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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Real salary distribution from 288 tracked cities across 46 states. Compare entry-level, median, and senior compensation — then adjust for cost of living.
The pay gap between states for this occupation? It can fund an entire year of rent. The national median salary for Speech-Language Pathologists in 2026 is $97,767, with entry-level positions averaging $70,392 and senior roles reaching $138,829. But those numbers flatten a reality with enormous geographic variation — Sunnyvale pays a median of $178,080, while other markets fall well below the national average. We tracked 288 cities to build the complete picture.
A career as a Speech-Language Pathologist sits at the intersection of Healthcare and Healthcare. Most professionals enter with Master's in SLP, and the field is characterized by growing. The work itself is clinical/school. Understanding that context matters: it explains why certain markets pay premiums and others lag.
$108,360 separates the highest and lowest-paying cities. A Speech-Language Pathologist in Sunnyvale, California earns a median of $178,080 — $108,360 more than their counterpart in Toledo, Ohio ($69,720). That gap alone is more than many cities' annual rent. In the right market, this is a six-figure career path.
The salary distribution for Speech-Language Pathologists reveals a $68,437 spread from entry to senior. At $97,767, the median sits $17,400 above the national median household income of $80,367. That's a strong baseline — and it only includes individual earnings, not household. The P10 floor of $70,392 represents early-career or part-time positions, while the $138,829 ceiling captures experienced professionals in premium markets.
The pay gap between the top and bottom markets is dramatic: $166,320 (average of the top 3 cities) versus $70,280 (average of the bottom 3). That $96,040 delta is real money — $8,003/month before taxes. But the highest-paying cities tend to be the most expensive. The cost-adjusted comparison below tells the more important story.
A Speech-Language Pathologist in Sunnyvale, California earns a median of $178,080 — $108,360 more than their counterpart in Toledo, Ohio ($69,720). That gap alone is more than many cities' annual rent.
The national average entry-level (P10) salary for Speech-Language Pathologist is $70,392, while senior-level (P90) earners average $138,829. That $68,437 trajectory represents the earning growth a career in this field can deliver.
At the 90th percentile, Speech-Language Pathologists pull in an average of $138,829. In the top-paying markets, that figure climbs even higher — making this one of the more lucrative career trajectories in its field.
Even at the 10th percentile, Speech-Language Pathologists average $70,392 nationally. That's a higher starting floor than many careers' median — a signal of strong baseline demand and compensation.
| Country | Coverage | Entry (P10) | Median | Senior (P90) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 288 | $70,392 | $97,767 | $138,829 |
| United Kingdom | 27 | £36,580 | £50,805 | £72,144 |
| Canada | 21 | CA$56,643 | CA$78,671 | CA$111,712 |
| Australia | 13 | A$65,485 | A$90,951 | A$129,150 |
| Sweden | 24 | 386,578 kr | 536,913 kr | 762,417 kr |
| State | Cities | Entry (P10) | Median | Senior (P90) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | 61 | $84,960 | $117,999 | $167,559 |
| Massachusetts | 4 | $82,102 | $114,030 | $161,923 |
| Hawaii | 1 | $81,648 | $113,400 | $161,028 |
| District of Columbia | 1 | $75,600 | $105,000 | $149,100 |
| New Jersey | 4 | $74,693 | $103,740 | $147,311 |
| Washington | 8 | $73,256 | $101,745 | $144,478 |
| New York | 5 | $68,947 | $95,760 | $135,979 |
| Rhode Island | 1 | $68,947 | $95,760 | $135,979 |
| Florida | 22 | $68,425 | $95,035 | $134,949 |
| Colorado | 11 | $67,243 | $93,393 | $132,618 |
| New Hampshire | 1 | $67,133 | $93,240 | $132,401 |
| Nevada | 5 | $67,012 | $93,072 | $132,162 |
| Arizona | 12 | $66,679 | $92,610 | $131,506 |
| Oregon | 5 | $66,528 | $92,400 | $131,208 |
| Idaho | 3 | $66,326 | $92,120 | $130,810 |
| Connecticut | 5 | $65,802 | $91,392 | $129,777 |
| Utah | 4 | $65,621 | $91,140 | $129,419 |
| Virginia | 7 | $64,541 | $89,640 | $127,289 |
| South Carolina | 3 | $63,706 | $88,480 | $125,642 |
| Alaska | 1 | $63,504 | $88,200 | $125,244 |
| Illinois | 5 | $62,778 | $87,192 | $123,813 |
| North Carolina | 9 | $61,219 | $85,027 | $120,738 |
| New Mexico | 3 | $60,480 | $84,000 | $119,280 |
| Montana | 1 | $60,480 | $84,000 | $119,280 |
| Tennessee | 6 | $60,278 | $83,720 | $118,882 |
| Texas | 40 | $59,981 | $83,307 | $118,296 |
| Minnesota | 2 | $59,876 | $83,160 | $118,088 |
| Wisconsin | 2 | $59,573 | $82,740 | $117,491 |
| Georgia | 6 | $59,371 | $82,460 | $117,093 |
| Pennsylvania | 3 | $59,270 | $82,320 | $116,894 |
| Kansas | 4 | $58,968 | $81,900 | $116,298 |
| Michigan | 6 | $58,766 | $81,620 | $115,900 |
| Kentucky | 2 | $58,061 | $80,640 | $114,509 |
| Maryland | 1 | $58,061 | $80,640 | $114,509 |
| Nebraska | 2 | $57,456 | $79,800 | $113,316 |
| South Dakota | 1 | $57,456 | $79,800 | $113,316 |
| Oklahoma | 4 | $55,944 | $77,700 | $110,334 |
| North Dakota | 1 | $55,642 | $77,280 | $109,738 |
| Louisiana | 4 | $54,886 | $76,230 | $108,247 |
| Missouri | 4 | $54,886 | $76,230 | $108,247 |
| Alabama | 5 | $54,674 | $75,936 | $107,829 |
| Indiana | 3 | $53,827 | $74,760 | $106,159 |
| Arkansas | 1 | $53,827 | $74,760 | $106,159 |
| Iowa | 2 | $53,222 | $73,920 | $104,966 |
| Ohio | 6 | $53,122 | $73,780 | $104,768 |
| Mississippi | 1 | $50,803 | $70,560 | $100,195 |
The state salary map for Speech-Language Pathologists: California at $117,999, Massachusetts at $114,030, Hawaii at $113,400 lead the pack. The bottom tier — Mississippi ($70,560), Ohio ($73,780), Iowa ($73,920) — shows how regional economics reshape compensation. Across all 46 states with data, the state-level spread alone is $47,439.
When you adjust the top-paying cities for cost of living, the ranking reshuffles. Sunnyvale ($178,080 nominal, 212 cost index) delivers $84,000 in purchasing power — maintaining its lead even after cost adjustment. This is the metric that matters for anyone considering a geo-based career move.
Raw salary divided by the local cost index — this shows where your paycheck buys the most.
| # | City | Nominal Salary | Cost Index | Adjusted Salary | Est. Take-Home |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sunnyvale California | $178,080 | 212 | $84,000 | $104,991 |
| 2 | Santa Clara California | $166,320 | 198 | $84,000 | $98,517 |
| 3 | Irvine California | $154,560 | 184 | $84,000 | $92,043 |
| 4 | San Francisco California | $152,040 | 181 | $84,000 | $90,656 |
| 5 | Carlsbad California | $149,520 | 178 | $84,000 | $89,268 |
| 6 | San Jose California | $148,680 | 177 | $84,000 | $88,806 |
| 7 | Fremont California | $148,680 | 177 | $84,000 | $88,806 |
| 8 | Berkeley California | $145,320 | 173 | $84,000 | $86,956 |
| 9 | Costa Mesa California | $145,320 | 173 | $84,000 | $86,956 |
| 10 | Huntington Beach California | $141,960 | 169 | $84,000 | $85,106 |
The $68,437 gap between P10 and P90 represents the earning trajectory of a Speech-Language Pathologist career. Senior-level earners make 2.0× what entry-level professionals do — a solid progression that justifies the upfront investment. In the Healthcare sector, growing, which shapes both starting salaries and long-term ceiling.
The weighted national median salary for Speech-Language Pathologists is $97,767 in 2026, based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics across 288 U.S. metro areas. Entry-level (10th percentile) averages $70,392, while experienced professionals at the 90th percentile average $138,829.
The highest-paying city for Speech-Language Pathologists is Sunnyvale, California with a median salary of $178,080. The top 3 cities are Sunnyvale ($178,080), Santa Clara ($166,320), Irvine ($154,560). Note: high-paying cities often have higher costs of living — check the cost-adjusted rankings above for purchasing power.
The lowest median Speech-Language Pathologist salary in our data is in Toledo, Ohio at $69,720. However, lower-paying cities often have significantly lower costs of living, which can offset the pay gap. Always compare salary data alongside local cost of living.
Entry-level Speech-Language Pathologists (10th percentile) average $70,392 nationally. This varies by city — in the highest-paying markets, entry-level pay can be close to $128,218. Experience, certifications, and employer type all influence starting salary.
At the 90th percentile (senior level), Speech-Language Pathologists average $138,829 nationally — $68,437 more than entry-level. In top-paying cities, senior Speech-Language Pathologists can earn up to $252,874.
The top-paying states for Speech-Language Pathologists are California ($117,999 median), Massachusetts ($114,030 median), Hawaii ($113,400 median). State averages are computed across all tracked cities in each state, weighted equally.
The typical education path for a Speech-Language Pathologist involves Master's in SLP. The field is in the Healthcare sector (Healthcare), and the career outlook is growing. Work style is typically clinical/school.
With a national median of $97,767 and representation across 288 metro areas, Speech-Language Pathologist offers above-average earning potential compared to national household income. The $68,437 gap between entry and senior pay shows room for salary growth. Industry outlook: growing.
All salary data on this page is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, which surveys employers across U.S. metropolitan areas. We present 10th percentile (entry), 50th percentile (median), and 90th percentile (senior) pay benchmarks. Cost-of-living adjustments use our core database of 288 cities.
Salary data is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, which surveys employers across U.S. metropolitan and non-metropolitan areas. We present the 10th percentile (entry-level), 50th percentile (median), and 90th percentile (senior) pay benchmarks.
Cost-of-living adjustments use Livably's core index derived from Zillow rent data, Census income surveys, and regional BLS price data. Take-home pay estimates apply simplified federal brackets, 7.65% FICA, and state income tax rates from the Tax Foundation.
State and national averages are computed as simple means across all tracked cities with data for this occupation. Rankings are updated monthly as new BLS releases become available.