Speech-Language Pathologists Salary 2025: $96,848 Median Pay (BLS OEWS)
$96,848 per year is the national median annual wage for speech-language pathologists (BLS OEWS, May 2025 reference period). That works out to about $47/hour, with a 10th–90th percentile range of $72,080 to $170,500. The Bureau of Labor Statistics classifies this role under SOC code 29-1127.
Key Facts (BLS OEWS, May 2025)
- Median annual wage
- $96,848
- Median hourly wage
- $47/hr
- Mean annual wage
- $102,223
- Total US employment
- 113,720
- Top-paying metro
- San Jose, CA, CA ($132,720)
- BLS SOC code
- 29-1127
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 release.
Speech-Language Pathologist (SOC 29-1127) is a mid-paying occupation, with a national median wage of $96,848. BLS OEWS reports 113,720 workers in this role nationally.
Cross-city wage variation runs moderate — $75,750 to $132,720 median across 70 cities, about 75% above the floor. The spread is large enough to matter for relocation decisions but not large enough to dominate them. Speech-Language Pathologist is in the Healthcare category — wages here reflect a regulated labor market with state-specific licensing and credentialing, which constrains supply more than it does in unregulated fields.
Salary Range (BLS Percentiles)
Speech-Language Pathologists salaries range from $75,750 to $132,720 median across cities, depending on location, experience, and industry.
Speech-Language Pathologists Salary by City (BLS OEWS)
| City | 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | COL-Adjusted | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose, CA | $72,080 | $96,336 | $132,720 | $151,610 | $170,500 | $67,783 | 890 |
| San Francisco, CA | $97,980 | $111,128 | $130,850 | $147,230 | $163,610 | $72,856 | 1,760 |
| Sacramento, CA | $85,030 | $101,562 | $126,360 | $137,330 | $148,300 | $101,331 | 1,030 |
| San Diego, CA | $84,200 | $98,396 | $119,690 | $134,100 | $148,510 | $74,713 | 1,590 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino, CA | $59,590 | $83,178 | $118,560 | $132,400 | $146,240 | $96,863 | 2,120 |
| Bakersfield, CA | $98,150 | $105,830 | $117,350 | $132,325 | $147,300 | $116,650 | 310 |
| Denver, CO | $73,900 | $89,176 | $112,090 | $135,405 | $158,720 | $99,371 | 2,480 |
| Fresno, CA | $88,940 | $97,748 | $110,960 | $148,665 | $186,370 | $105,175 | 820 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $79,490 | $91,590 | $109,740 | $135,085 | $160,430 | $66,108 | 4,800 |
| Seattle, WA | $85,190 | $94,590 | $108,690 | $121,805 | $134,920 | $72,751 | 1,910 |
| Colorado Springs, CO | $68,710 | $84,482 | $108,140 | $139,150 | $170,160 | $103,483 | 710 |
| New York, NY | $73,530 | $87,262 | $107,860 | $137,535 | $167,210 | $57,618 | 15,260 |
| Portland, OR | $81,720 | $92,092 | $107,650 | $125,715 | $143,780 | $82,744 | 1,140 |
| Austin, TX | $77,120 | $88,788 | $106,290 | $116,270 | $126,250 | $103,194 | 2,860 |
| Las Vegas, NV | $57,580 | $76,352 | $104,510 | $121,265 | $138,020 | $95,881 | 960 |
| Salt Lake City, UT | $66,240 | $81,240 | $103,740 | $119,260 | $134,780 | $102,308 | 490 |
| Louisville, KY | $66,650 | $81,358 | $103,420 | $122,725 | $142,030 | $114,656 | 710 |
| Anchorage, AK | $81,500 | $90,104 | $103,010 | $114,480 | $125,950 | $81,110 | 220 |
| Atlanta, GA | $63,360 | $79,160 | $102,860 | $116,015 | $129,170 | $103,690 | 2,410 |
| Boston, MA | $71,310 | $83,910 | $102,810 | $116,380 | $129,950 | $67,594 | 3,720 |
| Hartford, CT | $67,230 | $80,978 | $101,600 | $112,665 | $123,730 | $90,231 | 780 |
| Miami, FL | $79,940 | $88,600 | $101,590 | $112,705 | $123,820 | $82,526 | 2,930 |
| Bridgeport, CT | $67,370 | $80,946 | $101,310 | $116,060 | $130,810 | $73,680 | 740 |
| Baltimore, MD | $64,610 | $79,230 | $101,160 | $113,160 | $125,160 | $88,581 | 1,830 |
| Spokane, WA | $72,850 | $83,910 | $100,500 | $111,280 | $122,060 | $103,183 | 370 |
| Houston, TX | $69,650 | $81,950 | $100,400 | $117,990 | $135,580 | $104,041 | 3,780 |
| Philadelphia, PA | $66,940 | $80,196 | $100,080 | $116,085 | $132,090 | $84,527 | 3,330 |
| Washington, DC | $72,800 | $83,664 | $99,960 | $117,895 | $135,830 | $65,419 | 3,140 |
| Jacksonville, FL | $76,130 | $85,610 | $99,830 | $108,230 | $116,630 | $104,974 | 650 |
| Providence, RI | $68,600 | $81,048 | $99,720 | $113,715 | $127,710 | $83,518 | 1,090 |
| Dallas, TX | $69,960 | $81,792 | $99,540 | $115,470 | $131,400 | $95,620 | 4,800 |
| Albuquerque, NM | $61,630 | $76,642 | $99,160 | $116,105 | $133,050 | $105,489 | 580 |
| Chicago, IL | $62,470 | $76,878 | $98,490 | $111,445 | $124,400 | $91,789 | 7,150 |
| Phoenix, AZ | $69,740 | $81,060 | $98,040 | $114,655 | $131,270 | $97,358 | 2,640 |
| Orlando, FL | $63,400 | $77,200 | $97,900 | $106,080 | $114,260 | $94,956 | 1,100 |
| Tampa, FL | $76,310 | $84,418 | $96,580 | $109,270 | $121,960 | $96,968 | 1,710 |
| Columbus, OH | $65,460 | $77,860 | $96,460 | $108,330 | $120,200 | $103,609 | 1,390 |
| Richmond, VA | $67,700 | $79,052 | $96,080 | $110,440 | $124,800 | $94,104 | 770 |
| Reno, NV | $63,180 | $76,316 | $96,020 | $114,475 | $132,930 | $90,160 | 240 |
| Cincinnati, OH | $61,270 | $75,134 | $95,930 | $111,770 | $127,610 | $105,186 | 1,690 |
| Tucson, AZ | $68,910 | $79,526 | $95,450 | $107,060 | $118,670 | $100,052 | 420 |
| Minneapolis, MN | $62,920 | $75,100 | $93,370 | $102,480 | $111,590 | $87,919 | 2,570 |
| Indianapolis, IN | $63,370 | $75,350 | $93,320 | $108,145 | $122,970 | $103,574 | 1,360 |
| San Antonio, TX | $64,540 | $75,804 | $92,700 | $112,190 | $131,680 | $101,311 | 1,780 |
| Charlotte, NC | $59,230 | $71,922 | $90,960 | $108,170 | $125,380 | $94,064 | 1,260 |
| Detroit, MI | $64,060 | $74,292 | $89,640 | $101,370 | $113,100 | $94,259 | 1,850 |
| Greenville, SC | $52,040 | $66,668 | $88,610 | $103,640 | $118,670 | $98,346 | 330 |
| Oklahoma City, OK | $56,990 | $69,494 | $88,250 | $108,085 | $127,920 | $102,023 | 810 |
| Milwaukee, WI | $61,370 | $72,098 | $88,190 | $100,100 | $112,010 | $90,544 | 1,000 |
| Lexington, KY | $65,570 | $74,330 | $87,470 | $99,710 | $111,950 | $95,805 | 360 |
| Raleigh, NC | $62,900 | $72,700 | $87,400 | $105,745 | $124,090 | $87,575 | 1,050 |
| Madison, WI | $64,740 | $73,600 | $86,890 | $103,160 | $119,430 | $83,709 | 410 |
| St. Louis, MO | $58,180 | $69,500 | $86,480 | $99,975 | $113,470 | $96,089 | 1,630 |
| Little Rock, AR | $62,880 | $72,280 | $86,380 | $110,220 | $134,060 | $97,937 | 810 |
| Kansas City, MO | $59,390 | $70,082 | $86,120 | $102,230 | $118,340 | $90,273 | 1,270 |
| Memphis, TN | $59,310 | $70,034 | $86,120 | $101,825 | $117,530 | $102,524 | 460 |
| Boise, ID | $66,880 | $73,880 | $84,380 | $103,370 | $122,360 | $82,644 | 660 |
| Des Moines, IA | $64,950 | $72,602 | $84,080 | $103,715 | $123,350 | $90,118 | 380 |
| Tulsa, OK | $51,230 | $64,326 | $83,970 | $106,160 | $128,350 | $96,740 | 540 |
| Nashville, TN | $61,190 | $70,226 | $83,780 | $97,900 | $112,020 | $83,529 | 980 |
| Buffalo, NY | $51,280 | $63,924 | $82,890 | $99,640 | $116,390 | $89,611 | 850 |
| Omaha, NE | $61,490 | $69,954 | $82,650 | $99,505 | $116,360 | $90,033 | 690 |
| Albany, NY | $62,610 | $70,430 | $82,160 | $101,605 | $121,050 | $81,589 | 690 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $51,670 | $63,726 | $81,810 | $100,110 | $118,410 | $88,635 | 1,300 |
| Rochester, NY | $55,500 | $65,388 | $80,220 | $100,355 | $120,490 | $86,351 | 950 |
| Greensboro, NC | $60,780 | $68,000 | $78,830 | $98,320 | $117,810 | $86,342 | 430 |
| Wichita, KS | $56,120 | $65,028 | $78,390 | $95,510 | $112,630 | $93,321 | 430 |
| Knoxville, TN | $54,590 | $63,978 | $78,060 | $93,175 | $108,290 | $86,445 | 400 |
| New Orleans, LA | $63,410 | $69,014 | $77,420 | $89,900 | $102,380 | $80,730 | 550 |
| Birmingham, AL | $61,190 | $67,014 | $75,750 | $95,725 | $115,700 | $83,794 | 600 |
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Frequently Asked Questions
The national median salary for Speech-Language Pathologist is $96,848 as of 2025. The national mean (average) is $102,223. Salaries range from $75,750 to $132,720 depending on city and cost of living.
Speech-Language Pathologist salaries vary significantly by metro area. The highest-paying cities offer median salaries well above the national average of $96,848, though cost of living should be factored in. Check the city breakdown table above for COL-adjusted figures.
There are approximately 113,720 Speech-Language Pathologist positions in the US across 70 metropolitan areas tracked by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Speech-Language Pathologist positions at the 90th percentile earn significantly more than the median, suggesting strong income growth potential with experience and specialization. The gap between the 10th and 90th percentile indicates the impact that skills, location, and seniority have on compensation.
Salary data from BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics. COL adjustments use BEA Regional Price Parities.
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2026.