for the most vulnerable Arkansans. Whether you answer the phones, take applications, protect children, or help care for residents or patients at one of our facilities, you make a difference by working at DHS. Plus, working for the State has great perks, including a pension, maternity leave, paid state holidays, and much more. At DHS, we take care of our employees so you can help care for others.
Position Information
Job Series: Licensed Medical Professionals
Classification: Speech Pathologist – Competitive
Class Code: MLM07C
Pay Grade: MED07
Salary Range: $94,387 - $139,693
Job Summary
The Speech Pathologist is responsible for the assessment, diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of individuals with speech, language, communication, and swallowing disorders. This position plays a crucial role in helping individuals regain or improve their abilities to communicate effectively and safely. The Speech Pathologist works collaboratively with physicians, nurses, and other healthcare providers to create and implement individualized treatment plans for patients of all ages, from pediatric to geriatric populations.
Primary Responsibilities
Conduct thorough evaluations of patients' speech, language, cognitive communication, and swallowing abilities using standardized assessments, observations, and patient history. Identify and diagnose speech, language, and swallowing disorders, and develop treatment plans tailored to individual patient needs. Develop and implement individualized therapy plans to address patients' speech and language disorders, swallowing difficulties, and communication challenges. Provide therapeutic interventions, including exercises, strategies, and techniques to improve speech articulation, language comprehension, fluency, and swallowing safety. Assess and treat patients with dysphagia (swallowing disorders) by providing techniques to improve swallowing function, reduce the risk of aspiration, and enhance nutritional intake. Maintain accurate and up-to-date patient records, including assessment findings, treatment plans, progress notes, and discharge summaries.
Knowledge and Skills
Ability to assess and diagnose a wide range of speech, language, cognitive, and swallowing disorders through testing and patient observation. Proficiency in designing and implementing individualized speech and language therapy plans that address diverse patient needs. Expertise in assessing and treating dysphagia and providing appropriate interventions to ensure patient safety and proper nutritional intake.
Minimum Qualifications
A master’s degree in Speech Language Pathology or a related field.
Licensure/Certifications
Must hold a current Speech Pathologist license issued by the Arkansas Board of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology in accordance with state regulations. Certification from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) as a Certificate of Clinical Competence (CCC-SLP) is preferred, but not required. Equivalent certification may be accepted. OTHER JOB RELATED EDUCATION AND/OR EXPERIENCE MAY BE SUBSTITUTED FOR ALL OR PART OF THESE BASIC REQUIREMENTS, EXCEPT FOR CERTIFICATION OR LICENSURE REQUIREMENTS, UPON APPROVAL OF THE QUALIFICATIONS REVIEW COMMITTEE.
The State of Arkansas is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, age, disability, citizenship, national origin, genetic information, military or veteran status, or any other status or characteristic protected by law.
Req ID: 59365
Location:
Jonesboro, AR, US, 72404
#job-location.job-location-inline { display: inline; }
Category: AR DEPT OF HUMAN SERVICES
Anticipated Starting Salary: $94,387.07
Position Number: 22097313
County: Craighead
Posting End Date: September 7, 2026
The Department of Human Services is a place for people passionate about serving others and changing lives for the better. We care for Arkansans of all ages and ensure places like child care centers and nursing homes are safe. We are the safety net for the most vulnerable Arkansans. Whether you answer the phones, take applications, protect children, or help care for residents or patients at one of our facilities, you make a difference by working at DHS. Plus, working for the State has great perks, including a pension, maternity leave, paid state holidays, and much more. At DHS, we take care of our employees so you can help care for others.
Position Information
Job Series: Licensed Medical Professionals
Classification: Speech Pathologist – Competitive
Class Code: MLM07C
Pay Grade: MED07
Salary Range: $94,387 - $139,693
Job Summary
The Speech Pathologist is responsible for the assessment, diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of individuals with speech, language, communication, and swallowing disorders. This position plays a crucial role in helping individuals regain or improve their abilities to communicate effectively and safely. The Speech Pathologist works collaboratively with physicians, nurses, and other healthcare providers to create and implement individualized treatment plans for patients of all ages, from pediatric to geriatric populations.
Primary Responsibilities
Conduct thorough evaluations of patients' speech, language, cognitive communication, and swallowing abilities using standardized assessments, observations, and patient history. Identify and diagnose speech, language, and swallowing disorders, and develop treatment plans tailored to individual patient needs. Develop and implement individualized therapy plans to address patients' speech and language disorders, swallowing difficulties, and communication challenges. Provide therapeutic interventions, including exercises, strategies, and techniques to improve speech articulation, language comprehension, fluency, and swallowing safety. Assess and treat patients with dysphagia (swallowing disorders) by providing techniques to improve swallowing function, reduce the risk of aspiration, and enhance nutritional intake. Maintain accurate and up-to-date patient records, including assessment findings, treatment plans, progress notes, and discharge summaries.
Knowledge and Skills
Ability to assess and diagnose a wide range of speech, language, cognitive, and swallowing disorders through testing and patient observation. Proficiency in designing and implementing individualized speech and language therapy plans that address diverse patient needs. Expertise in assessing and treating dysphagia and providing appropriate interventions to ensure patient safety and proper nutritional intake.
Minimum Qualifications
A master’s degree in Speech Language Pathology or a related field.
Licensure/Certifications
Must hold a current Speech Pathologist license issued by the Arkansas Board of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology in accordance with state regulations. Certification from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) as a Certificate of Clinical Competence (CCC-SLP) is preferred, but not required. Equivalent certification may be accepted. OTHER JOB RELATED EDUCATION AND/OR EXPERIENCE MAY BE SUBSTITUTED FOR ALL OR PART OF THESE BASIC REQUIREMENTS, EXCEPT FOR CERTIFICATION OR LICENSURE REQUIREMENTS, UPON APPROVAL OF THE QUALIFICATIONS REVIEW COMMITTEE.
The State of Arkansas is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, age, disability, citizenship, national origin, genetic information, military or veteran status, or any other status or characteristic protected by law.
See All 23 Speech Pathologist Jobs in Arkansas
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Find Speech Pathologist JobsSpeech Pathologist Jobs by City in Arkansas
Where Arkansas roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Speech Pathologist Job Market in Arkansas
A snapshot from current Arkansas openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
Top Industries Hiring
- Government & Public Sector
What Arkansas Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in speech pathologist jobs across Arkansas.
- Active Arkansas speech-language pathology license issued by the Arkansas Board of Examiners in Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology
- Master's degree in speech-language pathology or communication disorders from an accredited program
- Certificate of Clinical Competence in Speech-Language Pathology from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association
- Minimum clinical practicum hours completed through a graduate program and Clinical Fellowship Year
- Experience with pediatric or school-age populations, including IEP development and caseload management
- Familiarity with augmentative and alternative communication devices and dysphagia evaluation protocols
Speech Pathologist Jobs in Arkansas: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a speech pathologist in Arkansas?
You must earn a master's degree in speech-language pathology, complete a Clinical Fellowship Year under supervision, and pass the Praxis examination in Speech-Language Pathology. Licensure is issued by the Arkansas Board of Examiners in Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology, which requires proof of your degree, Fellowship completion, and exam results before you can practice independently in the state.
How much do speech pathologists make in Arkansas?
Speech pathologists in Arkansas earn a median of about $83,580 a year, based on May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, ranging from around $56,250 for the lowest 10% to over $134,420 for the top 10%. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and employer.
Which companies hire speech pathologists in Arkansas?
Companies currently hiring speech pathologists in Arkansas include Reliant Rehabilitation, The Springs, and TheraPEDS, per current listings on Migrate Mate as of August 2026. Arkansas-based school districts and pediatric rehabilitation networks account for a large share of consistent openings across the state.
Which Arkansas cities have the most speech pathologist jobs?
Harrison, Fort Smith, and Hoxie have the most speech pathologist openings in Arkansas. Little Rock drives the largest share through its concentration of hospital systems and specialty clinics, while Fayetteville's growth as a regional hub and Jonesboro's anchor institutions such as Arkansas State University and St. Bernards Healthcare sustain demand across school-based and medical settings in the northeast part of the state.
Are there remote speech pathologist jobs in Arkansas?
Yes, but they're less common than in purely desk-based fields, since most speech pathology work requires direct client contact. About 0% of speech pathologist openings tied to Arkansas are remote or hybrid as of August 2026, with teletherapy roles in school-based and early intervention settings being the most likely to offer remote or hybrid arrangements.
How can I get hired as a speech pathologist in Arkansas with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is applying for Clinical Fellowship Year positions, which are structured for new graduates who have completed their master's degree and practicum hours but have not yet achieved independent licensure. Arkansas Children's Hospital and the Arkansas Department of Education's school district partners regularly onboard Clinical Fellows, and outpatient pediatric clinics are another strong entry point. Completing your ASHA certification requirements and securing your Arkansas provisional license before applying gives candidates a clear competitive edge over those still mid-program.
Where can I find and apply to speech pathologist jobs in Arkansas?
You can find and apply to speech pathologist jobs in Arkansas on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings tied to the state. Search the available roles, find the ones that fit your background and preferred setting, and apply directly to the positions that match your experience level and location.
See All 23 Speech Pathologist Jobs in Arkansas
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