Median Salary
$97,870
per year, national
Hourly Rate
$47.05
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
Top 10% Earn
$134,160
entry level starts ~$62,900
Pay Grade
B+
strong pay · 183,000 employed
How much does a Speech-Language Pathologist make?
The median pay for a Speech-Language Pathologist in the United States is $97,870 per year — about $47.05 per hour. Entry-level positions start near $62,900, while the most experienced Speech-Language Pathologists in the top 10% earn $134,160.
That is $36,480 more than the median across all occupations in BLS data ($61,390).
Speech-Language Pathologist salary range by percentile
Half of all Speech-Language Pathologists earn between $77,730 and $114,570 a year.
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $62,900 | $30.24 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $77,730 | $37.37 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $97,870 | $47.05 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $114,570 | $55.08 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $134,160 | $64.50 |
|
Highest-paying states for Speech-Language Pathologist
Where you work matters more than almost anything else. California leads the country for Speech-Language Pathologist pay at $118,970 a year, followed by Colorado ($110,750) and District of Columbia ($109,380). At the other end, South Dakota posts the lowest median at $65,680 — a gap of $53,290 for the same job, driven by local demand, industry mix, and cost of living.
Speech-Language Pathologist salary in every state
Official BLS state-level figures across 51 states and territories. Click a state for the full local breakdown.
California $118,970Colorado $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
Workforce and education
About 183,000 people work as Speech-Language Pathologists in the United States. On qualifications: a bachelor's degree (about 4 years of college) is the standard entry requirement, per O*NET occupation data.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Speech-Language Pathologist make in the United States?
The median Speech-Language Pathologist salary in the United States is $97,870 per year, or about $47.05 per hour, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates. Entry-level pay (10th percentile) starts around $62,900, while the top 10% of earners make $134,160 or more.
How does Speech-Language Pathologist pay compare to other jobs?
With a pay grade of B+ (strong pay), the Speech-Language Pathologist median of $97,870 is above the national median across all occupations tracked in BLS data ($61,390).
Which state pays Speech-Language Pathologists the most?
California is the highest-paying state for Speech-Language Pathologists, with a median salary of $118,970 per year, based on official state-level BLS wage estimates.
How long does it take to become a Speech-Language Pathologist?
Becoming a Speech-Language Pathologist typically requires about 4 years of college. A bachelor's degree (about 4 years of college) is the standard entry requirement.
How many Speech-Language Pathologists work in the United States?
About 183,000 people were employed as Speech-Language Pathologists in the United States in the latest BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics estimates.
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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). Percentiles, employment, and state figures are official BLS estimates; hourly figures assume 2,080 hours/year. Individual pay varies by employer, experience, and location.