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The role of a speech teacher is crucial in helping students overcome communication challenges. As of October 2025, the average salary for a speech teacher in the United States is $57,086 per year, which translates to approximately $27 per hour. Salaries vary significantly based on location, with states like California and New York offering the highest pay rates due to increased demand for qualified educators.
In addition to state differences, years of experience play a vital role in salary determination. Entry-level positions may start lower, but as educators gain experience and additional certifications, their earning potential increases. Moreover, speech teachers in specialized settings, such as private schools or therapy programs, often earn higher salaries compared to those in public school systems.
For those considering a career in this field, it's beneficial to explore job listings that highlight salary expectations, benefits, and opportunities for professional development. By leveraging resources available on platforms like Zippia, aspiring speech teachers can make informed decisions about their career paths and maximize their earning potential.
Let Zippia find your next speech teacher job
Let Zippia find your next speech teacher job
The highest-paying states for speech teachers are Maryland, New York, and Rhode Island. The lowest average speech teacher salary states are Mississippi, Florida, and Idaho.
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Maryland | $85,442 | $41.08 |
| 2 | Vermont | $74,450 | $35.79 |
| 3 | New York | $84,393 | $40.57 |
| 4 | New Jersey | $73,917 | $35.54 |
| 5 | Delaware | $72,758 | $34.98 |
| 6 | Connecticut | $70,885 | $34.08 |
| 7 | Rhode Island | $81,917 | $39.38 |
| 8 | Massachusetts | $69,803 | $33.56 |
| 9 | Illinois | $66,695 | $32.06 |
| 10 | Washington | $68,278 | $32.83 |
| 11 | Wyoming | $65,585 | $31.53 |
| 12 | Minnesota | $66,506 | $31.97 |
| 13 | Pennsylvania | $65,439 | $31.46 |
| 14 | New Hampshire | $60,343 | $29.01 |
| 15 | California | $67,112 | $32.27 |
| 16 | Wisconsin | $63,401 | $30.48 |
| 17 | Alaska | $69,827 | $33.57 |
| 18 | Michigan | $58,887 | $28.31 |
| 19 | Virginia | $62,489 | $30.04 |
| 20 | Ohio | $62,255 | $29.93 |
| 21 | Nevada | $59,045 | $28.39 |
| 22 | Kansas | $58,987 | $28.36 |
| 23 | District of Columbia | $71,032 | $34.15 |
| 24 | Oregon | $63,201 | $30.39 |
| 25 | Kentucky | $59,479 | $28.60 |
| 26 | Georgia | $60,521 | $29.10 |
| 27 | Texas | $57,525 | $27.66 |
| 28 | South Carolina | $52,502 | $25.24 |
| 29 | Alabama | $58,044 | $27.91 |
| 30 | New Mexico | $49,456 | $23.78 |
| 31 | North Dakota | $57,114 | $27.46 |
| 32 | Nebraska | $54,158 | $26.04 |
| 33 | North Carolina | $51,834 | $24.92 |
| 34 | West Virginia | $46,126 | $22.18 |
| 35 | Louisiana | $51,557 | $24.79 |
| 36 | Utah | $56,428 | $27.13 |
| 37 | Colorado | $47,974 | $23.06 |
| 38 | Arizona | $47,366 | $22.77 |
| 39 | Iowa | $48,885 | $23.50 |
| 40 | Arkansas | $52,862 | $25.41 |
| 41 | Missouri | $49,500 | $23.80 |
| 42 | Hawaii | $53,511 | $25.73 |
| 43 | Tennessee | $47,930 | $23.04 |
| 44 | Florida | $42,876 | $20.61 |
| 45 | Indiana | $45,109 | $21.69 |
| 46 | Montana | $39,347 | $18.92 |
| 47 | Maine | $45,681 | $21.96 |
| 48 | Mississippi | $44,536 | $21.41 |
| 49 | Oklahoma | $39,673 | $19.07 |
| 50 | Idaho | $42,782 | $20.57 |
| 51 | South Dakota | $39,433 | $18.96 |
The highest-paying cities for speech teachers are Islandia, NY, New York, NY, and Elmira, NY.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Islandia, NY | $84,964 | $40.85 |
| 2 | New York, NY | $84,771 | $40.76 |
| 3 | Elmira, NY | $82,681 | $39.75 |
| 4 | Angola, NY | $81,028 | $38.96 |
| 5 | Rochester, NY | $80,852 | $38.87 |
| 6 | Buffalo, NY | $80,790 | $38.84 |
| 7 | Carthage, NY | $77,853 | $37.43 |
| 8 | Richmond, CA | $73,118 | $35.15 |
| 9 | Wilmington, DE | $72,835 | $35.02 |
| 10 | Morgan Hill, CA | $71,616 | $34.43 |
| 11 | Parkesburg, PA | $65,536 | $31.51 |
| 12 | Riverside, CA | $64,501 | $31.01 |
| 13 | Topeka, KS | $59,059 | $28.39 |
| 14 | Salina, KS | $58,783 | $28.26 |
| 15 | Brownsboro, TX | $57,736 | $27.76 |
| 16 | Kingman, AZ | $49,096 | $23.60 |
| 17 | Lewiston, ME | $44,943 | $21.61 |
| 18 | Palatka, FL | $44,134 | $21.22 |
A speech teacher's salary ranges from $33,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $98,000 at the 90th percentile.

| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $98,000 | $8,167 | $47 |
| 75th Percentile | $76,000 | $6,333 | $37 |
| Average | $57,086 | $4,757 | $27 |
| 25th Percentile | $42,000 | $3,500 | $20 |
| 10th Percentile | $33,000 | $2,750 | $16 |
The highest paying types of speech teachers are science teacher, english language teacher, and history teacher.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| English Language Arts Teacher | $48,483 | $4,040 | $23.31 | 88,793 |
| English Language Teacher | $57,831 | $4,819 | $27.80 | 74,779 |
| Language Arts Teacher | $51,969 | $4,331 | $24.99 | 88,551 |
| High School English Teacher | $50,369 | $4,197 | $24.22 | 71,673 |
| Biology Teacher | $51,721 | $4,310 | $24.87 | 68,958 |
| History Teacher | $53,780 | $4,482 | $25.86 | 65,399 |
Top companies hiring speech teachers now:
Speech teacher salaries at West Contra Costa Unified School District and Success Academy Charter Schools are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average speech teacher salary at companies like Rochester City School District and SUCCESS Academy are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | West Contra Costa Unified School District | $68,514 | $32.94 |
| 2 | Success Academy Charter Schools | $66,163 | $31.81 |
| 3 | Rochester City School District | $52,676 | $25.32 |
| 4 | SUCCESS Academy | $49,399 | $23.75 |
| 5 | TheraCare | $48,686 | $23.41 |
| 6 | Austin D Baltz Elementary School | $48,013 | $23.08 |
| 7 | Morgan Hill Unified School District | $46,729 | $22.47 |
| 8 | PSEA | $46,606 | $22.41 |
| 9 | Buffalo Schools | $45,044 | $21.66 |
| 10 | GST BOCES | $44,925 | $21.60 |
| 11 | Lewiston Public Schools | $44,259 | $21.28 |
| 12 | Erie 2-Chautauqua-Cattaraugus BOCES | $43,425 | $20.88 |
The average speech teacher salary has risen by $7,809 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average speech teacher earned $49,277 annually, but today, they earn $57,086 a year. That works out to a 8% change in pay for speech teachers over the last decade.
Compare speech teacher salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Compare speech teacher salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $57,100 | $27.45 | +1.9% |
| 2025 | $56,000 | $26.92 | +2.2% |
| 2024 | $54,800 | $26.33 | +1.9% |
| 2023 | $53,700 | $25.83 | +1.9% |
| 2022 | $52,700 | $25.33 | +1.4% |
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Astor Services | Speech Teacher | Rhinebeck, NY | 03/28/2025 | $58,436 |
| Astor Services | Speech Teacher | Rhinebeck, NY | 02/17/2025 | $58,436 |
| Arlington Central School District | Remedial Speech Teacher FTE Anticipated Probationary (Ops/Nd) | La Grange, NY | 02/14/2025 | $61,649 |
| East Penn School District | Speech Teacher-Long-Term Substitute-(Mar-June) | Kane, PA | 01/07/2025 | $60,001 |
| The Stepping Stones Group LLC | Speech Teacher | Massachusetts | 12/17/2024 | $74,464 |
| Astor Services | Speech Teacher | Rhinebeck, NY | 10/10/2024 | $58,436 |
| Alabama Department of Education | Speech Teacher | Opelika, AL | 03/26/2024 | $45,441 |
| Educate Kansas | Drama/Speech Teacher | Dodge City, KS | 03/21/2024 | $46,800 |
| Erie 2-Chautauqua-Cattaraugus Boces | Speech Teacher | Amherst, NY | 03/19/2024 | $50,076 |
| Arlington Central School District | Remedial Speech Teacher FTE Anticipated Temporary (BES) | La Grange, NY | 02/27/2024 | $61,649 |
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