SLP Salary

Henderson vs Lexington: Speech-Language Pathologist Salary (2026)

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

Henderson, KY
$83,463
$40.13/hr
Lexington, KY
$90,960
$43.73/hr

Side-by-Side Comparison

MetricHenderson, KYLexington, KY
Median Salary$83,463$90,960
Hourly Rate$40.13$43.73
Entry Level (P10)$52,949$68,186
25th Percentile$68,424$78,429
75th Percentile$93,787$107,349
Top Earner (P90)$114,470$116,417
Total Employed4360
Side-by-side bar chart comparing Henderson ($83,463) and Lexington ($90,960) speech-language pathologist salaries.HendersonLexingtonMedian Salary$83,463$90,960Entry Level (P10)$52,949$68,186Top Earner (P90)$114,470$116,417US Median $101,775

Verdict

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

The salary gap between Henderson and Lexington is $7,497 (8.98%). Lexington's median is -10.63% compared to the US national median of $101,775.

Salary Range Comparison

The full salary range (10th to 90th percentile) in Henderson spans $61,521,Lexington spans $48,231. Henderson has a wider pay range, meaning more potential for high earners but also more variation.

Henderson
P10 (Entry)$52,949
P25$68,424
Median$83,463
P75$93,787
P90 (Top)$114,470
Lexington
P10 (Entry)$68,186
P25$78,429
Median$90,960
P75$107,349
P90 (Top)$116,417

Cost-of-Living Adjusted Comparison

After cost-of-living adjustment, Lexington ($97,923 effective) pays 4.77% more than Henderson ($93,464 effective).

Henderson
Nominal: $83,463
CoL Index: 89.3
Adjusted: $93,464
Lexington
Nominal: $90,960
CoL Index: 92.889
Adjusted: $97,923

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

Which City Is Right for You?

Choose Henderson if…

  • You prefer the Kentucky area and lifestyle

Choose Lexington if…

  • Higher median salary ($90,960/year)
  • Better top-earner potential ($116,417)
  • Larger job market (360 employed)
  • Better purchasing power (CoL-adjusted: $97,923)
  • You prefer the Kentucky area and lifestyle

Historical Salary Growth Comparison

Based on BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, speech-language pathologist salaries in Henderson grew 12.1% from 2024 to 2025, compared to 27.3% growth in Lexington over the same period.

Henderson, KY

+12.1%

$71,612 (2024) → $80,261 (2025)

Lexington, KY

+27.3%

$68,710 (2019) → $87,470 (2025)

View Full Salary Data

Frequently Asked Questions

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

Lexington has a higher median speech-language pathologist salary at $90,960/year, compared to Henderson at $83,463/year — a difference of $7,497 (8.98%).

What is the hourly rate difference between Henderson and Lexington?

Henderson speech-language pathologists earn $40.13/hr while Lexington hygienists earn $43.73/hr (2026 est.).

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

Consider more than just salary when comparing Henderson and Lexington. Factor in cost of living (CoL-adjusted: Henderson = $93,464, Lexington = $97,923), job availability (4 vs 360 employed), commute, and career growth potential.

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

Entry-level (10th percentile) speech-language pathologists earn $52,949 in Henderson and $68,186 in Lexington. The Lexington 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