21.6% higher than the US national median ($97,864)
Verified BLS OEWS data · Updated May 18, 2026
Source: BLS OEWS · Published May 15, 2026
Next refresh: May 2027
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The median salary for Speech-Language Pathologists in California is $118,976 per year ($57.20/hr). This is 21.6% higher than the national median of $97,864.
About This Role
BLS Standard Occupational Classification 2018
Assess and treat persons with speech, language, voice, and fluency disorders. May select alternative communication systems and teach their use. May perform research related to speech and language problems.
Wage Percentiles: California
Hourly & annualized (2,080 hours) · National adjusted
Percentile
Hourly Rate
Annual Salary
vs National
P10Entry level
$38.34
$79,747
+26.8%
P25
$47.56
$98,925
+27.3%
P50MEDIAN
$57.20
$118,976
+21.6%
P75
$64.94
$135,075
+17.9%
P90Top earners
$77.36
$160,909
+19.9%
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P10–P90 breakdown, career outlook, industry wages, and JOLTS market signal for Speech-Language Pathologists
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Career Outlook
BLS Employment Projections · 2024-2034
10-year growth
+15.0%
Much faster than average
Annual openings
13K
per year, on avg
Workforce today
187K
as of 2024
Why those openings exist
21% from new growth79% from people leaving the role
Mixed: openings come from both new growth and people exiting the role.
Typical entry requirements
Education
Master's degree
Experience
None
On-the-job training
Internship/residency
Industry Wage Breakdown
Top 2 industries by employment · median annual wage, sector-specific
Industry
Workforce
Median Pay
Elementary and Secondary Schools
NAICS 611100
72K
$83,080
Offices of Other Health Practitioners
NAICS 621300
49K
$99,080
Wage range across top 5 industries: $83,080 to $99,080 (19% spread)
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Full percentile breakdown · JOLTS market signals · Geographic comparison · AI analyst briefs
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the median speech-language pathologists salary in California?
The median (P50) annual salary for Speech-Language Pathologists in California is approximately $118,976, based on BLS OEWS May 2025 data. This is 21.6% higher than the national median of $97,864. For the full P10–P90 breakdown and market context, open CompSignal.
Wage figures on this page come from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2025 release. OEWS surveys roughly 1.1 million establishments annually. It is the most comprehensive employer-reported wage dataset in the United States.
P10 through P90 percentiles represent the wage distribution across all surveyed employers (not self-reported by workers). Geographic adjustments use BLS-derived cost multipliers calibrated from regional wage variation.
Wages are estimates. Individual compensation depends on experience, education, employer size, industry, and negotiation. Use this as benchmark context, not absolute ground truth.
CompSignal is a free labor market intelligence tool built for HR, compensation, and talent acquisition teams. We make BLS data, the same primary source Mercer and Radford cross-reference in their paid surveys, searchable and actionable without an enterprise subscription.
Built and maintained by Falcon Incentives, a compensation strategy and incentive design consultancy.