Speech Language Pathologist salary: $57.50/hr$2,300/wk$119,600/yr median.
Pay range $49.50$1,980$102,960–$72.51/hr$2,900/wk$150,821/yr across the middle 50% of active Speech Therapy Allied Health Professional postings nationwide.
1,214 unique employers · 1,536 cities · 54 states. Pay moved +1.9% over the last 30 days.
How Speech Language Pathologist pay is distributed.
10% of postings pay under $44.50/hr$1,780/wk$92,560/yr. The top 10% pay above $79.24/hr$3,170/wk$164,819/yr.
How Speech Language Pathologist pay has moved month over month.
Median pay moved from $61.50 in May 2026 to $55.00 in Oct 2026 (-10.6%). Bars show monthly posting volume; the line tracks the posting-weighted median.
| Month | Median /hr/wk/yr | P25–P75 | Postings |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2026 | $61.50$2,460$127,920 | $48.50$1,940$100,880–$72.51$2,900$150,821 | 120 |
| Jun 2026 | $72.17$2,887$150,114 | $56.51$2,260$117,541–$74.95$2,998$155,896 | 406 |
| Jul 2026 | $72.49$2,900$150,779 | $52.56$2,102$109,325–$75.87$3,035$157,810 | 550 |
| Aug 2026 | $65.00$2,600$135,200 | $52.50$2,100$109,200–$79.28$3,171$164,902 | 535 |
| Sep 2026 | $55.00$2,200$114,400 | $47.50$1,900$98,800–$62.50$2,500$130,000 | 909 |
| Oct 2026 | $55.00$2,200$114,400 | $48.50$1,940$100,880–$64.00$2,560$133,120 | 1,052 |
Speech Language Pathologist pay across every state with live data.
Showing all 50 states with live data. Bars scale to the highest-paying state.
The metros writing the biggest Speech Language Pathologist paychecks.
| City | State | Median /hr/wk/yr | P25–P75 | Postings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| clovis | CA · CALIFORNIA | $88.13$3,525$183,310 | $83.50$3,340$173,680–$89.63$3,585$186,430 | 13 |
| fresno | CA · CALIFORNIA | $88.08$3,523$183,206 | $80.88$3,235$168,230–$88.96$3,558$185,037 | 24 |
| daly city | CA · CALIFORNIA | $86.00$3,440$178,880 | $80.63$3,225$167,710–$91.95$3,678$191,256 | 13 |
| san jose | CA · CALIFORNIA | $85.05$3,402$176,904 | $70.95$2,838$147,576–$91.20$3,648$189,696 | 31 |
| brooklyn | NY · NEW YORK | $85.00$3,400$176,800 | $69.00$2,760$143,520–$113.75$4,550$236,600 | 15 |
CITY PAY DATA
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Where the top of the market is paying for Speech Language Pathologist.
| Employer | Median /hr/wk/yr | Range | Postings |
|---|---|---|---|
| All About Kids | $106.25$4,250$221,000 | $54.50$2,180$113,360–$250.00$10,000$520,000 | 12 |
| amn healthcare allied | $81.13$3,245$168,750 | $73.20$2,928$152,256–$85.68$3,427$178,214 | 8 |
| coremedical group | $80.50$3,220$167,440 | $74.50$2,980$154,960–$100.63$4,025$209,310 | 6 |
| Family of Kidz | $101.25$4,050$210,600 | $74.00$2,960$153,920–$108.00$4,320$224,640 | 6 |
| fusion medical staffing-therapy | $82.33$3,293$171,246 | $72.53$2,901$150,862–$88.18$3,527$183,414 | 12 |
| getmed staffing, inc. | $80.66$3,226$167,773 | $76.50$3,060$159,120–$80.82$3,233$168,106 | 8 |
| Homeside Rehab | $85.00$3,400$176,800 | $72.50$2,900$150,800–$85.00$3,400$176,800 | 10 |
| medical solutions allied | $82.50$3,300$171,600 | $71.15$2,846$147,992–$108.17$4,327$224,994 | 21 |
| SLP Communication Foundations, PLLC | $90.00$3,600$187,200 | $80.00$3,200$166,400–$90.00$3,600$187,200 | 6 |
| triage staffing | $80.22$3,209$166,858 | $75.68$3,027$157,414–$83.00$3,320$172,640 | 10 |
Showing all 10 employers with live pay data.
How Speech Language Pathologist pay shifts by schedule and contract type.
Travel Contract pays the most at $75.15/hr$3,006/wk$156,312/yr median — 60% above Travel at $47.00/hr$1,880/wk$97,760/yr. Fulltime drives the volume with 1,506 active postings.
How to become a Speech Language Pathologist.
Speech-Language Pathologists evaluate and treat communication disorders, swallowing difficulties, and cognitive-communication impairments across the lifespan.
SLPs complete a bachelor's degree (often in Communication Sciences and Disorders), then a master's SLP program. Programs require 400+ clinical hours. After graduation, complete Clinical Fellowship Year (CFY) for full certification.
| Degree | Duration | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Master of Science in Speech-Language PathologyMS-SLP | 2-3 years post-bachelor's | Required entry-level degree. Includes extensive clinical practicum hours. Accredited by CAA/ASHA. |
| Clinical Doctorate in Speech-Language PathologySLPD | 3-4 years post-bachelor's | Clinical doctorate option. Not required but may provide additional expertise. Relatively uncommon. |
| PhD in Speech-Language PathologyPhD | 4-6 years post-master's | Research doctorate for those pursuing academic or research careers. |
State license required in all 50 states. Requirements vary but typically include ASHA CCC-SLP.
National credential from ASHA. Requires master's degree, 400+ clinical hours, passing Praxis exam, and Clinical Fellowship.
CPR certification required for medical settings.
| Credential | Issued by | Pay impact |
|---|---|---|
| BCS-S Board Certified Specialist in Swallowing and Swallowing Disorders Advanced certification in dysphagia. Requires 350 hours of specialty practice. Highly valued in medical settings. | ASHA | +5-15% |
| BCS-F Board Certified Specialist in Fluency and Fluency Disorders Specialty certification in stuttering and fluency disorders. | ASHA | +5-10% |
| BCS-CL Board Certified Specialist in Child Language Specialty certification for pediatric language disorders. | ASHA | +5-10% |
| LSVT LOUD Lee Silverman Voice Treatment Certification Specialized certification for treating Parkinson's voice disorders. 2-day training course. | LSVT Global | +3-5% |
| VitalStim Certified VitalStim Therapy Certification Certification for electrical stimulation dysphagia treatment. | VitalStim | Specialized skill |
- 0-1 yearsClinical Fellow (CF-SLP)
Supervised practice year after master's degree. Required for full CCC-SLP certification.
- 1-4 yearsStaff SLP / CCC-SLP
Fully certified SLP building expertise across populations and disorders.
- 4-8 yearsSenior SLP / Specialist
Expert-level clinician, often with specialty focus (dysphagia, pediatrics, voice, etc.).
- 8-12 yearsSLP Lead / Supervisor
Supervises Clinical Fellows and SLP-As. Coordinates speech services within facility.
- 12+ yearsDirector of Speech Services
Administrative leadership overseeing speech-language programs across facility or district.
- VariesPrivate Practice Owner
Entrepreneurial SLPs opening private practices in pediatrics, voice, or medical settings.
Schedule. Varies by setting. Schools follow academic calendar with summers off. Medical settings may require weekend coverage. Home health and private practice offer flexibility.
Physical demands. Low physical demands. Primarily cognitive work with therapy materials. May require positioning for swallowing evaluations in medical settings.
SLP is one of the fastest-growing healthcare professions. Demand in schools, medical facilities, and early intervention programs exceeds supply. Travel SLP positions pay $1,800-2,800+/week.
What clinicians ask about Speech Language Pathologist pay.
What is the average Speech Language Pathologist salary in 2026?
The median Speech Language Pathologist salary is $57.50/hr (approximately $119,600/yr) based on 4,128 active job postings.
What is the pay range for Speech Language Pathologist?
Hourly pay ranges from $49.50 at the 25th percentile to $72.51 at the 75th percentile, with the top 10% earning above $79.24/hr.
Which state pays Speech Language Pathologist roles the most?
Alaska currently leads with a median of $74.98/hr across 60 postings.
How many employers are hiring Speech Language Pathologists?
Our dataset shows 1,214 unique employers posting Speech Language Pathologist roles across 54 states.
Where does TrueRounds get Speech Language Pathologist salary data?
All salary figures are computed from active US healthcare job postings with listed pay ranges, collected over a rolling 6-month window and weighted by posting volume.
Explore other Allied Health Professional tracks.
Speech Language Pathologist sits inside the Speech Therapy track. Here are sibling tracks across Allied Health Professional — same category, different clinical focus and pay envelope.
Active US healthcare postings. Weighted by volume. Refreshed daily.
Pay benchmarks are computed from active job postings with listed pay ranges, collected on a rolling 6-month window. Each role's percentiles are weighted by posting volume so a metro with two postings doesn't outweigh a metro with two hundred. Outliers (postings priced more than 4× the role median) are dropped to avoid contract-line distortion.
Use the data, then push back.
Bring these numbers into your next contract conversation. Recruiters know what the market pays — now you do too.