SLP Salary

Franklin vs Indianapolis: Speech-Language Pathologist Salary (2026)

Compare speech-language pathologist salaries between Franklin, IN and Indianapolis, IN. All figures are 2026 estimates projected from BLS 2025 data.

Franklin, IN
$86,088
$41.39/hr
Indianapolis, IN
$97,043
$46.65/hr

Side-by-Side Comparison

MetricFranklin, INIndianapolis, IN
Median Salary$86,088$97,043
Hourly Rate$41.39$46.65
Entry Level (P10)$55,727$65,898
25th Percentile$67,798$81,424
75th Percentile$99,258$110,313
Top Earner (P90)$113,433$127,877
Total Employed61,360
Side-by-side bar chart comparing Franklin ($86,088) and Indianapolis ($97,043) speech-language pathologist salaries.FranklinIndianapolisMedian Salary$86,088$97,043Entry Level (P10)$55,727$65,898Top Earner (P90)$113,433$127,877US Median $101,775

Verdict

Indianapolis, IN offers better overall compensation for speech-language pathologists, winning 4 out of 4 metrics compared to Franklin.

The salary gap between Franklin and Indianapolis is $10,955 (12.73%). Indianapolis's median is -4.65% compared to the US national median of $101,775.

Salary Range Comparison

The full salary range (10th to 90th percentile) in Franklin spans $57,706,Indianapolis spans $61,979. Indianapolis has a wider pay range, suggesting more variation in pay between entry-level and experienced speech-language pathologists.

Franklin
P10 (Entry)$55,727
P25$67,798
Median$86,088
P75$99,258
P90 (Top)$113,433
Indianapolis
P10 (Entry)$65,898
P25$81,424
Median$97,043
P75$110,313
P90 (Top)$127,877

Cost-of-Living Adjusted Comparison

After cost-of-living adjustment, Indianapolis ($101,408 effective) pays 7.55% more than Franklin ($94,291 effective).

Franklin
Nominal: $86,088
CoL Index: 91.3
Adjusted: $94,291
Indianapolis
Nominal: $97,043
CoL Index: 95.696
Adjusted: $101,408

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

Which City Is Right for You?

Choose Franklin if…

  • You prefer the Indiana area and lifestyle

Choose Indianapolis if…

  • Higher median salary ($97,043/year)
  • Better top-earner potential ($127,877)
  • Larger job market (1,360 employed)
  • Better purchasing power (CoL-adjusted: $101,408)
  • You prefer the Indiana area and lifestyle

Historical Salary Growth Comparison

Based on BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, speech-language pathologist salaries in Franklin grew 12.5% from 2024 to 2025, compared to 17.3% growth in Indianapolis over the same period.

Franklin, IN

+12.5%

$73,599 (2024) → $82,785 (2025)

Indianapolis, IN

+17.3%

$79,580 (2019) → $93,320 (2025)

View Full Salary Data

Frequently Asked Questions

Which city pays speech-language pathologists more: Franklin or Indianapolis?

Indianapolis has a higher median speech-language pathologist salary at $97,043/year, compared to Franklin at $86,088/year — a difference of $10,955 (12.73%).

What is the hourly rate difference between Franklin and Indianapolis?

Franklin speech-language pathologists earn $41.39/hr while Indianapolis hygienists earn $46.65/hr (2026 est.).

Should I relocate from Franklin to Indianapolis as a speech-language pathologist?

Consider more than just salary when comparing Franklin and Indianapolis. Factor in cost of living (CoL-adjusted: Franklin = $94,291, Indianapolis = $101,408), job availability (6 vs 1,360 employed), commute, and career growth potential.

What do entry-level speech-language pathologists earn in Franklin vs Indianapolis?

Entry-level (10th percentile) speech-language pathologists earn $55,727 in Franklin and $65,898 in Indianapolis. The Indianapolis 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