Speech-language pathologists help people with communication, swallowing, and cognitive-linguistic disorders — from toddlers with speech delays to stroke patients relearning to eat. Here’s what SLPs actually earn.
Pay at a Glance (BLS Data)
Bureau of Labor Statistics wage estimates for speech-language pathologists, across all industries:
| Percentile | Annual Wage | Hourly Equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| 10th (entry level) | $62,900 | $30.24 |
| 25th | $77,730 | $37.37 |
| 50th (median) | $97,870 | $47.05 |
| 75th | $114,570 | $55.08 |
| 90th | $134,160 | $64.50 |
| Average (mean) | $98,170 | $47.20 |
Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, for Speech-Language Pathologists (all industries). Hourly figures are annual wages divided by 2,080 hours. “Not published” means BLS withheld the estimate, usually because wages are above its top reporting limit.
SLP Salary by Setting
| Setting | Median Salary | Salary Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Travel SLP (Contract) | $105,000 | $90,000-$130,000+ | Housing stipend, 13-week contracts |
| Skilled Nursing Facility | $95,000 | $80,000-$115,000 | Productivity requirements |
| Hospital (Acute Care) | $92,000 | $78,000-$110,000 | High acuity, diverse caseload |
| Hospital (Outpatient) | $88,000 | $75,000-$105,000 | Scheduled patients, M-F |
| Home Health | $90,000 | $75,000-$110,000 | Per-visit pay, flexibility |
| Rehabilitation Center | $86,000 | $72,000-$100,000 | TBI, stroke, spinal cord |
| Private Practice (Owner) | $110,000 | $80,000-$200,000+ | Business skills required |
| Private Practice (Employee) | $82,000 | $68,000-$100,000 | Pediatric focus common |
| School District | $72,000 | $55,000-$90,000 | Summers off, pension |
| Early Intervention (Birth-3) | $68,000 | $52,000-$85,000 | State-funded programs |
| Telepractice | $80,000 | $65,000-$100,000 | Growing rapidly |
| University Clinic | $78,000 | $62,000-$95,000 | Teaching + clinical |
SLP Salary by State
| Rank | State | Avg Salary | Starting Salary | Median Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $118,600 | $79,750 | $118,970 |
| 2 | Colorado | $116,960 | $73,900 | $110,750 |
| 3 | District of Columbia | $112,940 | $81,800 | $109,380 |
| 4 | New Jersey | $109,510 | $71,620 | $101,560 |
| 5 | New York | $107,700 | $64,980 | $100,610 |
| 6 | Washington | $107,610 | $81,330 | $105,550 |
| 7 | Oregon | $106,210 | $74,410 | $102,660 |
| 8 | Delaware | $105,380 | $79,880 | $102,760 |
| 9 | Nevada | $103,870 | $63,180 | $104,510 |
| 10 | Rhode Island | $103,850 | $75,270 | $104,000 |
| 11 | New Mexico | $102,370 | $61,630 | $98,690 |
| 12 | Massachusetts | $101,890 | $71,030 | $101,310 |
| 13 | Connecticut | $101,340 | $65,400 | $100,110 |
| 14 | Alaska | $100,320 | $79,700 | $102,670 |
| 15 | Arizona | $100,270 | $68,990 | $97,800 |
| 16 | Virginia | $99,590 | $66,890 | $96,250 |
| 17 | Texas | $99,460 | $66,370 | $99,910 |
| 18 | Maryland | $98,070 | $63,480 | $99,190 |
| 19 | Florida | $96,710 | $69,970 | $99,990 |
| 20 | Pennsylvania | $93,720 | $60,650 | $92,960 |
| 21 | Georgia | $93,470 | $59,800 | $96,760 |
| 22 | Ohio | $93,140 | $61,840 | $93,300 |
| 23 | Illinois | $92,660 | $60,870 | $95,080 |
| 24 | Indiana | $92,290 | $60,990 | $87,360 |
| 25 | Hawaii | $91,660 | $61,000 | $97,560 |
| 26 | Utah | $90,630 | $56,070 | $91,560 |
| 27 | Arkansas | $90,490 | $56,250 | $83,580 |
| 28 | South Carolina | $89,950 | $56,560 | $90,530 |
| 29 | Wyoming | $89,350 | $63,520 | $82,040 |
| 30 | Kentucky | $89,180 | $63,250 | $83,550 |
| 31 | Missouri | $89,040 | $58,180 | $89,280 |
| 32 | Michigan | $88,650 | $62,430 | $89,120 |
| 33 | North Carolina | $88,640 | $60,800 | $86,460 |
| 34 | New Hampshire | $88,460 | $64,030 | $83,040 |
| 35 | West Virginia | $88,180 | $62,690 | $80,970 |
| 36 | Minnesota | $87,670 | $62,390 | $89,380 |
| 37 | Oklahoma | $87,230 | $51,230 | $84,470 |
| 38 | Idaho | $87,060 | $62,090 | $84,380 |
| 39 | Nebraska | $87,030 | $59,120 | $84,350 |
| 40 | Vermont | $86,040 | $64,320 | $82,090 |
| 41 | Wisconsin | $85,550 | $61,320 | $83,000 |
| 42 | Tennessee | $85,050 | $58,550 | $84,630 |
| 43 | Iowa | $83,760 | $63,270 | $81,050 |
| 44 | Maine | $83,690 | $54,010 | $82,660 |
| 45 | Kansas | $82,760 | $59,390 | $80,120 |
| 46 | Montana | $80,780 | $58,460 | $78,740 |
| 47 | Alabama | $78,780 | $58,010 | $73,660 |
| 48 | Mississippi | $78,570 | $50,280 | $78,130 |
| 49 | Louisiana | $77,000 | $53,480 | $69,610 |
| 50 | North Dakota | $75,980 | $56,140 | $75,240 |
| 51 | South Dakota | $73,310 | $54,740 | $65,680 |
| — | National | $98,170 | $62,900 | $97,870 |
Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS, 2025 estimates, fetched 2026-09-29. Figures cover Speech-Language Pathologists (cross-industry). Some states are omitted where BLS did not publish a reliable estimate.
School-Based vs. Medical SLP
| Factor | School SLP | Medical SLP |
|---|---|---|
| Median salary | $72,000 | $92,000 |
| Schedule | School calendar (summers off) | Year-round, may include weekends |
| Caseload | 40-80+ students | 6-10 patients/day |
| Focus | Articulation, language, fluency | Swallowing, cognition, aphasia |
| Paperwork | IEPs, progress reports | Documentation, billing codes |
| Burnout risk | High (large caseloads) | Moderate (productivity pressure) |
| Pension/benefits | Good (state/district) | Good (hospital/health system) |
| Autonomy | Moderate | Moderate to high |
| Job security | Very high | High |
School SLPs earn less but get summers off — when factored hourly, the gap narrows. Effective hourly rate for schools (~1,400 hours): $51/hr vs. medical (~2,080 hours): $44/hr.
SLP Salary by Experience
| Experience | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Clinical Fellow (CFY) | $62,000-$72,000 |
| Early Career (1-3 years) | $72,000-$82,000 |
| Mid-Career (3-7 years) | $82,000-$95,000 |
| Experienced (7-15 years) | $90,000-$108,000 |
| Senior (15+ years) | $95,000-$115,000 |
SLP Specialty Areas & Pay Impact
| Specialty | Setting | Pay Premium |
|---|---|---|
| Dysphagia/Swallowing | Hospital, SNF | +$5,000-$15,000 |
| Voice/Laryngeal | ENT clinic, hospital | +$3,000-$10,000 |
| Fluency (Stuttering) | Private practice | +$3,000-$8,000 |
| Accent Modification | Private practice | $100-$200/session (cash pay) |
| Augmentative Communication (AAC) | Schools, rehab | +$2,000-$8,000 |
| Traumatic Brain Injury | Rehab, hospital | +$3,000-$10,000 |
| Pediatric Feeding | Private practice, hospital | +$3,000-$10,000 |
| Neonatal/NICU | Hospital | +$5,000-$12,000 |
How to Maximize SLP Salary
| Strategy | Potential Increase |
|---|---|
| Work in medical vs. school setting | +$15,000-$25,000 |
| Travel SLP contracts | +$15,000-$40,000 |
| Open a private practice | +$10,000-$100,000+ |
| Specialize (dysphagia, voice, NICU) | +$3,000-$15,000 |
| Home health (per-visit pay) | +$5,000-$20,000 |
| Move to a high-paying state | +$10,000-$30,000 |
| SNF/skilled nursing | +$5,000-$15,000 |
| PRN/per diem shifts alongside full-time | +$5,000-$20,000 |
| Telepractice (supplemental) | +$5,000-$15,000 |
SLP Income vs. Education Cost
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Master’s program cost (public) | $30,000-$60,000 |
| Master’s program cost (private) | $60,000-$120,000 |
| Average student debt | $50,000-$80,000 |
| Starting salary (CFY) | $62,000-$72,000 |
| Debt-to-income ratio | 0.7-1.3x |
| Time to pay off | 4-8 years |
Manageable debt-to-income ratio for most graduates, especially those attending public universities.
Job Market & Outlook
| Factor | Status |
|---|---|
| Job growth (2025-2035) | 17% |
| Total employed | ~165,000 |
| School SLP shortages | Significant nationwide |
| Medical SLP demand | Strong |
| Telepractice growth | Rapid — particularly for schools |
| Bilingual SLP demand | Very high (Spanish especially) |
| Supply of graduates | Not keeping up with demand |
Work-Life Balance
| Setting | Schedule | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| School | School hours, summers off | Excellent |
| Hospital Outpatient | M-F, 8-5 | Good |
| Hospital Inpatient | May include weekends | Moderate |
| Home Health | Flexible, self-directed | Good |
| Private Practice (Owner) | You set the schedule | Good to excellent |
| SNF/Nursing Home | M-F or includes Saturday | Moderate |
| Travel SLP | 13-week contracts | Flexible (but relocating) |
Related: Clinical Psychologist Salary | Therapist Salary | Average Nurse Salary
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