Summer Income Ideas for School-Based SLPs

May 21

Every spring, the same question pops up across SLP groups and social media:

“What do you do for income during the summer?”

If you're a school-based SLP on a 9- or 10-month contract, you're not alone in wondering how to bridge the summer income gap. The good news? There are flexible, practical, and creative ways to earn income and recharge.

Let’s explore short-term income ideas and ways to plant seeds for long-term change.

1. Stretch Your Pay Over 12 Months (Manually)

If your district doesn’t prorate your pay or you’re a contracted SLP without the option to prorate, don’t worry—you can DIY it.

Here’s a quick and dirty way to calculate how much to prorate
(also this is not financial advice…you do you):

Figure out your monthly expenses.
Multiply that by 3 to account for your June–August expenses.
Divide that total by 9, and set aside that amount from each school-year paycheck.
Place those funds into a high-yield savings account (HYSA) to build your summer cushion.

It’s a simple way to create financial stability without changing your job OR picking up an extra one.

2. Extended School Year (ESY) Services

Many districts offer ESY programs for students who require continued services to prevent regression.

Pros:

Often part-time and flexible.
Keeps you in a familiar environment.

Cons:

Positions fill quickly.
Rarely full-time.

Start checking with your district in early spring—these roles get snapped up fast!

3. Take on Private Clients

Summer is a great time to offer short-term services like:

Articulation bootcamps
Parent coaching
Virtual or in-home sessions

The cool thing about these options? This is also how you start building your private practice.

Want help getting started?
Check out Jena Castro Casbon’s Start Your Private Practice course—it’s packed with guidance for launching with confidence. I can’t recommend it enough, this is how I got started!

4. PRN Work at Clinics or Hospitals

Many outpatient clinics and medical centers look for PRN (as-needed) SLPs to cover summer absences or high caseloads.

Benefits:

Try a new setting.
Stay clinically sharp and collaborate with new professionals.
Often flexible and part-time.

This is also a great resume-builder if you’re thinking of a career pivot down the road.

5. Consulting, Coaching, and Telepractice

Summer can be the perfect time to plant new professional seeds. I am a BIG believer in trying a little bit at a time. Use this time to:

Explore telepractice
Look into upcoming school contracts
Begin transitioning out of traditional full-time roles

I used my 2024 summer to dive into independent teletherapy and go all in on my own private practice. You can do this!

Need a roadmap for school contracting?

Elise Mitchell’s school contracting courses are a great place to start if you're eyeing independent contracts. This is how I jumped more seriously into school contracting.
My course, The Essential Teletherapist, walks you through the tech, tools, and confidence you need to shift into virtual services.

6. Creative Non-Therapy Income

There are so many ways to use your skills beyond direct therapy - think of your transferrable skills:

Create resources for Teachers Pay Teachers
Freelance write for therapy blogs
Develop continuing education content
Tutor or run literacy enrichment programs

You can generate income and reach new audiences—on your own terms.

7. Become an Expert Witness

This one might surprise you! While not a consistent income stream, working as an expert witness can be a powerful (and well-compensated) opportunity.

Lawyers often need SLPs to consult or testify in cases involving:

Special education services
Brain injury or stroke
AAC access
Communication impairments
Issues in bilingualism (this is my area!)

If you’re interested in this kind of work:

Reach out to law firms or attorneys
Get listed on expert witness directories
Let your professional network know you’re available
Take continuing ed! There is a course about this on speechpathology.com

Even being contacted once or twice a year can be worth it—and once you’re known, you may become the go-to SLP when they need one.

8. Don't Forget the Value of Rest + Growth

This post focuses on income—but don’t overlook the power of recharging and investing in yourself. Summer is a golden opportunity to:

Build your private practice
Learn a new skill
Transition to telepractice
Explore new contract work
Or just rest and come back renewed

You deserve that space too. I hope that you can take time this summer to set yourself up to settle down the summer hustle moving forward - you are so worth rest and relaxation and peace of mind.

Need help making a plan that works for your lifestyle, goals, and schedule?

Download my free worksheet to:

Brainstorm income options
Reflect on long-term career goals
Map out your summer vision with clarity

You don’t have to “hustle” every minute of summer—but with the right tools and options, you can create a summer that supports your income and your well-being.

Let this be the year you stop scrambling and start feeling in control.