SLP Salary

Beckley vs Huntington: Speech-Language Pathologist Salary (2026)

Compare speech-language pathologist salaries between Beckley, WV and Huntington, WV. All figures are 2026 estimates projected from BLS 2025 data.

Beckley, WV
$68,030
$32.70/hr
Huntington, WV
$102,638
$49.34/hr

Side-by-Side Comparison

MetricBeckley, WVHuntington, WV
Median Salary$68,030$102,638
Hourly Rate$32.70$49.34
Entry Level (P10)$65,035$64,973
25th Percentile$67,261$77,036
75th Percentile$100,434$115,315
Top Earner (P90)$123,135$127,835
Total Employed80200
Side-by-side bar chart comparing Beckley ($68,030) and Huntington ($102,638) speech-language pathologist salaries.BeckleyHuntingtonMedian Salary$68,030$102,638Entry Level (P10)$65,035$64,973Top Earner (P90)$123,135$127,835US Median $101,775

Verdict

Huntington, WV offers better overall compensation for speech-language pathologists, winning 4 out of 4 metrics compared to Beckley.

The salary gap between Beckley and Huntington is $34,608 (50.87%). Huntington's median is +0.85% compared to the US national median of $101,775.

Salary Range Comparison

The full salary range (10th to 90th percentile) in Beckley spans $58,100,Huntington spans $62,862. Huntington has a wider pay range, suggesting more variation in pay between entry-level and experienced speech-language pathologists.

Beckley
P10 (Entry)$65,035
P25$67,261
Median$68,030
P75$100,434
P90 (Top)$123,135
Huntington
P10 (Entry)$64,973
P25$77,036
Median$102,638
P75$115,315
P90 (Top)$127,835

Cost-of-Living Adjusted Comparison

After cost-of-living adjustment, Huntington ($116,077 effective) pays 50.78% more than Beckley ($76,984 effective).

Beckley
Nominal: $68,030
CoL Index: 88.369
Adjusted: $76,984
Huntington
Nominal: $102,638
CoL Index: 88.422
Adjusted: $116,077

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

Which City Is Right for You?

Choose Beckley if…

  • You prefer the West Virginia area and lifestyle

Choose Huntington if…

  • Higher median salary ($102,638/year)
  • Better top-earner potential ($127,835)
  • Larger job market (200 employed)
  • Better purchasing power (CoL-adjusted: $116,077)
  • You prefer the West Virginia area and lifestyle

Historical Salary Growth Comparison

Based on BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, speech-language pathologist salaries in Beckley grew 9.9% from 2019 to 2025, compared to 63.7% growth in Huntington over the same period.

Beckley, WV

+9.9%

$59,510 (2019) → $65,420 (2025)

Huntington, WV

+63.7%

$60,300 (2019) → $98,700 (2025)

View Full Salary Data

Frequently Asked Questions

Which city pays speech-language pathologists more: Beckley or Huntington?

Huntington has a higher median speech-language pathologist salary at $102,638/year, compared to Beckley at $68,030/year — a difference of $34,608 (50.87%).

What is the hourly rate difference between Beckley and Huntington?

Beckley speech-language pathologists earn $32.70/hr while Huntington hygienists earn $49.34/hr (2026 est.).

Should I relocate from Beckley to Huntington as a speech-language pathologist?

Consider more than just salary when comparing Beckley and Huntington. Factor in cost of living (CoL-adjusted: Beckley = $76,984, Huntington = $116,077), job availability (80 vs 200 employed), commute, and career growth potential.

What do entry-level speech-language pathologists earn in Beckley vs Huntington?

Entry-level (10th percentile) speech-language pathologists earn $65,035 in Beckley and $64,973 in Huntington. The Beckley area offers higher starting salaries.
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