Discover how much speech-language pathologists make in the U.S., and learn how to increase your earnings in this rewarding profession.
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Updated on March 19, 2024
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By
Editor & Writer
Tyler Epps is an editor for BestColleges. He writes and edits content about higher education, specializing in degree planning and college rankings. He is passionate about helping students prepare for college and navigate their educational journey. He...
Edited by
Editor & Writer
Rebecca Long is a copy editor for BestColleges. She has nearly a decade of editorial experience, including writing and editing. As a freelance journalist, her work has been published in The Boston Globe, The Guardian, Slate, and others. She has also ...
Updated on March 19, 2024
Learn more about our editorial process
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- Speech pathology is a growing career field with higher-than-average earning potential.
- Compensation can depend on where you live and work and your level of experience.
- Your specific industry within speech pathology also determines how much money you make.
Speech-language pathologists (SLPs), also known as speech therapists, play a crucial role in helping individuals with speech impediments communicate effectively and confidently. But where do SLPs work? And how much can you make as a speech pathologist?
In 2022, speech pathologists in the U.S. earned a median of $84,140 per year, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). However, salaries vary significantly depending on location, with some states and industries offering speech therapists much higher compensation.
If you're considering a career as a speech pathologist, read on for a breakdown of the salary and job outlook for this rewarding profession.
Featured Online Speech Therapy Programs
Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.
How Much Do Speech-Language Pathologists Make?
The median annual speech pathologist salary was $84,140 as of May 2022, according to the BLS. This is nearly double the median annual wage for all other occupations ($46,310). The top 10% of earners in this field earned a median annual salary exceeding $125,000.
This variance in earnings is influenced by several factors including the state you're working in, the industry, and your level of experience.
Job Outlook for Speech Pathologists
The BLS projects the number of jobs for speech pathologists will increase by 19% from 2022-2032. This is significantly higher than the projected growth rate of 3% for other professions. Overall, the BLS projects more than 13,000 openings for SLPs each year, on average, over the next decade.
This is driven by two factors: the aging baby boomer population and wider recognition of speech conditions in young people.
How Much Do Speech Pathologists Make By State?
The annual wage for speech pathologists varies significantly from state to state. For example, according to the BLS, speech pathologists in Illinois earned an average annual wage of $81,230, while speech pathologists in California earned $108,960.
Meanwhile, the top-paying state for speech pathologists was Hawaii, where these professionals earned more than $110,000 a year on average.
Speech Pathologist Median Salary by State
Featured Online Speech Therapy Programs
Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.
Where Can I Make the Most Money as a Speech Pathologist?
Salaries for speech pathologists can vary significantly based on the state, city, and even the specific industry in which you work. For example, the highest-earning SLPs are those who work in nursing care facilities.
Keep reading to find out which states, industries, and areas pay SLPs the most money.
Highest-Paying States for Speech Pathologists
Certain states tend to offer higher salaries for speech pathologists. Some of these include Hawaii, California, and New York.
| Top-Paying States | Average Annual Wage (2022) |
|---|---|
| Hawaii | $110,470 |
| California | $108,960 |
| District of Columbia | $105,360 |
| New York | $104,240 |
| New Jersey | $102,200 |
Highest-Paying Industries for Speech Pathologists
Certain industries also tend to offer higher salaries for speech pathologists than others, such as nursing and residential care facilities, as well as educational services, which include state, local, and private schools.
| Top Industries | Median Annual Wage (2022) |
|---|---|
| Nursing and residential care facilities | $101,320 |
| Hospitals; state, local, and private | $96,830 |
| Offices of physical, occupational, and speech therapists, and audiologists | $93,600 |
| Educational services; state, local, and private | $77,310 |
Highest-Paying Metropolitan Areas for Speech Pathologists
If you're considering moving to a metropolitan area, there are several that offer high salaries for speech pathologists. The San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA area pays SLPs the most — the average annual wage is $124,160.
| Top-Paying Metropolitan Areas | Average Annual Wage (2022) |
|---|---|
| San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA | $124,160 |
| Napa, CA | $118,180 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $117,320 |
| Urban Honolulu, HI | $116,330 |
| Modesto, CA | $115,060 |
Highest-Paying Nonmetropolitan Areas for Speech Pathologists
There are also several nonmetropolitan areas where speech pathologists can earn higher-than-average salaries. SLPs in the North Valley-Northern Mountains Region of California, earn some of the highest wages, with an average annual salary of $111,550.
| Top-Paying Nonmetropolitan Areas | Average Annual Wage (2022) |
|---|---|
| North Valley-Northern Mountains Region of California | $111,550 |
| Eastern New Mexico | $105,920 |
| North Coast Region of California | $102,570 |
| Northern New Mexico | $101,960 |
| Southwest Colorado | $99,560 |
How Can I Increase My Salary as a Speech Pathologist?
If you're a speech pathologist looking for ways to increase your salary, there are a few different paths you can take. Among these include acquiring certification, changing industries, and relocating.
1. Earn CCC-SLP Certification
Working as an SLP requires licensure, but not all states require certification. Securing a certification can substantially influence your earnings. The Certificate of Clinical Competence in Speech-Language Pathology (CCC-SLP), provided by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA), is the only widely accepted qualification for Speech Pathologists.
For example, if you work as an SLP in an educational setting, obtaining the CCC-SLP can directly lead to a salary increase. The CCC indicates an SLP has met standards exceeding employment requirements. Many states and school districts reward SLPs who attain this certification in the same way as teachers attaining the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) certification.
2. Change Industries
The industry you work in plays a pivotal role in your salary determination. Per the BLS, speech pathologists in the nursing and residential care sector earned a median salary of $101,320. Their counterparts in hospitals earned a median of $96,830.
However, speech pathologists working in educational services, including state, local, and private schools, earned a median wage on the lower end of the scale at $77,310. If you're one of these professionals working in educational services, consider switching to an industry that pays more.
3. Consider Relocating
Moving to a new area can significantly impact your salary as an SLP. For example, SLPs working in the western U.S. have an average income of $85,000, which is superior to other areas like the South ($79,000), Northeast ($78,000), and Midwest ($73,520), according to the BLS.
Moreover, certain states such as New Jersey, Washington, D.C., California, Connecticut, and Colorado are known for paying some of the highest wages for SLPs. As a result, moving to different states or changing work environments can result in salary differences for speech pathologists.
Featured Online Speech Therapy Programs
Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.
Frequently Asked Questions About How Much a Speech Pathologist Makes
Where do speech pathologists make the most money?
Speech pathologists tend to earn the highest salaries in California and New York, particularly in cities like San Francisco, Oakland, and New York City. While Hawaii is the top-paying state for SLPs, job prospects are limited as the state only employs about 150 of these professionals, per the BLS.
How much do speech pathology assistants make?
Speech-language pathology assistants, or SLPAs, tend to make significantly less than speech pathologists. According to ONET OnLine, which is maintained by the Department of Labor, speech-language pathology assistants earned an annual median wage of about $40,000 in 2022. The top 10% of SLP assistants earned $61,520.
What is the highest salary speech pathologists can make?
The top 10% of speech-language pathologists earned a median salary of over $126,680 in May 2022, according to the BLS. Many speech pathologists who earn this level of income are employed in skilled nursing homes and resident care facilities, where SLPs earn median salaries of over $100,000.
