Research Summary. In our latest analysis, the Zippia data science team has updated the salary data for speech-language pathologists across the United States for 2026, reflecting recent market trends and economic conditions:
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California continues to lead with the highest average salary for speech-language pathologists at $82,600.
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Maine remains at the bottom, with an average salary of $46,238.
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The national average salary for speech-language pathologists is now $62,340.
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The national hourly pay for speech-language pathologists is $29.97.
For more detailed insights, please refer to the specific methodology.
Background
Salary continues to be the primary concern for job seekers across various demographics. The question on many minds is: how much do speech-language pathologists earn in my region?
While individual salaries can vary based on factors like experience, education, and specific location within a state, comprehensive data allows us to provide a clear picture of average salaries by state. These figures are essential for understanding what you might expect as a speech-language pathologist.
As in previous years, California offers the most attractive salary for this profession.
Here’s a brief overview of the top ten states for speech-language pathologist salaries:
Let’s explore how these rankings were determined and provide a comprehensive overview of salaries across all states.
Highest-Paid Speech Language Pathologists By State
| Rank | State | Average Speech Language Pathologist Salary | 10th Percentile | 90th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $82,600 | $60,000 | $113,000 |
| 2 | Nevada | $79,594 | $57,000 | $110,000 |
| 3 | Alaska | $76,983 | $64,000 | $91,000 |
| 4 | New Jersey | $75,450 | $51,000 | $110,000 |
| 5 | Virginia | $74,834 | $52,000 | $107,000 |
| 6 | Washington | $74,039 | $54,000 | $101,000 |
| 7 | New York | $72,431 | $49,000 | $106,000 |
| 8 | Connecticut | $71,803 | $48,000 | $107,000 |
| 9 | Louisiana | $71,715 | $51,000 | $99,000 |
| 10 | Maryland | $70,931 | $49,000 | $101,000 |
| 11 | Hawaii | $70,475 | $60,000 | $81,000 |
| 12 | Delaware | $69,835 | $48,000 | $100,000 |
| 13 | Oregon | $69,006 | $50,000 | $94,000 |
| 14 | Arizona | $68,463 | $50,000 | $93,000 |
| 15 | Idaho | $66,674 | $48,000 | $92,000 |
| 16 | New Mexico | $66,398 | $48,000 | $91,000 |
| 17 | Pennsylvania | $65,926 | $45,000 | $95,000 |
| 18 | Colorado | $65,553 | $47,000 | $90,000 |
| 19 | Missouri | $64,906 | $46,000 | $91,000 |
| 20 | South Carolina | $64,043 | $45,000 | $90,000 |
| 21 | Wyoming | $63,500 | $46,000 | $87,000 |
| 22 | Wisconsin | $63,254 | $45,000 | $88,000 |
| 23 | Illinois | $62,468 | $44,000 | $87,000 |
| 24 | Florida | $62,208 | $45,000 | $85,000 |
| 25 | Michigan | $61,645 | $43,000 | $86,000 |
| 26 | Ohio | $61,598 | $43,000 | $87,000 |
| 27 | Rhode Island | $61,548 | $40,000 | $93,000 |
| 28 | Georgia | $61,429 | $43,000 | $86,000 |
| 29 | Kansas | $61,142 | $43,000 | $85,000 |
| 30 | Arkansas | $61,072 | $43,000 | $85,000 |
| 31 | Montana | $60,844 | $44,000 | $82,000 |
| 32 | North Carolina | $60,425 | $42,000 | $86,000 |
| 33 | Texas | $60,324 | $44,000 | $82,000 |
| 34 | Massachusetts | $60,251 | $39,000 | $92,000 |
| 35 | Oklahoma | $60,038 | $43,000 | $83,000 |
| 36 | Mississippi | $59,961 | $42,000 | $83,000 |
| 37 | Iowa | $59,938 | $43,000 | $83,000 |
| 38 | Kentucky | $59,628 | $42,000 | $84,000 |
| 39 | Indiana | $59,412 | $42,000 | $83,000 |
| 40 | Utah | $57,471 | $41,000 | $79,000 |
| 41 | Tennessee | $57,230 | $40,000 | $80,000 |
| 42 | West Virginia | $56,910 | $39,000 | $81,000 |
| 43 | Alabama | $55,729 | $39,000 | $77,000 |
| 44 | Vermont | $55,532 | $35,000 | $86,000 |
| 45 | Minnesota | $54,588 | $39,000 | $75,000 |
| 46 | North Dakota | $54,504 | $39,000 | $74,000 |
| 47 | Nebraska | $54,229 | $39,000 | $75,000 |
| 48 | New Hampshire | $54,075 | $34,000 | $84,000 |
| 49 | South Dakota | $51,192 | $37,000 | $70,000 |
| 50 | Maine | $46,238 | $29,000 | $72,000 |
Methodology: Speech Language Pathologist Salary By State
To accurately assess speech-language pathologist pay by state, Zippia aggregates data from diverse sources including the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and actual job postings. By combining these data points, we calculate a weighted average salary for speech-language pathologists across various states.
We ranked states based on their average annual salary for speech-language pathologists, identifying California as the top-paying state.
Speech Language Pathologist Salary By State FAQs
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What is the highest-paid state for speech language pathologists?
The highest-paid state for speech-language pathologists is California with an average salary of $82,600 per year.
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What city pays speech language pathologists the most?
Redwood City, CA offers the highest average salary for speech-language pathologists at $85,108 per year.
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What is the worst state for speech language pathologists?
The state with the lowest average salary for speech-language pathologists is Maine at $46,238 per year.
Author
Chris Kolmar is a co-founder of Zippia and the editor-in-chief of the Zippia career advice blog. He has hired over 50 people in his career, been hired five times, and wants to help you land your next job. His research has been featured on the New York Times, Thrillist, VOX, The Atlantic, and a host of local news. More recently, he's been quoted on USA Today, BusinessInsider, and CNBC.
