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Speech and Language Pathologist Salary in the United States

How much does a Speech and Language Pathologist make in the United States?

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for a Speech and Language Pathologist in the United States is $97,276 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $47.

However, a Speech and Language Pathologist's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $110,452
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $89,615 to $104,173
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $82,640
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Speech and Language Pathologist Salaries

A Speech and Language 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, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Speech and Language Pathologist Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Speech and Language 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:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $95,332
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $97,276
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $100,364
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $100,673
  • Expert (over 8 years): $101,188
Levels Salary
Entry Level Speech and Language Pathologist$95,332
Intermediate Level Speech and Language Pathologist$97,276
Senior Level Speech and Language Pathologist$100,364
Specialist Level Speech and Language Pathologist$100,673
Expert Level Speech and Language Pathologist$101,188
View as Graph

How Do Speech and Language Pathologist Salaries Vary from State to State?

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 and Language Pathologists. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $107,704.
  • California: $107,295.
  • Massachusetts: $105,865.

Top Paying Cities for Speech and Language Pathologists

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:

  • San Jose: $122,694
  • San Francisco: $121,351
  • Oakland: $118,793

What Skills Can Increase a Speech and Language Pathologist's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Commitment (Mentioned in 3.98% Job Postings): An agreement or pledge to do something in the future a commitment to improve conditions at the prison especially : an engagement to assume a financial obligation at a future date.
  • Rehabilitation Services (Mentioned in 3.67% Job Postings): Rehabilitation services is a special healthcare service that help a person regain physical, mental, and/or cognitive (thinking and learning) abilities that have been lost or impaired as a result of disease, injury, or treatment.
  • Infection Control (Mentioned in 2.16% Job Postings): Infection control is the discipline concerned with preventing nosocomial or healthcare-associated infection, a practical (rather than academic) sub-discipline of epidemiology. It is an essential, though often underrecognized and undersupported, part of the infrastructure of health care. Infection control and hospital epidemiology are akin to public health practice, practiced within the confines of a particular health-care delivery system rather than directed at society as a whole. Anti-infective agents include antibiotics, antibacterials, antifungals, antivirals and antiprotozoals. Infection control addresses factors related to the spread of infections within the healthcare setting (whether patient-to-patient, from patients to staff and from staff to patients, or among-staff), including prevention (via hand hygiene/hand washing, cleaning/disinfection/sterilization, vaccination, surveillance), monitoring/investigation of demonstrated or suspected spread of infection within a particular health-care setting (surveillance and outbreak investigation), and management (interruption of outbreaks). It is on this basis that the common title being adopted within health care is "infection prevention and control."
Skills Demand Percentage
Commitment 3.98%
Rehabilitation Services 3.67%
Infection Control 2.16%
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What skills can make your compensation higher?

Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on a Speech and Language Pathologist's salary.

  • Interviewing: Can increase your salary by up to 2%.
  • Process Improvement: Can increase your salary by up to 2%.
  • Management Skills: Can increase your salary by up to 1%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Interviewing $99,222
2%
Process Improvement $99,222
2%
Management Skills $98,249
1%
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Speech and Language Pathologist Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise

Speech and Language Pathologist salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $103,248. While startup companies pay approximate $87,925.

Speech and Language Pathologist Salary by Company Size

Company Size Employees Average Salary
Startup 1~50 $87,925
Growth Stage 51~500 $92,838
Established 501~5000 $99,849
Enterprise 5000+ $103,248

Speech and Language Pathologist Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Speech and Language 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 and Language Pathologist positions in Healthcare typically offer lower base pay, as this sector often view Speech and Language Pathologist as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industry for a Speech and Language Pathologist

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit$116,731$56.020%

How Education impacts a Speech and Language Pathologist's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Speech and Language Pathologist enter the field with a Bachelor's Degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for an Speech and Language Pathologist with a Bachelor's Degree is between $0 and $0.

Speech and Language Pathologist Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Speech and Language Pathologist
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 0.2%
High School 0.1%
Associates 0.5%
Bachelors 4.8%
Masters 92.3%
Doctorate 2.1%
View as Graph

Speech and Language Pathologist Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Speech and Language 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.

Last Updated on September 01, 2026
$89,615
Average $97,276/year
$104,173
$7,468
Average $8,106/month
$8,681
$1,723
Average $1,871/week
$2,003
$43
Average $47/hour
$50
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $104,173 $8,681 $2,003 $50
Average $97,276 $8,106 $1,871 $47
25th Percentile $89,615 $7,468 $1,723 $43

Most common benefits for Speech and Language Pathologist

  • Social Security
  • 401 (k)
  • Disability
  • Healthcare
  • Pension
  • Time Off (days)

Common company salaries for Speech and Language Pathologist

Here are companies hiring for Speech and Language Pathologist and their salaries, click below for more details.

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FAQ about Speech and Language Pathologist

1. Where can a Speech and Language Pathologist earn the most?

A Speech and Language Pathologist's earning potential can vary widely depending on several factors, including location, industry, experience, education, and the specific employer. According to the latest salary data by Salary.com, a Speech and Language Pathologist earns the most in San Jose, CA, where the annual salary of a Speech and Language Pathologist is $122,694.

2. What is the highest pay for Speech and Language Pathologist?

The highest pay for Speech and Language Pathologist is $110,452.

3. What is the lowest pay for Speech and Language Pathologist?

The lowest pay for Speech and Language Pathologist is $82,640.

4. What are the responsibilities of Speech and Language Pathologist?

Assesses and treats speech and language disorders and impairments. Conducts evaluations of an individual's speech and language skills using applicable diagnostic materials and tools. Develops treatment plans that utilize appropriate intervention approaches, strategies, and materials. Establishes treatment priorities that include advising, educating, and counseling. Completes required documentation to record assessment and progress. Collaborates with physicians, family members, and other clinical providers to provide effective therapies. May direct support staff in assisting with treatment. Requires a master's degree in speech pathology. Requires Certificate of Clinical Competence in Speech-Language Pathology (CCC-SLP). Requires State License based on Clinical Specialty. Typically reports to a manager. Years of experience may be unspecified. Certification and/or licensing in the position's specialty is the main requirement.

5. What industry pays the highest salary for Speech and Language Pathologist?

The Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit industry offers the highest average compensation for Speech and Language Pathologist roles, with salaries approximately 20% above the market median.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

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