SLP Salary

Bowling Green vs Henderson: Speech-Language Pathologist Salary (2026)

Compare speech-language pathologist salaries between Bowling Green, KY and Henderson, KY. All figures are 2026 estimates projected from BLS 2025 data.

Bowling Green, KY
$86,177
$41.43/hr
Henderson, KY
$83,463
$40.13/hr

Side-by-Side Comparison

MetricBowling Green, KYHenderson, KY
Median Salary$86,177$83,463
Hourly Rate$41.43$40.13
Entry Level (P10)$65,067$52,949
25th Percentile$76,973$68,424
75th Percentile$101,307$93,787
Top Earner (P90)$102,628$114,470
Total Employed1404
Side-by-side bar chart comparing Bowling Green ($86,177) and Henderson ($83,463) speech-language pathologist salaries.Bowling GreenHendersonMedian Salary$86,177$83,463Entry Level (P10)$65,067$52,949Top Earner (P90)$102,628$114,470US Median $101,775

Verdict

Bowling Green, KY offers better overall compensation for speech-language pathologists, winning 3 out of 4 metrics compared to Henderson.

The salary gap between Bowling Green and Henderson is $2,714 (3.25%). Bowling Green's median is -15.33% compared to the US national median of $101,775.

Salary Range Comparison

The full salary range (10th to 90th percentile) in Bowling Green spans $37,561,Henderson spans $61,521. Henderson has a wider pay range, suggesting more variation in pay between entry-level and experienced speech-language pathologists.

Bowling Green
P10 (Entry)$65,067
P25$76,973
Median$86,177
P75$101,307
P90 (Top)$102,628
Henderson
P10 (Entry)$52,949
P25$68,424
Median$83,463
P75$93,787
P90 (Top)$114,470

Cost-of-Living Adjusted Comparison

After cost-of-living adjustment, Bowling Green ($95,562 effective) pays 2.25% more than Henderson ($93,464 effective).

Bowling Green
Nominal: $86,177
CoL Index: 90.179
Adjusted: $95,562
Henderson
Nominal: $83,463
CoL Index: 89.3
Adjusted: $93,464

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

Which City Is Right for You?

Choose Bowling Green if…

  • Higher median salary ($86,177/year)
  • Larger job market (140 employed)
  • Better purchasing power (CoL-adjusted: $95,562)
  • You prefer the Kentucky area and lifestyle

Choose Henderson if…

  • Better top-earner potential ($114,470)
  • You prefer the Kentucky area and lifestyle

Historical Salary Growth Comparison

Based on BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, speech-language pathologist salaries in Bowling Green grew 18.6% from 2019 to 2025, compared to 12.1% growth in Henderson over the same period.

Bowling Green, KY

+18.6%

$69,880 (2019) → $82,870 (2025)

Henderson, KY

+12.1%

$71,612 (2024) → $80,261 (2025)

View Full Salary Data

Frequently Asked Questions

Which city pays speech-language pathologists more: Bowling Green or Henderson?

Bowling Green has a higher median speech-language pathologist salary at $86,177/year, compared to Henderson at $83,463/year — a difference of $2,714 (3.25%).

What is the hourly rate difference between Bowling Green and Henderson?

Bowling Green speech-language pathologists earn $41.43/hr while Henderson hygienists earn $40.13/hr (2026 est.).

Should I relocate from Bowling Green to Henderson as a speech-language pathologist?

Consider more than just salary when comparing Bowling Green and Henderson. Factor in cost of living (CoL-adjusted: Bowling Green = $95,562, Henderson = $93,464), job availability (140 vs 4 employed), commute, and career growth potential.

What do entry-level speech-language pathologists earn in Bowling Green vs Henderson?

Entry-level (10th percentile) speech-language pathologists earn $65,067 in Bowling Green and $52,949 in Henderson. The Bowling Green 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