Salaries › Speech-Language Pathologist

Speech-Language Pathologist Salary by State (2026)

How much does a Speech-Language Pathologist make? The median Speech-Language Pathologist salary in the US is about $96,627 per year (roughly $46.00 an hour), across 183,370 jobs (Speech-Language Pathologists). But pay swings widely by state — the median ranges from $65,680 in South Dakota to $118,970 in California. Pick your state below for the full pay range and an estimated take-home after taxes.

Median Speech-Language Pathologist salary in every state

StateMedian salaryJobs
California $118,970 16,930
Colorado $110,750 4,420
District of Columbia $109,380 390
Washington $105,550 3,570
Nevada $104,510 1,270
Rhode Island $104,000 720
Delaware $102,760 690
Alaska $102,670 340
Oregon $102,660 1,600
New Jersey $101,560 6,840
Massachusetts $101,310 5,290
New York $100,610 15,310
Connecticut $100,110 2,390
Florida $99,990 10,080
Texas $99,910 19,120
Maryland $99,190 3,510
New Mexico $98,690 1,250
Arizona $97,800 3,390
Hawaii $97,560 270
Georgia $96,760 4,030
Virginia $96,250 4,460
Illinois $95,080 9,040
Ohio $93,300 7,270
Pennsylvania $92,960 6,570
Utah $91,560 1,460
South Carolina $90,530 2,190
Minnesota $89,380 3,890
Missouri $89,280 3,230
Michigan $89,120 4,730
Indiana $87,360 3,310
North Carolina $86,460 5,600
Tennessee $84,630 3,320
Oklahoma $84,470 1,870
Idaho $84,380 1,210
Nebraska $84,350 1,310
Arkansas $83,580 2,430
Kentucky $83,550 2,610
New Hampshire $83,040 720
Wisconsin $83,000 2,940
Maine $82,660 640
Vermont $82,090 430
Wyoming $82,040 240
Iowa $81,050 1,540
West Virginia $80,970 880
Kansas $80,120 1,690
Montana $78,740 490
Mississippi $78,130 1,790
North Dakota $75,240 630
Alabama $73,660 2,060
Louisiana $69,610 3,000
South Dakota $65,680 410

Frequently asked questions

How much does a Speech-Language Pathologist make?
A Speech-Language Pathologist makes a median of about $96,627 per year in the US (roughly $46.00 per hour), according to the latest BLS data. Pay ranges from $65,680 in South Dakota to $118,970 in California depending on the state.
What is the average Speech-Language Pathologist salary in the US?
The typical (employment-weighted median) Speech-Language Pathologist salary in the US is about $96,627 per year, based on the latest BLS data covering 183,370 jobs nationwide.
Which state pays Speech-Language Pathologists the most?
California has the highest median Speech-Language Pathologist salary at $118,970 per year. Remember that taxes and cost of living vary — a high gross salary can shrink after state taxes.
Which state pays Speech-Language Pathologists the least?
South Dakota has the lowest median at $65,680 per year. Lower-paying states often also have lower living costs and, in some cases, no state income tax.

Sources and methodology

All figures: BLS OEWS May 2025 (state file, released April 2026) (Speech-Language Pathologists, code 29-1127). “Typical pay” is the employment-weighted average of state medians. Take-home estimates on state pages use 2026 federal and verified state tax rules from our PaycheckTally engine.