Speech-Language Pathologists
Speech-Language Pathologists (SOC 29-1127) earn a median $97,870 a year ($47.05 an hour) in the United States, with 183,390 employed as of May 2025; the highest-paying state is California.
What speech-language pathologists do
Speech-language pathologists assess and treat persons with speech, language, voice and fluency disorders, and also swallowing problems. They evaluate hearing, speech and language test results, barium swallow results, and medical or background information to diagnose a disorder and plan treatment. Problems they address include stuttering, delayed language, swallowing disorders, and inappropriate pitch or harsh voice. They give written or oral tests and use special instruments to learn the type and degree of impairment, then develop and carry out a treatment plan, monitor progress and adjust it. Some select alternative communication systems and teach clients to use them. They educate patients and family members about communication techniques, and they supervise or collaborate with a therapy team. Documentation includes evaluations, billing records, progress and discharge notes, and reports for meetings such as individualized educational planning conferences. All respondents report a master's or post-master's level of education. School, pediatric and home health speech-language pathologist are among the O*NET alternate titles and show where they work.
Typical entry: O*NET respondents most often report a master's degree as the typical level of education for this occupation (89 percent).
Also called: Bilingual Speech-Language Pathologist (Bilingual SLP), Home Health SLP (Home Health Speech Language Pathologist), Language Pathologist, Oral Therapist, Pediatric SLP (Pediatric Speech Language Pathologist).
National wage percentiles, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||
| United States | Hourly | $30.24 | $37.37 | $47.05 | $55.08 | $64.50 | $47.20 | 183,390 |
| Annual | $62,900 | $77,730 | $97,870 | $114,570 | $134,160 | $98,170 | ||
Employment per 1,000 jobs and the location quotient are area measures; they appear in the state and metro tables below. To see what a wage in this range leaves after tax, use FastCalc's take-home pay calculator.
Where speech-language pathologists earn and work most
Five highest-paying states
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| California | Hourly | $38.34 | $47.56 | $57.20 | $64.94 | $77.36 | $57.02 | 16,930 | 0.93 | 0.79 |
| Annual | $79,750 | $98,920 | $118,970 | $135,070 | $160,900 | $118,600 | ||||
| Colorado | Hourly | $35.53 | $45.48 | $53.25 | $65.81 | $79.10 | $56.23 | 4,420 | 1.54 | 1.30 |
| Annual | $73,900 | $94,590 | $110,750 | $136,890 | $164,520 | $116,960 | ||||
| District of Columbia | Hourly | $39.33 | $46.24 | $52.59 | $62.80 | $65.93 | $54.30 | 390 | 0.55 | 0.47 |
| Annual | $81,800 | $96,180 | $109,380 | $130,620 | $137,140 | $112,940 | ||||
| Washington | Hourly | $39.10 | $46.20 | $50.74 | $59.62 | $63.76 | $51.74 | 3,570 | 1.01 | 0.85 |
| Annual | $81,330 | $96,100 | $105,550 | $124,010 | $132,630 | $107,610 | ||||
| Nevada | Hourly | $30.37 | $40.00 | $50.25 | $57.52 | $65.63 | $49.94 | 1,270 | 0.82 | 0.69 |
| Annual | $63,180 | $83,200 | $104,510 | $119,630 | $136,520 | $103,870 | ||||
Five states with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Texas | Hourly | $31.91 | $38.09 | $48.03 | $56.96 | $63.94 | $47.82 | 19,120 | 1.36 | 1.15 |
| Annual | $66,370 | $79,230 | $99,910 | $118,490 | $132,990 | $99,460 | ||||
| California | Hourly | $38.34 | $47.56 | $57.20 | $64.94 | $77.36 | $57.02 | 16,930 | 0.93 | 0.79 |
| Annual | $79,750 | $98,920 | $118,970 | $135,070 | $160,900 | $118,600 | ||||
| New York | Hourly | $31.24 | $37.77 | $48.37 | $63.07 | $75.92 | $51.78 | 15,310 | 1.58 | 1.34 |
| Annual | $64,980 | $78,570 | $100,610 | $131,190 | $157,920 | $107,700 | ||||
| Florida | Hourly | $33.64 | $39.96 | $48.07 | $50.70 | $58.68 | $46.50 | 10,080 | 1.02 | 0.86 |
| Annual | $69,970 | $83,120 | $99,990 | $105,460 | $122,050 | $96,710 | ||||
| Illinois | Hourly | $29.27 | $36.82 | $45.71 | $52.08 | $59.52 | $44.55 | 9,040 | 1.48 | 1.26 |
| Annual | $60,870 | $76,590 | $95,080 | $108,330 | $123,800 | $92,660 | ||||
Five highest-paying metropolitan areas
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| El Centro, CA | Hourly | $44.99 | $56.15 | $64.31 | $78.69 | $94.41 | $67.16 | 70 | 1.11 | 0.94 |
| Annual | $93,580 | $116,780 | $133,760 | $163,670 | $196,370 | $139,700 | ||||
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | Hourly | $34.66 | $51.08 | $63.81 | $76.06 | $81.97 | $64.55 | 890 | 0.79 | 0.67 |
| Annual | $72,080 | $106,250 | $132,720 | $158,200 | $170,500 | $134,270 | ||||
| Boulder, CO | Hourly | $43.61 | $52.31 | $63.28 | $80.51 | $80.67 | $62.14 | 320 | 1.66 | 1.40 |
| Annual | $90,710 | $108,810 | $131,620 | $167,460 | $167,790 | $129,240 | ||||
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | Hourly | $47.11 | $54.17 | $62.91 | $69.10 | $78.66 | $62.62 | 1,760 | 0.74 | 0.63 |
| Annual | $97,980 | $112,670 | $130,850 | $143,720 | $163,610 | $130,240 | ||||
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | Hourly | $49.44 | $56.88 | $61.28 | $67.38 | $78.20 | $63.69 | 160 | 0.77 | 0.65 |
| Annual | $102,840 | $118,300 | $127,470 | $140,150 | $162,660 | $132,480 | ||||
Five metropolitan areas with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | Hourly | $35.35 | $40.21 | $51.86 | $65.73 | $80.39 | $55.44 | 15,260 | 1.61 | 1.36 |
| Annual | $73,530 | $83,630 | $107,860 | $136,720 | $167,210 | $115,310 | ||||
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | Hourly | $30.04 | $37.48 | $47.35 | $52.71 | $59.81 | $45.77 | 7,150 | 1.58 | 1.34 |
| Annual | $62,470 | $77,960 | $98,490 | $109,640 | $124,400 | $95,200 | ||||
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | Hourly | $33.63 | $38.97 | $47.86 | $56.42 | $63.18 | $48.12 | 4,800 | 1.19 | 1.01 |
| Annual | $69,960 | $81,050 | $99,540 | $117,360 | $131,400 | $100,090 | ||||
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | Hourly | $38.22 | $44.02 | $52.76 | $64.12 | $77.13 | $55.60 | 4,800 | 0.77 | 0.65 |
| Annual | $79,490 | $91,570 | $109,740 | $133,360 | $160,430 | $115,640 | ||||
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | Hourly | $33.49 | $38.37 | $48.27 | $58.06 | $65.18 | $48.16 | 3,780 | 1.15 | 0.97 |
| Annual | $69,650 | $79,810 | $100,400 | $120,770 | $135,580 | $100,160 | ||||
Top industries employing speech-language pathologists
Elementary and Secondary Schools employ 39.3% of speech-language pathologists nationally (72,130 jobs) at a median $83,080 a year ($39.94 an hour), followed by Offices of Other Health Practitioners (26.9%) and General Medical and Surgical Hospitals (10.8%).
| Industry | Employment | Share of occupation | Median annual | Median hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary and Secondary Schools NAICS 611100 | 72,130 | 39.3% | $83,080 | $39.94 |
| Offices of Other Health Practitioners NAICS 621300 | 49,320 | 26.9% | $99,080 | $47.63 |
| General Medical and Surgical Hospitals NAICS 622100 | 19,740 | 10.8% | $103,160 | $49.60 |
| Nursing Care Facilities (Skilled Nursing Facilities) NAICS 623100 | 7,440 | 4.1% | $111,680 | $53.69 |
| Home Health Care Services NAICS 621600 | 6,350 | 3.5% | $117,370 | $56.43 |
Share is the industry's employment over the occupation's national employment (183,390). Industries whose employment BLS withheld are not ranked.
Published medians, May 2021 to May 2025
BLS published a median annual wage of $79,060 for speech-language pathologists in May 2021 and $97,870 in May 2025, with employment of 147,470 and 183,390.
| Release | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2021 | $79,060 | $38.01 | 147,470 |
| May 2022 | $84,140 | $40.45 | 162,760 |
| May 2023 | $89,290 | $42.93 | 172,100 |
| May 2024 | $95,410 | $45.87 | 178,790 |
| May 2025 | $97,870 | $47.05 | 183,390 |
BLS does not design OEWS as a time series: each release pools three years of samples, and occupational classifications, area definitions and estimation methods change between releases, so a difference between two releases is not a measure of change over time. The figures are shown as published, side by side, and nothing is computed from them. See how often OEWS is updated.
Every state, by median wage
51 states and DC publish a row for this occupation. A linked state has its own page with the within-state metro table and comparison; the others appear here only.
| Rank | State | Median hourly | Median annual | 10th pct (annual) | 90th pct (annual) | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California profile | $57.20 | $118,970 | $79,750 | $160,900 | 16,930 | 0.93 | 0.79 |
| 2 | Colorado profile | $53.25 | $110,750 | $73,900 | $164,520 | 4,420 | 1.54 | 1.30 |
| 3 | District of Columbia profile | $52.59 | $109,380 | $81,800 | $137,140 | 390 | 0.55 | 0.47 |
| 4 | Washington profile | $50.74 | $105,550 | $81,330 | $132,630 | 3,570 | 1.01 | 0.85 |
| 5 | Nevada profile | $50.25 | $104,510 | $63,180 | $136,520 | 1,270 | 0.82 | 0.69 |
| 6 | Rhode Island profile | $50.00 | $104,000 | $75,270 | $130,830 | 720 | 1.44 | 1.22 |
| 7 | Delaware profile | $49.40 | $102,760 | $79,880 | $135,200 | 690 | 1.43 | 1.21 |
| 8 | Alaska profile | $49.36 | $102,670 | $79,700 | $125,950 | 340 | 1.05 | 0.89 |
| 9 | Oregon profile | $49.35 | $102,660 | $74,410 | $143,000 | 1,600 | 0.81 | 0.69 |
| 10 | New Jersey profile | $48.83 | $101,560 | $71,620 | $167,230 | 6,840 | 1.60 | 1.35 |
| 11 | Massachusetts profile | $48.71 | $101,310 | $71,030 | $129,730 | 5,290 | 1.46 | 1.23 |
| 12 | New York profile | $48.37 | $100,610 | $64,980 | $157,920 | 15,310 | 1.58 | 1.34 |
| 13 | Connecticut profile | $48.13 | $100,110 | $65,400 | $130,290 | 2,390 | 1.41 | 1.19 |
| 14 | Florida profile | $48.07 | $99,990 | $69,970 | $122,050 | 10,080 | 1.02 | 0.86 |
| 15 | Texas profile | $48.03 | $99,910 | $66,370 | $132,990 | 19,120 | 1.36 | 1.15 |
| 16 | Maryland profile | $47.69 | $99,190 | $63,480 | $130,590 | 3,510 | 1.27 | 1.08 |
| 17 | New Mexico profile | $47.45 | $98,690 | $61,630 | $134,750 | 1,250 | 1.44 | 1.22 |
| 18 | Arizona profile | $47.02 | $97,800 | $68,990 | $130,550 | 3,390 | 1.05 | 0.89 |
| 19 | Hawaii profile | $46.90 | $97,560 | $61,000 | $120,620 | 270 | 0.43 | 0.37 |
| 20 | Georgia profile | $46.52 | $96,760 | $59,800 | $125,550 | 4,030 | 0.82 | 0.70 |
| 21 | Virginia profile | $46.27 | $96,250 | $66,890 | $132,400 | 4,460 | 1.09 | 0.92 |
| 22 | Illinois profile | $45.71 | $95,080 | $60,870 | $123,800 | 9,040 | 1.48 | 1.26 |
| 23 | Ohio profile | $44.86 | $93,300 | $61,840 | $125,330 | 7,270 | 1.31 | 1.11 |
| 24 | Pennsylvania profile | $44.69 | $92,960 | $60,650 | $130,780 | 6,570 | 1.08 | 0.92 |
| 25 | Utah profile | $44.02 | $91,560 | $56,070 | $128,490 | 1,460 | 0.84 | 0.71 |
| 26 | South Carolina profile | $43.52 | $90,530 | $56,560 | $124,070 | 2,190 | 0.95 | 0.81 |
| 27 | Minnesota profile | $42.97 | $89,380 | $62,390 | $107,820 | 3,890 | 1.32 | 1.12 |
| 28 | Missouri profile | $42.92 | $89,280 | $58,180 | $119,240 | 3,230 | 1.10 | 0.93 |
| 29 | Michigan profile | $42.84 | $89,120 | $62,430 | $108,670 | 4,730 | 1.07 | 0.91 |
| 30 | Indiana profile | $42.00 | $87,360 | $60,990 | $122,930 | 3,310 | 1.03 | 0.88 |
| 31 | North Carolina profile | $41.57 | $86,460 | $60,800 | $121,040 | 5,600 | 1.13 | 0.96 |
| 32 | Tennessee profile | $40.69 | $84,630 | $58,550 | $116,790 | 3,320 | 1.01 | 0.86 |
| 33 | Oklahoma profile | $40.61 | $84,470 | $51,230 | $127,920 | 1,870 | 1.10 | 0.93 |
| 34 | Idaho profile | $40.57 | $84,380 | $62,090 | $121,890 | 1,210 | 1.41 | 1.20 |
| 35 | Nebraska profile | $40.55 | $84,350 | $59,120 | $117,980 | 1,310 | 1.28 | 1.08 |
| 36 | Arkansas profile | $40.18 | $83,580 | $56,250 | $134,420 | 2,430 | 1.87 | 1.58 |
| 37 | Kentucky profile | $40.17 | $83,550 | $63,250 | $121,090 | 2,610 | 1.31 | 1.11 |
| 38 | New Hampshire profile | $39.92 | $83,040 | $64,030 | $119,290 | 720 | 1.05 | 0.89 |
| 39 | Wisconsin profile | $39.90 | $83,000 | $61,320 | $108,360 | 2,940 | 1.00 | 0.85 |
| 40 | Maine profile | $39.74 | $82,660 | $54,010 | $108,580 | 640 | 1.01 | 0.85 |
| 41 | Vermont profile | $39.47 | $82,090 | $64,320 | $103,380 | 430 | 1.41 | 1.20 |
| 42 | Wyoming profile | $39.44 | $82,040 | $63,520 | $124,250 | 240 | 0.85 | 0.72 |
| 43 | Iowa profile | $38.97 | $81,050 | $63,270 | $106,460 | 1,540 | 0.99 | 0.84 |
| 44 | West Virginia profile | $38.93 | $80,970 | $62,690 | $125,160 | 880 | 1.26 | 1.07 |
| 45 | Kansas profile | $38.52 | $80,120 | $59,390 | $108,390 | 1,690 | 1.18 | 1.00 |
| 46 | Montana profile | $37.86 | $78,740 | $58,460 | $106,330 | 490 | 0.96 | 0.81 |
| 47 | Mississippi profile | $37.56 | $78,130 | $50,280 | $106,170 | 1,790 | 1.54 | 1.31 |
| 48 | North Dakota profile | $36.17 | $75,240 | $56,140 | $103,350 | 630 | 1.46 | 1.24 |
| 49 | Alabama profile | $35.41 | $73,660 | $58,010 | $109,300 | 2,060 | 0.97 | 0.83 |
| 50 | Louisiana profile | $33.46 | $69,610 | $53,480 | $107,650 | 3,000 | 1.55 | 1.31 |
| 51 | South Dakota profile | $31.58 | $65,680 | $54,740 | $98,810 | 410 | 0.91 | 0.77 |
Related occupations
Occupations in the same SOC broad group (29-1120), with their national median annual wage.
Part of Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations. Compare any area in the wage explorer.
Source and notes
Data: BLS OEWS May 2025, released 2026-05-15. Cross-industry estimates, all ownerships. BLS page: OEWS 29-1127 Speech-Language Pathologists.
- Annual wages assume 2,080 hours a year at the hourly rate; occupations BLS publishes on one basis only show an en dash (–) on the other.
- Employment is rounded to the nearest 10 by BLS. Where BLS withholds a cell, nothing is estimated in its place.
- Top industries: nat4d_M2025_dl.xlsx in oesm25in4.zip (BLS OEWS May 2025, national, 4-digit NAICS, cross-ownership). Employment is the industry's rounded total for this occupation; industries whose employment BLS withheld (**) are not ranked.
- Published medians: national_M2021_dl.xlsx to national_M2024_dl.xlsx in oesm21nat.zip to oesm24nat.zip (BLS OEWS May 2021 to May 2024, national, cross-industry, all ownerships) and the May 2025 spine. Each release is shown as published; nothing is computed between them.
Sources
- BLS Standard Occupational Classification 2018, definition of 29-1127, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- O*NET 30.1 Database, 29-1127.00, National Center for O*NET Development, USDOL/ETA (CC BY 4.0).
- OEWS May 2025 national industry-specific estimates, 4-digit NAICS (oesm25in4.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2021 national estimates (oesm21nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2022 national estimates (oesm22nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2023 national estimates (oesm23nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2024 national estimates (oesm24nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2025 national estimates (oesm25nat.zip), the site's data spine, US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
Includes information from O*NET 30.1 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
Description written 2026-10-17 in our own words from the sources above.