SLP Salary

Ballwin vs St. Louis: Speech-Language Pathologist Salary (2026)

Compare speech-language pathologist salaries between Ballwin, MO and St. Louis, MO. All figures are 2026 estimates projected from BLS 2025 data.

Ballwin, MO
$89,169
$42.88/hr
St. Louis, MO
$89,931
$43.24/hr

Side-by-Side Comparison

MetricBallwin, MOSt. Louis, MO
Median Salary$89,169$89,931
Hourly Rate$42.88$43.24
Entry Level (P10)$58,651$60,501
25th Percentile$70,912$73,511
75th Percentile$103,342$107,359
Top Earner (P90)$118,809$117,997
Total Employed41,630
Side-by-side bar chart comparing Ballwin ($89,169) and St. Louis ($89,931) speech-language pathologist salaries.BallwinSt. LouisMedian Salary$89,169$89,931Entry Level (P10)$58,651$60,501Top Earner (P90)$118,809$117,997US Median $101,775

Verdict

St. Louis, MO offers better overall compensation for speech-language pathologists, winning 3 out of 4 metrics compared to Ballwin.

The salary gap between Ballwin and St. Louis is $762 (0.85%). St. Louis's median is -11.64% compared to the US national median of $101,775.

Salary Range Comparison

The full salary range (10th to 90th percentile) in Ballwin spans $60,158,St. Louis spans $57,496. Ballwin has a wider pay range, meaning more potential for high earners but also more variation.

Ballwin
P10 (Entry)$58,651
P25$70,912
Median$89,169
P75$103,342
P90 (Top)$118,809
St. Louis
P10 (Entry)$60,501
P25$73,511
Median$89,931
P75$107,359
P90 (Top)$117,997

Cost-of-Living Adjusted Comparison

After cost-of-living adjustment, Ballwin ($99,519 effective) pays 5.23% more than St. Louis ($94,577 effective).

Ballwin
Nominal: $89,169
CoL Index: 89.6
Adjusted: $99,519
St. Louis
Nominal: $89,931
CoL Index: 95.088
Adjusted: $94,577

Cost-of-living adjustment: salary × (100 / CoL index). Index of 100 = national average.

Which City Is Right for You?

Choose Ballwin if…

  • Better top-earner potential ($118,809)
  • Better purchasing power (CoL-adjusted: $99,519)
  • You prefer the Missouri area and lifestyle

Choose St. Louis if…

  • Higher median salary ($89,931/year)
  • Larger job market (1,630 employed)
  • You prefer the Missouri area and lifestyle

Historical Salary Growth Comparison

Based on BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, speech-language pathologist salaries in Ballwin grew 24.8% from 2024 to 2025, compared to -2.1% growth in St. Louis over the same period.

Ballwin, MO

+24.8%

$68,698 (2024) → $85,748 (2025)

St. Louis, MO

+-2.1%

$88,360 (2019) → $86,480 (2025)

View Full Salary Data

Frequently Asked Questions

Which city pays speech-language pathologists more: Ballwin or St. Louis?

St. Louis has a higher median speech-language pathologist salary at $89,931/year, compared to Ballwin at $89,169/year — a difference of $762 (0.85%).

What is the hourly rate difference between Ballwin and St. Louis?

Ballwin speech-language pathologists earn $42.88/hr while St. Louis hygienists earn $43.24/hr (2026 est.).

Should I relocate from Ballwin to St. Louis as a speech-language pathologist?

Consider more than just salary when comparing Ballwin and St. Louis. Factor in cost of living (CoL-adjusted: Ballwin = $99,519, St. Louis = $94,577), job availability (4 vs 1,630 employed), commute, and career growth potential.

What do entry-level speech-language pathologists earn in Ballwin vs St. Louis?

Entry-level (10th percentile) speech-language pathologists earn $58,651 in Ballwin and $60,501 in St. Louis. The St. Louis area offers higher starting salaries.

Related Comparisons

JL

Written by Jordan Lee, CCC-SLP

Career Analyst

Jordan has over 8 years of experience in speech-language pathology. He specializes in pediatric language disorders. He works in a community health clinic.

Clinically reviewed by Fatima Ali, CCC-SLPData verified by Miguel Torres, CCC-SLP

Methodology & Data Source

All salary figures are 2026 projections based on BLS OEWS May 2025 data. A 3.99% CAGR (derived from 6-year national BLS trends) was applied to estimate current compensation. Cost-of-living adjustments use BEA Regional Price Parity data. Actual salaries vary by employer, certifications, and experience.

Data Sources & Methodology

Source: BLS, OEWS , released .

Compiled and verified by Jordan Lee, CCC-SLP, a licensed speech-language pathologist with 10+ years of clinical experience. · View source data at BLS.gov