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As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a Speech Pathologist in California is $107,290 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $52.
However, a Speech Pathologist's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:
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Speech Pathologist Salaries by Percentile
| Annual Salary |
Monthly Pay |
Weekly Pay |
Hourly Wage |
|
| 75th Percentile | $114,990 | $9,583 | $2,211 | $55 |
| Average | $107,290 | $8,941 | $2,063 | $52 |
| 25th Percentile | $98,890 | $8,241 | $1,902 | $48 |
3B Healthcare, Inc. - Hanford, CA
3B Healthcare, Inc. - Ukiah, CA
Accede Solutions Inc (accedesolution.com) - Lodi, CA
Adelanto Elementary School District - Adelanto, CA
A Speech Pathologist's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, and company size can directly affect your earning potential.
Experience is a primary driver of a Speech Pathologist's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:
| Levels | Salary |
|---|---|
| Entry Level Speech Pathologist | $105,184 |
| Intermediate Level Speech Pathologist | $107,311 |
| Senior Level Speech Pathologist | $110,719 |
| Specialist Level Speech Pathologist | $111,059 |
| Expert Level Speech Pathologist | $111,627 |
What Am I Worth?
Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Speech Pathologists. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:
Speech Pathologist salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $113,805. While startup companies pay approximate $96,978.
| Company Size | Employees | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Startup | 1~50 | $96,978 |
| Growth Stage | 51~500 | $102,373 |
| Established | 501~5000 | $110,083 |
| Enterprise | 5000+ | $113,805 |
For Speech Pathologist roles, the industry you choose can impact your earning potential by as much as 40% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the highest-paying industry, Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit, offers compensation 20% above the average. Conversely, Speech Pathologist positions in Healthcare typically offer lower base pay, as this sector often view Speech Pathologist as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.
| Industry Sector | Average Annual Salary | Average Hourly Rate | Pay vs.Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit | $128,748 | $62.0 | 20% |
Understanding how a Speech Pathologist's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.
| Annual Salary | Monthly Pay | Weekly Pay | Hourly Wage | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 75th Percentile | $114,990 | $9,583 | $2,211 | $55 |
| Average | $107,290 | $8,941 | $2,063 | $52 |
| 25th Percentile | $98,890 | $8,241 | $1,902 | $48 |
Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Speech Pathologist job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.
Centre for Neuro Skills
Emeryville, CA
Centre for Neuro Skills | Emeryville, CA
Staff Speech-Language Pathologist. Pay Range is $96,500 - $124,500 The Staff Speech-Language Pathologist is responsible for supervising and participating i... more
6 Days Ago
Encompass Health
Modesto, CA
Encompass Health | Modesto, CA
Speech Pathologist Career Opportunity. Welcome to Encompass Health: Where Compassion Meets Speech Therapy. Are you searching for a career that aligns with ... more
6 Days Ago
Califronia Therapy Connection
San Jose, CA
Califronia Therapy Connection | San Jose, CA
Job Description. Job Description. Full time position providing speech and language services to school aged students within the public school setting more
7 Days Ago
Amedisys Inc
Campbell, CA
Amedisys Inc | Campbell, CA
Speech Pathologist - Part-time or Per Diem. Join Amedisys-one of the largest and most trusted home health and hospice companies in the U.S.-where flexibili... more
7 Days Ago
Bestica Healthcare
Bakersfield, CA
Encompass Health
Maricopa, CA
Encompass Health | Maricopa, CA
Join Encompass Health's dedicated team, where our mission is to offer advanced rehabilitation services and the highest quality patient care to assist indiv... more
8 Days Ago
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