How Much Do Speech Pathologists Make? SLP Salary Calculator
BLS speech-language pathologist pay in every state, school vs healthcare pay, salary per hour and take-home after 2026 tax
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How Much Do Speech Pathologists Make? SLP Salary Calculator
Printed 2026-10-27 from billorganizingapp.com/income/calculators/speech-pathologist-salary/ — an estimate for planning, not financial or tax advice.
United States speech-language pathologists: median $47.05/hr, 10th–90th percentile $30.24–$64.50 (BLS OEWS May 2025). Your rate is in the between the median and the 75th percentile.
Estimate for 2026: federal income tax (standard deduction), Social Security and Medicare, a flat state rate you enter, and the overtime deduction on the half-time premium when your overtime is legally required. No credits or itemised deductions. Starting wages: BLS OEWS May 2025, which excludes overtime and shift differentials.
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Speech-language pathologists earned a median salary of $97,870 in May 2025 ($47.05 an hour), according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics' count of 183,390 SLPs. The bottom tenth earned under $62,900 and the top tenth over $134,160. School-year contracts mean many SLPs earn that salary over fewer working weeks.
Speech pathologists: pay at every level
This is the BLS line for speech-language pathologists (SOC 29-1127) on employers' payrolls. Audiologists and speech-language pathology assistants are separate, and self-employed SLPs aren't counted. Take-home assumes a single filer with 2026 federal tax and FICA and no state tax.
| Pay level | Hourly | Annual | Monthly | Take-home a year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $30.24 | $62,900 | $5,242 | $52,720 |
| 25th percentile | $37.37 | $77,730 | $6,478 | $63,513 |
| Median | $47.05 | $97,870 | $8,156 | $77,682 |
| 75th percentile | $55.08 | $114,570 | $9,548 | $89,430 |
| 90th percentile | $64.50 | $134,160 | $11,180 | $102,964 |
Speech-language pathologist pay by state
California has the highest SLP median, $118,970, then Colorado ($110,750) and Washington, D.C. ($109,380). South Dakota ($65,680) and Louisiana ($69,610) are lowest. Texas employs the most SLPs, 19,120, at $99,910; New York and Florida pay $100,610 and $99,990.
| State | Median hourly | Median annual | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | $57.20 | $118,970 | 16,930 |
| Colorado | $53.25 | $110,750 | 4,420 |
| District of Columbia | $52.59 | $109,380 | 390 |
| Washington | $50.74 | $105,550 | 3,570 |
| Nevada | $50.25 | $104,510 | 1,270 |
| Rhode Island | $50.00 | $104,000 | 720 |
| Delaware | $49.40 | $102,760 | 690 |
| Alaska | $49.36 | $102,670 | 340 |
| Oregon | $49.35 | $102,660 | 1,600 |
| New Jersey | $48.83 | $101,560 | 6,840 |
| Massachusetts | $48.71 | $101,310 | 5,290 |
| New York | $48.37 | $100,610 | 15,310 |
| Connecticut | $48.13 | $100,110 | 2,390 |
| Florida | $48.07 | $99,990 | 10,080 |
| Texas | $48.03 | $99,910 | 19,120 |
| Maryland | $47.69 | $99,190 | 3,510 |
| New Mexico | $47.45 | $98,690 | 1,250 |
| Arizona | $47.02 | $97,800 | 3,390 |
| Hawaii | $46.90 | $97,560 | 270 |
| Georgia | $46.52 | $96,760 | 4,030 |
| Virginia | $46.27 | $96,250 | 4,460 |
| Illinois | $45.71 | $95,080 | 9,040 |
| Ohio | $44.86 | $93,300 | 7,270 |
| Pennsylvania | $44.69 | $92,960 | 6,570 |
| Utah | $44.02 | $91,560 | 1,460 |
| South Carolina | $43.52 | $90,530 | 2,190 |
| Minnesota | $42.97 | $89,380 | 3,890 |
| Missouri | $42.92 | $89,280 | 3,230 |
| Michigan | $42.84 | $89,120 | 4,730 |
| Indiana | $42.00 | $87,360 | 3,310 |
| North Carolina | $41.57 | $86,460 | 5,600 |
| Tennessee | $40.69 | $84,630 | 3,320 |
| Oklahoma | $40.61 | $84,470 | 1,870 |
| Idaho | $40.57 | $84,380 | 1,210 |
| Nebraska | $40.55 | $84,350 | 1,310 |
| Arkansas | $40.18 | $83,580 | 2,430 |
| Kentucky | $40.17 | $83,550 | 2,610 |
| New Hampshire | $39.92 | $83,040 | 720 |
| Wisconsin | $39.90 | $83,000 | 2,940 |
| Maine | $39.74 | $82,660 | 640 |
| Vermont | $39.47 | $82,090 | 430 |
| Wyoming | $39.44 | $82,040 | 240 |
| Iowa | $38.97 | $81,050 | 1,540 |
| West Virginia | $38.93 | $80,970 | 880 |
| Kansas | $38.52 | $80,120 | 1,690 |
| Montana | $37.86 | $78,740 | 490 |
| Mississippi | $37.56 | $78,130 | 1,790 |
| North Dakota | $36.17 | $75,240 | 630 |
| Alabama | $35.41 | $73,660 | 2,060 |
| Louisiana | $33.46 | $69,610 | 3,000 |
| South Dakota | $31.58 | $65,680 | 410 |
Which employers pay speech pathologists most
Nursing and residential care facilities pay SLPs the most, $109,660, then hospitals ($103,690) and therapy offices ($98,910). Schools, which employ 39% of SLPs, pay $83,120 (BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook).
| Industry | Median annual wage |
|---|---|
| Nursing and residential care facilities | $109,660 |
| Hospitals; state, local, and private | $103,690 |
| Offices of physical, occupational and speech therapists, and audiologists | $98,910 |
| Educational services; state, local, and private | $83,120 |
A speech-language pathologist's schedule
Most speech-language pathologists work full time, though part-time work is common. Schools employ 39% of SLPs, therapy offices 25%, hospitals 13% and nursing and residential care 5%, and 5% are self-employed. Those in schools may have a 2-month summer break and a shorter midwinter break, and some travel between schools or facilities (BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook).
Overtime for speech pathologists
An SLP paid a salary of at least $684 a week, in a job that requires the master's degree, can be classed as an exempt learned professional (DOL Fact Sheet #17D); healthcare SLPs paid by the hour or per visit are owed time and a half after 40 hours in a workweek. Many school SLPs are salaried on the school calendar, so caseload paperwork after hours raises the hours, not the pay.
A speech-language pathologist's salary per hour actually worked
School SLPs are often paid a salary for a school year, while hospital and nursing-home SLPs work year-round. The table divides the BLS median and 75th percentile SLP salaries by weekly hours over 52 weeks. If your contract leaves a 2-month summer break, you work fewer weeks for the same salary, so your pay per hour worked is higher than the table shows.
| Hours a week | Median salary per hour | 75th percentile per hour |
|---|---|---|
| 35 | $53.77 | $62.95 |
| 40 | $47.05 | $55.08 |
| 45 | $41.82 | $48.96 |
| 50 | $37.64 | $44.07 |
| 55 | $34.22 | $40.06 |
| 60 | $31.37 | $36.72 |
Training, licenses and pay
SLPs typically need a master's in speech-language pathology, usually 2 years after a bachelor's, with supervised clinical work. All states require a license, typically an accredited master's, supervised clinical experience during and after the program, and an exam. Certification usually adds a supervised fellowship lasting several months, school SLPs may also need a teaching certification, and specialty certification in child language, fluency or swallowing brings the Board Certified Specialist title (BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook).
Related tools and guides
More ways to work with your speech-language pathologist pay:
Official sources
Tax rules, limits and pay data change. Check the current figures with the primary source before acting on them.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: OEWS May 2025: Speech-Language Pathologists (29-1127) wage estimates
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Outlook Handbook: Speech-Language Pathologists
- U.S. Department of Labor: Fact Sheet #17D: Exemption for professional employees
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: OEWS FAQ: how wages are defined (overtime and shift differentials excluded)
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do speech pathologists make a year?+
$97,870 a year ($47.05 an hour) at the BLS median for May 2025. The middle half earned $77,730 to $114,570.
Which state pays speech pathologists the most?+
California ($57.20 an hour, $118,970 a year), then Colorado and District of Columbia; South Dakota pays least among the 51 states where BLS released a figure (BLS, May 2025).
Do school SLPs make less than medical SLPs?+
On BLS figures, yes: in the Occupational Outlook Handbook's industry table, schools have the lowest SLP median and nursing and residential care facilities the highest, with hospitals second. School pay often covers a shorter working year, which the annual figure doesn't show.
Do I need a teaching certificate to work as a school SLP?+
Sometimes. The OOH says SLPs who work in schools may need a teaching certification as well as their state SLP license; requirements come from the state department of education or the school.
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