SLP Salary

Bellflower vs Riverside: Speech-Language Pathologist Salary (2026)

Compare speech-language pathologist salaries between Bellflower, CA and Riverside, CA. All figures are 2026 estimates projected from BLS 2025 data.

Bellflower, CA
$122,663
$58.97/hr
Riverside, CA
$123,291
$59.27/hr

Side-by-Side Comparison

MetricBellflower, CARiverside, CA
Median Salary$122,663$123,291
Hourly Rate$58.97$59.27
Entry Level (P10)$75,184$61,968
25th Percentile$98,440$93,768
75th Percentile$146,709$137,152
Top Earner (P90)$172,435$152,075
Total Employed112,120
Side-by-side bar chart comparing Bellflower ($122,663) and Riverside ($123,291) speech-language pathologist salaries.BellflowerRiversideMedian Salary$122,663$123,291Entry Level (P10)$75,184$61,968Top Earner (P90)$172,435$152,075US Median $101,775

Verdict

Riverside, CA offers better overall compensation for speech-language pathologists, winning 3 out of 4 metrics compared to Bellflower.

The salary gap between Bellflower and Riverside is $628 (0.51%). Riverside's median is +21.14% compared to the US national median of $101,775.

Salary Range Comparison

The full salary range (10th to 90th percentile) in Bellflower spans $97,251,Riverside spans $90,107. Bellflower has a wider pay range, meaning more potential for high earners but also more variation.

Bellflower
P10 (Entry)$75,184
P25$98,440
Median$122,663
P75$146,709
P90 (Top)$172,435
Riverside
P10 (Entry)$61,968
P25$93,768
Median$123,291
P75$137,152
P90 (Top)$152,075

Cost-of-Living Adjusted Comparison

After cost-of-living adjustment, Riverside ($115,829 effective) pays 6.80% more than Bellflower ($108,455 effective).

Bellflower
Nominal: $122,663
CoL Index: 113.1
Adjusted: $108,455
Riverside
Nominal: $123,291
CoL Index: 106.442
Adjusted: $115,829

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

Which City Is Right for You?

Choose Bellflower if…

  • Better top-earner potential ($172,435)
  • You prefer the California area and lifestyle

Choose Riverside if…

  • Higher median salary ($123,291/year)
  • Larger job market (2,120 employed)
  • Better purchasing power (CoL-adjusted: $115,829)
  • You prefer the California area and lifestyle

Historical Salary Growth Comparison

Based on BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, speech-language pathologist salaries in Bellflower grew -1.0% from 2024 to 2025, compared to 30.3% growth in Riverside over the same period.

Bellflower, CA

+-1.0%

$119,176 (2024) → $117,957 (2025)

Riverside, CA

+30.3%

$90,990 (2019) → $118,560 (2025)

View Full Salary Data

Frequently Asked Questions

Which city pays speech-language pathologists more: Bellflower or Riverside?

Riverside has a higher median speech-language pathologist salary at $123,291/year, compared to Bellflower at $122,663/year — a difference of $628 (0.51%).

What is the hourly rate difference between Bellflower and Riverside?

Bellflower speech-language pathologists earn $58.97/hr while Riverside hygienists earn $59.27/hr (2026 est.).

Should I relocate from Bellflower to Riverside as a speech-language pathologist?

Consider more than just salary when comparing Bellflower and Riverside. Factor in cost of living (CoL-adjusted: Bellflower = $108,455, Riverside = $115,829), job availability (11 vs 2,120 employed), commute, and career growth potential.

What do entry-level speech-language pathologists earn in Bellflower vs Riverside?

Entry-level (10th percentile) speech-language pathologists earn $75,184 in Bellflower and $61,968 in Riverside. The Bellflower 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