How Much Does a Speech Pathologist Make? Salary by State
Median annual salary (U.S.)
$97,870
Speech pathologists in the U.S. earn a median of $97,870 a year, or $47.05 an hour. Half of speech pathologists earn more than $97,870 and half earn less. The top 10% make more than $134,160.
Pay percentiles for speech pathologists
| Percentile | Hourly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $30.24 | $62,900 |
| 25th | $37.37 | $77,730 |
| 50th (median) | $47.05 | $97,870 |
| 75th | $55.08 | $114,570 |
| 90th | $64.50 | $134,160 |
U.S. wages, May 2025. BLS occupation: Speech-Language Pathologists (SOC 29-1127). Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
Highest-paying states for speech pathologists
| State | Median annual | Median hourly | vs. U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | $118,970 | $57.20 | +22% |
| Colorado | $110,750 | $53.25 | +13% |
| District of Columbia | $109,380 | $52.59 | +12% |
| Washington | $105,550 | $50.74 | +8% |
| Nevada | $104,510 | $50.25 | +7% |
| Rhode Island | $104,000 | $50.00 | +6% |
| Delaware | $102,760 | $49.40 | +5% |
| Alaska | $102,670 | $49.36 | +5% |
| Oregon | $102,660 | $49.35 | +5% |
| New Jersey | $101,560 | $48.83 | +4% |
| United States | $97,870 | $47.05 | — |
Top 10 states by median annual wage, May 2025. Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
How many speech pathologists are there?
BLS counts about 183,390 speech pathologists employed in the U.S. (May 2025, excluding the self-employed). These figures cover the BLS occupation “Speech-Language Pathologists”. The most jobs are in Texas (19,120), California (16,930) and New York (15,310).
The mean (average) annual wage is $98,170, higher than the median of $97,870.
Hourly to annual pay calculator
Per year
- Monthly
- $8,156
- Biweekly
- $3,764
- Weekly
- $1,882
- Daily (8 hours)
- $376
- Hours per year
- 2,080
BLS annual figure; hourly × 2,080 may differ slightly.
Frequently asked questions
How much do speech pathologists make an hour?
The median hourly wage for speech pathologists is $47.05. The middle 50% earn between $37.37 and $55.08 an hour.
Which state pays speech pathologists the most?
California has the highest median wage for speech pathologists at $118,970, +22% vs. the U.S. median.
What is the starting salary for speech pathologists?
BLS does not report pay by experience, but the lowest-paid 10% of speech pathologists earn less than $62,900 a year, a common proxy for entry-level pay.