What is the average Speech-Language Pathologist salary in the US?

The national median Speech-Language Pathologist salary is $85,000 per year. Entry-level positions start around $68,000, while senior professionals earn $128,000 or more.

Which city pays Speech-Language Pathologists the most?

San Francisco offers the highest median Speech-Language Pathologist salary at $119K per year among the cities we track. However, high-cost cities like San Francisco and New York often have lower purchasing power once cost of living is factored in.

How fast are Speech-Language Pathologist salaries growing?

Speech-Language Pathologist salaries are growing at 4.2% annually, above the national average wage growth rate.

Healthcare20% remote-eligible+4.2% YoY growth

Speech-Language Pathologist Salary
by City (2026)

Diagnose and treat communication and swallowing disorders in children and adults. National median: $85K/year. See how your city compares.

National median

$85K

Top 10% earn

$128K

Entry level

$68K

Salary growth

+4.2%/yr

Speech-Language Pathologist salary by city

Sorted by median salary

City	Entry	Median	Senior	COL	Tax
San Francisco, CA	$95K	$119K	$147K	224	9.3%
San Jose, CA	$92K	$115K	$142K	210	9.3%
Oakland, CA	$88K	$111K	$137K	185	9.3%
Boston, MA	$88K	$111K	$137K	162	5%
Washington, DC	$88K	$111K	$137K	152	8.5%
Los Angeles, CA	$85K	$106K	$131K	163	9.3%
Jersey City, NJ	$85K	$106K	$131K	162	10.75%
San Diego, CA	$83K	$104K	$128K	148	9.3%
Seattle, WA	$83K	$104K	$128K	150	None ✓
Newark, NJ	$83K	$104K	$128K	155	10.75%
Arlington, VA	$82K	$102K	$126K	148	5.75%
Honolulu, HI	$82K	$102K	$126K	192	11%
Long Beach, CA	$80K	$100K	$124K	155	9.3%
Worcester, MA	$80K	$100K	$124K	120	5%
Baltimore, MD	$80K	$100K	$124K	115	5.75%
Anchorage, AK	$80K	$100K	$124K	128	None ✓
Sacramento, CA	$78K	$98K	$121K	128	9.3%
Philadelphia, PA	$78K	$98K	$121K	110	3.07%
Portland, OR	$78K	$98K	$121K	130	9.9%
Chicago, IL	$76K	$95K	$118K	107	4.95%
Denver, CO	$76K	$95K	$118K	118	4.55%
Hartford, CT	$76K	$95K	$118K	118	6.99%
Dallas, TX	$75K	$94K	$116K	96	None ✓
Miami, FL	$75K	$94K	$116K	123	None ✓
Tacoma, WA	$75K	$94K	$116K	128	None ✓
Minneapolis, MN	$75K	$94K	$116K	106	6.8%
Houston, TX	$73K	$92K	$113K	91	None ✓
Plano, TX	$73K	$92K	$113K	105	None ✓
Atlanta, GA	$73K	$92K	$113K	99	5.75%
Durham, NC	$73K	$92K	$113K	100	4.75%
Nashville, TN	$73K	$92K	$113K	102	None ✓
St. Paul, MN	$73K	$92K	$113K	104	6.8%
Aurora, CO	$72K	$90K	$111K	112	4.55%
Austin, TX	$71K	$89K	$110K	110	None ✓
Fort Worth, TX	$71K	$89K	$110K	93	None ✓
Irving, TX	$71K	$89K	$110K	97	None ✓
McKinney, TX	$71K	$89K	$110K	108	None ✓
Fort Lauderdale, FL	$71K	$89K	$110K	118	None ✓
Scottsdale, AZ	$71K	$89K	$110K	118	2.5%
Raleigh, NC	$71K	$89K	$110K	102	4.75%
Pittsburgh, PA	$71K	$89K	$110K	90	3.07%
Salt Lake City, UT	$71K	$89K	$110K	105	4.85%
San Antonio, TX	$69K	$87K	$107K	87	None ✓
Arlington, TX	$69K	$87K	$107K	94	None ✓
Garland, TX	$69K	$87K	$107K	91	None ✓
Tampa, FL	$69K	$87K	$107K	102	None ✓
Phoenix, AZ	$69K	$87K	$107K	100	2.5%
Charlotte, NC	$69K	$87K	$107K	100	4.75%
Amarillo, TX	$68K	$85K	$105K	82	None ✓
Grand Prairie, TX	$68K	$85K	$105K	90	None ✓
Frisco, TX	$68K	$85K	$105K	118	None ✓
Brownsville, TX	$68K	$85K	$105K	75	None ✓
Pasadena, TX	$68K	$85K	$105K	88	None ✓
Mesquite, TX	$68K	$85K	$105K	88	None ✓
Killeen, TX	$68K	$85K	$105K	80	None ✓
Midland, TX	$68K	$85K	$105K	92	None ✓
Waco, TX	$68K	$85K	$105K	82	None ✓
Abilene, TX	$68K	$85K	$105K	78	None ✓
Beaumont, TX	$68K	$85K	$105K	85	None ✓
Round Rock, TX	$68K	$85K	$105K	108	None ✓
Denton, TX	$68K	$85K	$105K	100	None ✓
Odessa, TX	$68K	$85K	$105K	85	None ✓
Carrollton, TX	$68K	$85K	$105K	102	None ✓
Tyler, TX	$68K	$85K	$105K	85	None ✓
Bakersfield, CA	$68K	$85K	$105K	95	9.3%
Anaheim, CA	$68K	$85K	$105K	148	9.3%
Santa Ana, CA	$68K	$85K	$105K	150	9.3%
Riverside, CA	$68K	$85K	$105K	118	9.3%
Stockton, CA	$68K	$85K	$105K	105	9.3%
Chula Vista, CA	$68K	$85K	$105K	138	9.3%
Irvine, CA	$68K	$85K	$105K	172	9.3%
San Bernardino, CA	$68K	$85K	$105K	100	9.3%
New York City, NY	$68K	$85K	$105K	187	6.85%
Yonkers, NY	$68K	$85K	$105K	165	6.85%
Syracuse, NY	$68K	$85K	$105K	88	6.85%
Albany, NY	$68K	$85K	$105K	98	6.85%
Orlando, FL	$68K	$85K	$105K	100	None ✓
Hialeah, FL	$68K	$85K	$105K	115	None ✓
Port St. Lucie, FL	$68K	$85K	$105K	98	None ✓
Cape Coral, FL	$68K	$85K	$105K	100	None ✓
Tallahassee, FL	$68K	$85K	$105K	90	None ✓
Pembroke Pines, FL	$68K	$85K	$105K	112	None ✓
Hollywood, FL	$68K	$85K	$105K	115	None ✓
Gainesville, FL	$68K	$85K	$105K	88	None ✓
Aurora, IL	$68K	$85K	$105K	95	4.95%
Joliet, IL	$68K	$85K	$105K	90	4.95%
Naperville, IL	$68K	$85K	$105K	118	4.95%
Rockford, IL	$68K	$85K	$105K	80	4.95%
Vancouver, WA	$68K	$85K	$105K	118	None ✓
Bellevue, WA	$68K	$85K	$105K	175	None ✓
Kirkland, WA	$68K	$85K	$105K	162	None ✓
Chandler, AZ	$68K	$85K	$105K	105	2.5%
Glendale, AZ	$68K	$85K	$105K	95	2.5%
Gilbert, AZ	$68K	$85K	$105K	108	2.5%
Tempe, AZ	$68K	$85K	$105K	108	2.5%
Peoria, AZ	$68K	$85K	$105K	100	2.5%
Fort Collins, CO	$68K	$85K	$105K	112	4.55%
Lakewood, CO	$68K	$85K	$105K	115	4.55%
Thornton, CO	$68K	$85K	$105K	108	4.55%
Pueblo, CO	$68K	$85K	$105K	82	4.55%
Columbus, GA	$68K	$85K	$105K	82	5.75%
Augusta, GA	$68K	$85K	$105K	82	5.75%
Athens, GA	$68K	$85K	$105K	92	5.75%
Macon, GA	$68K	$85K	$105K	80	5.75%
Springfield, MA	$68K	$85K	$105K	105	5%
Cambridge, MA	$68K	$85K	$105K	185	5%
Lowell, MA	$68K	$85K	$105K	118	5%
Greensboro, NC	$68K	$85K	$105K	88	4.75%
Winston-Salem, NC	$68K	$85K	$105K	85	4.75%
Fayetteville, NC	$68K	$85K	$105K	82	4.75%
Cary, NC	$68K	$85K	$105K	112	4.75%
Norfolk, VA	$68K	$85K	$105K	95	5.75%
Chesapeake, VA	$68K	$85K	$105K	98	5.75%
Richmond, VA	$68K	$85K	$105K	98	5.75%
Newport News, VA	$68K	$85K	$105K	95	5.75%
Alexandria, VA	$68K	$85K	$105K	145	5.75%
Chattanooga, TN	$68K	$85K	$105K	88	None ✓
Clarksville, TN	$68K	$85K	$105K	82	None ✓
Toledo, OH	$68K	$85K	$105K	78	3.99%
Akron, OH	$68K	$85K	$105K	80	3.99%
Dayton, OH	$68K	$85K	$105K	80	3.99%
Warren, MI	$68K	$85K	$105K	85	4.25%
Sterling Heights, MI	$68K	$85K	$105K	90	4.25%
Ann Arbor, MI	$68K	$85K	$105K	115	4.25%
Lansing, MI	$68K	$85K	$105K	85	4.25%
Allentown, PA	$68K	$85K	$105K	95	3.07%
Erie, PA	$68K	$85K	$105K	80	3.07%
Springfield, MO	$68K	$85K	$105K	80	5.3%
Independence, MO	$68K	$85K	$105K	85	5.3%
Fort Wayne, IN	$68K	$85K	$105K	80	3.23%
Evansville, IN	$68K	$85K	$105K	78	3.23%
South Bend, IN	$68K	$85K	$105K	82	3.23%
Madison, WI	$68K	$85K	$105K	102	5.3%
Green Bay, WI	$68K	$85K	$105K	88	5.3%
Kenosha, WI	$68K	$85K	$105K	90	5.3%
Rochester, MN	$68K	$85K	$105K	100	6.8%
Duluth, MN	$68K	$85K	$105K	92	6.8%
Salem, OR	$68K	$85K	$105K	105	9.9%
Eugene, OR	$68K	$85K	$105K	110	9.9%
Gresham, OR	$68K	$85K	$105K	118	9.9%
Las Vegas, NV	$68K	$85K	$105K	102	None ✓
Henderson, NV	$68K	$85K	$105K	105	None ✓
Reno, NV	$68K	$85K	$105K	108	None ✓
North Las Vegas, NV	$68K	$85K	$105K	98	None ✓
West Valley City, UT	$68K	$85K	$105K	98	4.85%
Provo, UT	$68K	$85K	$105K	100	4.85%
West Jordan, UT	$68K	$85K	$105K	100	4.85%
Orem, UT	$68K	$85K	$105K	98	4.85%
Lexington, KY	$68K	$85K	$105K	88	5%
Bowling Green, KY	$68K	$85K	$105K	80	5%
Montgomery, AL	$68K	$85K	$105K	80	5%
Mobile, AL	$68K	$85K	$105K	82	5%
North Charleston, SC	$68K	$85K	$105K	95	6.5%
Greenville, SC	$68K	$85K	$105K	92	6.5%
Norman, OK	$68K	$85K	$105K	80	4.75%
Broken Arrow, OK	$68K	$85K	$105K	82	4.75%
Shreveport, LA	$68K	$85K	$105K	78	6%
Lafayette, LA	$68K	$85K	$105K	85	6%
Frederick, MD	$68K	$85K	$105K	115	5.75%
Rockville, MD	$68K	$85K	$105K	148	5.75%
Paterson, NJ	$68K	$85K	$105K	140	10.75%
Elizabeth, NJ	$68K	$85K	$105K	145	10.75%
Edison, NJ	$68K	$85K	$105K	138	10.75%
Bridgeport, CT	$68K	$85K	$105K	118	6.99%
New Haven, CT	$68K	$85K	$105K	122	6.99%
Stamford, CT	$68K	$85K	$105K	158	6.99%
Cedar Rapids, IA	$68K	$85K	$105K	85	4.82%
Davenport, IA	$68K	$85K	$105K	82	4.82%
Overland Park, KS	$68K	$85K	$105K	100	5.7%
Kansas City, KS	$68K	$85K	$105K	85	5.7%
Lincoln, NE	$68K	$85K	$105K	85	5.84%
Las Cruces, NM	$68K	$85K	$105K	80	5.9%
Rio Rancho, NM	$68K	$85K	$105K	85	5.9%
Boise, ID	$68K	$85K	$105K	108	5.8%
Meridian, ID	$68K	$85K	$105K	105	5.8%
Nampa, ID	$68K	$85K	$105K	98	5.8%
Billings, MT	$68K	$85K	$105K	98	6.75%
Missoula, MT	$68K	$85K	$105K	102	6.75%
Great Falls, MT	$68K	$85K	$105K	88	6.75%
Cheyenne, WY	$68K	$85K	$105K	92	None ✓
Casper, WY	$68K	$85K	$105K	88	None ✓
Fargo, ND	$68K	$85K	$105K	90	2.5%
Bismarck, ND	$68K	$85K	$105K	88	2.5%
Sioux Falls, SD	$68K	$85K	$105K	88	None ✓
Rapid City, SD	$68K	$85K	$105K	88	None ✓
Jackson, MS	$68K	$85K	$105K	78	5%
Gulfport, MS	$68K	$85K	$105K	80	5%
Fort Smith, AR	$68K	$85K	$105K	75	4.9%
Fayetteville, AR	$68K	$85K	$105K	85	4.9%
Charleston, WV	$68K	$85K	$105K	78	6.5%
Huntington, WV	$68K	$85K	$105K	75	6.5%
Portland, ME	$68K	$85K	$105K	115	7.15%
Lewiston, ME	$68K	$85K	$105K	98	7.15%
Manchester, NH	$68K	$85K	$105K	118	None ✓
Nashua, NH	$68K	$85K	$105K	120	None ✓
Concord, NH	$68K	$85K	$105K	115	None ✓
Burlington, VT	$68K	$85K	$105K	118	6.6%
Providence, RI	$68K	$85K	$105K	118	5.99%
Warwick, RI	$68K	$85K	$105K	115	5.99%
Wilmington, DE	$68K	$85K	$105K	108	6.6%
Dover, DE	$68K	$85K	$105K	100	6.6%
Pearl City, HI	$68K	$85K	$105K	185	11%
Hilo, HI	$68K	$85K	$105K	155	11%
Fairbanks, AK	$68K	$85K	$105K	138	None ✓
Bethesda, MD	$68K	$85K	$105K	165	5.75%
Fresno, CA	$67K	$83K	$103K	102	9.3%
Rochester, NY	$67K	$83K	$103K	90	6.85%
Jacksonville, FL	$67K	$83K	$103K	93	None ✓
St. Petersburg, FL	$67K	$83K	$103K	105	None ✓
Mesa, AZ	$67K	$83K	$103K	98	2.5%
Virginia Beach, VA	$67K	$83K	$103K	98	5.75%
Columbus, OH	$67K	$83K	$103K	90	3.99%
Milwaukee, WI	$67K	$83K	$103K	90	5.3%
Charleston, SC	$67K	$83K	$103K	105	6.5%
Spokane, WA	$65K	$82K	$101K	95	None ✓
Colorado Springs, CO	$65K	$82K	$101K	102	4.55%
Cincinnati, OH	$65K	$82K	$101K	88	3.99%
Detroit, MI	$65K	$82K	$101K	82	4.25%
Kansas City, MO	$65K	$82K	$101K	90	5.3%
St. Louis, MO	$65K	$82K	$101K	86	5.3%
Indianapolis, IN	$65K	$82K	$101K	88	3.23%
Louisville, KY	$65K	$82K	$101K	85	5%
Corpus Christi, TX	$65K	$81K	$100K	84	None ✓
Buffalo, NY	$65K	$81K	$100K	88	6.85%
Cleveland, OH	$65K	$81K	$100K	82	3.99%
Huntsville, AL	$65K	$81K	$100K	88	5%
New Orleans, LA	$65K	$81K	$100K	92	6%
Des Moines, IA	$65K	$81K	$100K	88	4.82%
Omaha, NE	$65K	$81K	$100K	88	5.84%
El Paso, TX	$63K	$78K	$97K	82	None ✓
Tucson, AZ	$63K	$78K	$97K	90	2.5%
Savannah, GA	$63K	$78K	$97K	92	5.75%
Memphis, TN	$63K	$78K	$97K	82	None ✓
Grand Rapids, MI	$63K	$78K	$97K	90	4.25%
Birmingham, AL	$63K	$78K	$97K	82	5%
Columbia, SC	$63K	$78K	$97K	88	6.5%
Oklahoma City, OK	$63K	$78K	$97K	82	4.75%
Baton Rouge, LA	$63K	$78K	$97K	88	6%
Albuquerque, NM	$63K	$78K	$97K	88	5.9%
Lubbock, TX	$61K	$77K	$95K	78	None ✓
Knoxville, TN	$61K	$77K	$95K	85	None ✓
Tulsa, OK	$61K	$77K	$95K	80	4.75%
Wichita, KS	$61K	$77K	$95K	82	5.7%
Laredo, TX	$60K	$75K	$92K	76	None ✓
Little Rock, AR	$60K	$75K	$92K	82	4.9%

COL-adjusted: where does your salary go furthest?

A $85K Speech-Language Pathologist salary in Houston (COL 91, no tax) has significantly more purchasing power than the same salary in San Francisco (COL 224, 9.3% state tax). Use our calculator to see the real numbers.

Try COL Calculator →

Speech-Language Pathologist Salary Guide (2026)

The national median salary for a Speech-Language Pathologist is $85,000 per year. Entry-level positions typically start at $68,000, while experienced professionals in the top 25% earn $105,000 or more. The highest-paid 10% of Speech-Language Pathologists nationally earn $128,000+.

Education and requirements

Master's in Speech-Language Pathology; CCC-SLP certification. This role is 20% remote-eligible nationally, which significantly expands the geographic job market for workers in lower cost-of-living cities.

Salary growth outlook

Speech-Language Pathologist compensation is growing at 4.2% annually, well above the national average wage growth rate.

Speech-Language Pathologist Salaryby City (2026)