California Median
$118,970
per year
Hourly Rate
$57.20
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
vs National
+22% vs US median
US median $97,870
State Rank
#1 of 51
16,930 employed here
How much does a Speech-Language Pathologist make in California?
A Speech-Language Pathologist working in California earns a median salary of $118,970 per year, or about $57.20 per hour. That is 22% above the national median of $97,870 for this occupation.
Within California, entry-level pay starts around $79,750 while the top 10% make $160,900 or more. The middle 50% of earners fall between $98,920 and $135,070 a year.
Speech-Language Pathologist salary range in California
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $79,750 | $38.34 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $98,920 | $47.56 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $118,970 | $57.20 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $135,070 | $64.94 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $160,900 | $77.36 |
|
How California compares
California ranks 1st out of 51 states and territories for Speech-Language Pathologist pay. The top 5 best-paying states:
Speech-Language Pathologist salary in other states
Colorado $110,750District of Columbia $109,380Washington $105,550Nevada $104,510Rhode Island $104,000Delaware $102,760Alaska $102,670Oregon $102,660New Jersey $101,560Massachusetts $101,310New York $100,610Connecticut $100,110Florida $99,990Texas $99,910Maryland $99,190New Mexico $98,690Arizona $97,800Hawaii $97,560Georgia $96,760Virginia $96,250Illinois $95,080Ohio $93,300Pennsylvania $92,960Utah $91,560South Carolina $90,530Minnesota $89,380Missouri $89,280Michigan $89,120Indiana $87,360North Carolina $86,460Tennessee $84,630Oklahoma $84,470Idaho $84,380Nebraska $84,350Arkansas $83,580Kentucky $83,550New Hampshire $83,040Wisconsin $83,000Maine $82,660Vermont $82,090Wyoming $82,040Iowa $81,050West Virginia $80,970Kansas $80,120Montana $78,740Mississippi $78,130North Dakota $75,240Alabama $73,660Louisiana $69,610South Dakota $65,680
Working as a Speech-Language Pathologist in California
Nationally, about 183,000 people work as Speech-Language Pathologists in the United States. A bachelor's degree (about 4 years of college) is the standard entry requirement.
Considering a move? Compare California pay ($118,970) against the highest-paying state above, and weigh the difference against housing and everyday costs — a smaller paycheck in a cheaper state can stretch further.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Speech-Language Pathologist make in California?
The median Speech-Language Pathologist salary in California is $118,970 per year, or about $57.20 per hour, per official BLS state wage estimates. Salaries typically range from $79,750 at the entry level to $160,900 for the top 10% of earners.
How does California pay compare to the national average?
California pays Speech-Language Pathologists about 22% more than the national median of $97,870. California ranks 1st out of 51 states and territories reporting this occupation.
Is California a good state for Speech-Language Pathologists?
Yes on pay — California pays above the national median for this occupation, at $118,970 a year. About 16,930 Speech-Language Pathologists are employed in California. Weigh that against local housing and living costs before moving.
What are the highest-paying jobs in California?
The highest-paying occupations in California include Ophthalmologist, Except Pediatric ($400,150), Neurologist ($357,080), Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers ($353,900), based on median annual pay in official BLS state estimates.
← See the national Speech-Language Pathologist salary report
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Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Unknown vintage. Education requirements: O*NET (U.S. Department of Labor). State figures are official BLS state-level wage estimates. Where BLS suppresses a state percentile, it is scaled from the official national distribution. Individual pay varies by employer, metro area, and experience.