Best states for a speech pathologist

Q: What is the best state for speech pathologists?

The best state to be a speech pathologist is California based on speech pathologist salaries and job opportunities.

Q: What is the highest paying state for speech pathologists?

The highest paying state for speech pathologists is Maine based on Zippia’s salary database.

Q: What is the worst state for speech pathologists?

The worst state for speech pathologists is Maine, due to a combination of low salaries and few job opportunities.

Quoted expert

Dr. Ruth Litovsky Ph.D.

Rank 1 - 10
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Not all states present equal opportunity for employees, and when it comes to speech pathologist jobs, it's no different. We know how hard job search can be, and in order to make your life a little easier, we have the information you need in order to determine where you might want to start your job search. Our research shows that California is the best state in the country for speech pathologists.

We figured that the best places for speech pathologist jobs has three things everyone would agree on. There would be high annual wages, good career prospects (no matter what phase of the career you are in), and a lot of job opportunities.California is the best state, and Carson City is the city with the highest pay for speech pathologists.

10 best states for speech pathologists in 2026

1. California
Total speech pathologist jobs: 2,013
Average annual salary: $79,712
Lowest 10 percent earn: $58,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $108,000
Location Quotient:
1.32
Speech pathologist jobs in California
2. Louisiana
Total speech pathologist jobs: 187
Average annual salary: $71,909
Lowest 10 percent earn: $51,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $99,000
Location Quotient:
1.12
Speech pathologist jobs in Louisiana
3. Connecticut
Total speech pathologist jobs: 255
Average annual salary: $72,000
Lowest 10 percent earn: $46,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $110,000
Location Quotient:
1.47
Speech pathologist jobs in Connecticut
4. Arizona
Total speech pathologist jobs: 346
Average annual salary: $70,045
Lowest 10 percent earn: $51,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $95,000
Location Quotient:
1.13
Speech pathologist jobs in Arizona
5. Washington
Total speech pathologist jobs: 409
Average annual salary: $74,251
Lowest 10 percent earn: $54,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $100,000
Location Quotient:
1.07
Speech pathologist jobs in Washington
6. Delaware
Total speech pathologist jobs: 83
Average annual salary: $70,888
Lowest 10 percent earn: $48,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $103,000
Location Quotient:
1.27
Speech pathologist jobs in Delaware
7. Nevada
Total speech pathologist jobs: 77
Average annual salary: $79,803
Lowest 10 percent earn: $57,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $109,000
Location Quotient:
0.7
Speech pathologist jobs in Nevada
8. Missouri
Total speech pathologist jobs: 240
Average annual salary: $73,999
Lowest 10 percent earn: $52,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $103,000
Location Quotient:
0.78
Speech pathologist jobs in Missouri
9. Virginia
Total speech pathologist jobs: 549
Average annual salary: $72,014
Lowest 10 percent earn: $49,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $104,000
Location Quotient:
1.11
Speech pathologist jobs in Virginia
10. New Mexico
Total speech pathologist jobs: 136
Average annual salary: $66,737
Lowest 10 percent earn: $48,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $91,000
Location Quotient:
1.33
Speech pathologist jobs in New Mexico

Speech pathologist jobsNear Columbus, OH

How Zippia determines the best states to be a speech pathologist

You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.

Detailed list of the best states for a speech pathologist

Rank	State	Average salary	Lowest 10% earn	Population	Job count
1	California	$79,712	$58,000	39,536,653	2,013
2	Louisiana	$71,909	$51,000	4,684,333	187
3	Connecticut	$72,000	$46,000	3,588,184	255
4	Arizona	$70,045	$51,000	7,016,270	346
5	Washington	$74,251	$54,000	7,405,743	409
6	Delaware	$70,888	$48,000	961,939	83
7	Nevada	$79,803	$57,000	2,998,039	77
8	Missouri	$73,999	$52,000	6,113,532	240
9	Virginia	$72,014	$49,000	8,470,020	549
10	New Mexico	$66,737	$48,000	2,088,070	136
11	Florida	$67,272	$48,000	20,984,400	1,146
12	New Jersey	$76,429	$51,000	9,005,644	279
13	South Carolina	$64,701	$45,000	5,024,369	307
14	Alaska	$75,931	$64,000	739,795	24
15	Oregon	$69,520	$51,000	4,142,776	194
16	Idaho	$67,420	$49,000	1,716,943	60
17	Wyoming	$64,162	$46,000	579,315	29
18	Pennsylvania	$66,933	$45,000	12,805,537	371
19	Colorado	$69,980	$50,000	5,607,154	269
20	New York	$69,179	$46,000	19,849,399	636
21	Kansas	$62,114	$44,000	2,913,123	183
22	District of Columbia	$77,484	$53,000	693,972	33
23	Minnesota	$67,034	$48,000	5,576,606	196
24	Massachusetts	$63,818	$39,000	6,859,819	612
25	Kentucky	$60,778	$42,000	4,454,189	190
26	West Virginia	$57,564	$40,000	1,815,857	271
27	Maryland	$64,696	$44,000	6,052,177	366
28	Illinois	$62,978	$45,000	12,802,023	597
29	Hawaii	$69,774	$60,000	1,427,538	43
30	North Carolina	$61,271	$42,000	10,273,419	467
31	Arkansas	$62,359	$44,000	3,004,279	80
32	Georgia	$62,248	$43,000	10,429,379	387
33	Utah	$63,283	$45,000	3,101,833	56
34	Rhode Island	$60,684	$38,000	1,059,639	56
35	Montana	$61,153	$45,000	1,050,493	44
36	Mississippi	$60,736	$43,000	2,984,100	74
37	Vermont	$52,773	$32,000	623,657	117
38	Wisconsin	$57,706	$41,000	5,795,483	277
39	Iowa	$55,667	$40,000	3,145,711	215
40	Texas	$57,688	$42,000	28,304,596	1,132
41	New Hampshire	$51,391	$31,000	1,342,795	261
42	Oklahoma	$60,924	$43,000	3,930,864	82
43	Tennessee	$58,614	$41,000	6,715,984	187
44	North Dakota	$54,240	$39,000	755,393	53
45	Alabama	$56,368	$40,000	4,874,747	165
46	Ohio	$56,796	$39,000	11,658,609	325
47	Nebraska	$54,973	$39,000	1,920,076	108
48	Michigan	$55,748	$39,000	9,962,311	325
49	Indiana	$52,841	$37,000	6,666,818	316
50	South Dakota	$51,412	$37,000	869,666	51
51	Maine	$44,075	$27,000	1,335,907	58

Highest paying states for speech pathologists

Rank	State	Avg. Speech Pathologist Salary
1	California	$79,712
2	Louisiana	$71,909
3	Connecticut	$72,000
4	Arizona	$70,045
5	Washington	$74,251
6	Delaware	$70,888
7	Nevada	$79,803
8	Missouri	$73,999
9	Virginia	$72,014
10	New Mexico	$66,737
11	Florida	$67,272
12	New Jersey	$76,429
13	South Carolina	$64,701
14	Alaska	$75,931
15	Oregon	$69,520
16	Idaho	$67,420
17	Wyoming	$64,162
18	Pennsylvania	$66,933
19	Colorado	$69,980
20	New York	$69,179
21	Kansas	$62,114
22	District of Columbia	$77,484
23	Minnesota	$67,034
24	Massachusetts	$63,818
25	Kentucky	$60,778
26	West Virginia	$57,564
27	Maryland	$64,696
28	Illinois	$62,978
29	Hawaii	$69,774
30	North Carolina	$61,271
31	Arkansas	$62,359
32	Georgia	$62,248
33	Utah	$63,283
34	Rhode Island	$60,684
35	Montana	$61,153
36	Mississippi	$60,736
37	Vermont	$52,773
38	Wisconsin	$57,706
39	Iowa	$55,667
40	Texas	$57,688
41	New Hampshire	$51,391
42	Oklahoma	$60,924
43	Tennessee	$58,614
44	North Dakota	$54,240
45	Alabama	$56,368
46	Ohio	$56,796
47	Nebraska	$54,973
48	Michigan	$55,748
49	Indiana	$52,841
50	South Dakota	$51,412
51	Maine	$44,075

Expert opinions on the best states for speech pathologists

Are there any particularly good places in the United States for speech pathologists to find work opportunities?
Dr. Ruth Litovsky Ph.D.
Professor, Department Chair, University of Wisconsin – Madison
If students with a CSD major do not pursue graduate school, they can apply for:
-Internships in healthcare and human services
-Teach for America
-Americorps
-Substitute teacher
-Newborn hearing screenings
-Healthcare insurance
-Hearing aid dispenser
-Research assistant in a lab
-Nursing assistant
-Early intervention
-Nursing home
-Daycare
-American Sign Language Interpreter (with the appropriate amount of ASL)
-Deaf education
-Non-for-profit organizations

Speech pathologist best states FAQs

What is the best state for speech pathologists?

What is the highest paying state for speech pathologists?

What is the worst state for speech pathologists?

Have more questions? See all answers to common healthcare practitioner and technical questions.

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Speech Pathologist
Best states for Speech Pathologists

Updated January 8, 2025

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Total speech pathologist jobs:	2,013
Average annual salary:	$79,712
Lowest 10 percent earn:	$58,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$108,000
Location Quotient:	1.32

Best states for a speech pathologist

10 best states for speech pathologists in 2026

1. California

2. Louisiana

3. Connecticut

4. Arizona

5. Washington

6. Delaware

7. Nevada

8. Missouri

9. Virginia

10. New Mexico