According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) data on speech-language pathologists, the median annual salary for a speech pathologist in the United States was $80,480 in 2020. The salary for this healthcare profession has grown 11% since 2018, as indicated by SLP annual salary and hourly wage trend data from ASHA, the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (PDF, 594 KB), and will differ by location and the type of setting the SLP works in. Below you will find typical salaries for various settings and locations.
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Salary by Setting
According to 2020 BLS data, the top 10% of speech pathologists earned more than $122,790. The range of SLP salaries depends on a variety of factors, including career specialization and physical location. For example, 38% of SLPs work in educational services, but there also are 23% of SLPs whose work setting is the offices of physical, occupational and speech therapists and audiologists.
According to the BLS data on SLPs median annual salaries in 2020 for SLPs by setting is as follows:
- Nursing/Residential Care Facilities: $95,010
- Hospitals: $87,110
- Offices of Occupational/Physical/Speech Therapists and Audiologists: $83,250
- Educational Services: $71,410
Salary by State
The table below reflects the earning potential for speech language pathologists throughout the United States based on data provided by O*NET OnLine.
| State | Median Annual Salary, 2020 |
|---|---|
Alabama | $60,600 |
Alaska | $88,390 |
Arizona | $79,490 |
Arkansas | $67,620 |
California | $95,850 |
Colorado | $86,060 |
Connecticut | $96,100 |
Delaware | $85,500 |
District of Columbia | $99,420 |
Florida | $82,850 |
Georgia | $76,000 |
Hawaii | $81,870 |
Idaho | $73,760 |
Illinois | $78,380 |
Indiana | $76,600 |
Iowa | $73,790 |
Kansas | $73,890 |
Kentucky | $70,330 |
Louisiana | $78,880 |
Maine | $67,530 |
Maryland | $84,830 |
Massachusetts | $86,060 |
Michigan | $77,050 |
Minnesota | $75,050 |
Mississippi | $65,760 |
Missouri | $80,090 |
Montana | $72,420 |
Nebraska | $70,210 |
Nevada | $80,010 |
New Hampshire | $78,050 |
New Jersey | $93,860 |
New Mexico | $77,260 |
New York | $89,850 |
North Carolina | $70,560 |
North Dakota | $68,190 |
Ohio | $76,210 |
Oklahoma | $71,480 |
Oregon | $83,110 |
Pennsylvania | $78,850 |
Rhode Island | $86,680 |
South Carolina | $71,080 |
South Dakota | $56,790 |
Tennessee | $77,060 |
Texas | $70,890 |
Utah | $76,240 |
Vermont | $74,860 |
Virginia | $92,010 |
Washington | $82,720 |
West Virginia | $61,710 |
Wisconsin | $74,580 |
Wyoming | $76,130 |
This page includes information from O*NET OnLine by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.
Information last updated July 2021