Speech-Language Pathologist salary
Updated Updated for 2026 tax law
A speech-language pathologist earns a median of $97,870 a year ($47.05 an hour) in the US, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The average is $98,170. About 183,390 people work in this job.
Take-home pay on $97,870
- Gross pay
- $3,764.23
- Federal income tax
- −$488.52
- Social Security (6.2%)
- −$233.38
- Medicare (1.45%)
- −$54.58
- Texas income tax
- $0.00No state income tax on wages
- Take-home pay
- $2,987.75
Annual breakdown
- Gross
- $97,870
- Federal
- $12,701
- FICA
- $7,487
- State + local
- $0
- Net
- $77,682
- Marginal federal rate
- 22.0%
- Marginal state rate
- 0.0%
2026 federal brackets (Rev. Proc. 2025-32) and 2026 state rules. Estimates assume wages are your only income and use annual liability, so your actual withholding can differ slightly.
Speech-Language Pathologist salary by state
| State | Median salary | Average | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | $118,970 | $118,600 | 16,930 |
| Colorado | $110,750 | $116,960 | 4,420 |
| District of Columbia | $109,380 | $112,940 | 390 |
| Washington | $105,550 | $107,610 | 3,570 |
| Nevada | $104,510 | $103,870 | 1,270 |
| Rhode Island | $104,000 | $103,850 | 720 |
| Delaware | $102,760 | $105,380 | 690 |
| Alaska | $102,670 | $100,320 | 340 |
| Oregon | $102,660 | $106,210 | 1,600 |
| New Jersey | $101,560 | $109,510 | 6,840 |
| Massachusetts | $101,310 | $101,890 | 5,290 |
| New York | $100,610 | $107,700 | 15,310 |
| Connecticut | $100,110 | $101,340 | 2,390 |
| Florida | $99,990 | $96,710 | 10,080 |
| Texas | $99,910 | $99,460 | 19,120 |
| Maryland | $99,190 | $98,070 | 3,510 |
| New Mexico | $98,690 | $102,370 | 1,250 |
| Arizona | $97,800 | $100,270 | 3,390 |
| Hawaii | $97,560 | $91,660 | 270 |
| Georgia | $96,760 | $93,470 | 4,030 |
| Virginia | $96,250 | $99,590 | 4,460 |
| Illinois | $95,080 | $92,660 | 9,040 |
| Ohio | $93,300 | $93,140 | 7,270 |
| Pennsylvania | $92,960 | $93,720 | 6,570 |
| Utah | $91,560 | $90,630 | 1,460 |
| South Carolina | $90,530 | $89,950 | 2,190 |
| Minnesota | $89,380 | $87,670 | 3,890 |
| Missouri | $89,280 | $89,040 | 3,230 |
| Michigan | $89,120 | $88,650 | 4,730 |
| Indiana | $87,360 | $92,290 | 3,310 |
| North Carolina | $86,460 | $88,640 | 5,600 |
| Tennessee | $84,630 | $85,050 | 3,320 |
| Oklahoma | $84,470 | $87,230 | 1,870 |
| Idaho | $84,380 | $87,060 | 1,210 |
| Nebraska | $84,350 | $87,030 | 1,310 |
| Arkansas | $83,580 | $90,490 | 2,430 |
| Kentucky | $83,550 | $89,180 | 2,610 |
| New Hampshire | $83,040 | $88,460 | 720 |
| Wisconsin | $83,000 | $85,550 | 2,940 |
| Maine | $82,660 | $83,690 | 640 |
| Vermont | $82,090 | $86,040 | 430 |
| Wyoming | $82,040 | $89,350 | 240 |
| Iowa | $81,050 | $83,760 | 1,540 |
| West Virginia | $80,970 | $88,180 | 880 |
| Kansas | $80,120 | $82,760 | 1,690 |
| Montana | $78,740 | $80,780 | 490 |
| Mississippi | $78,130 | $78,570 | 1,790 |
| North Dakota | $75,240 | $75,980 | 630 |
| Alabama | $73,660 | $78,780 | 2,060 |
| Louisiana | $69,610 | $77,000 | 3,000 |
| South Dakota | $65,680 | $73,310 | 410 |
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BLS occupation: Speech-Language Pathologists. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 (SOC 29-1127). Excludes the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a speech-language pathologist make an hour?
The median hourly wage is $47.05; the average is $47.20.
Which state pays speech-language pathologists the most?
California ($118,970 median), followed by Colorado and District of Columbia.
What is the salary range for a speech-language pathologist?
The bottom 10% earn under $62,900 and the top 10% earn over $134,160 a year.
How much is $97,870 after taxes?
About $77,682 a year in Texas (no state income tax) or $71,552 in California for a single filer in 2026.
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Estimates for information only — not tax, legal or financial advice.