SLP Salary

Houston vs El Paso: Speech-Language Pathologist Salary (2026)

Compare speech-language pathologist salaries between Houston, TX and El Paso, TX. All figures are 2026 estimates projected from BLS 2025 data.

Houston, TX
$104,406
$50.20/hr
El Paso, TX
$103,397
$49.71/hr

Side-by-Side Comparison

MetricHouston, TXEl Paso, TX
Median Salary$104,406$103,397
Hourly Rate$50.20$49.71
Entry Level (P10)$72,429$69,101
25th Percentile$82,994$78,440
75th Percentile$125,589$128,032
Top Earner (P90)$140,990$139,617
Total Employed3,780620
Side-by-side bar chart comparing Houston ($104,406) and El Paso ($103,397) speech-language pathologist salaries.HoustonEl PasoMedian Salary$104,406$103,397Entry Level (P10)$72,429$69,101Top Earner (P90)$140,990$139,617US Median $101,775

Verdict

Houston, TX offers better overall compensation for speech-language pathologists, winning 4 out of 4 metrics compared to El Paso.

The salary gap between Houston and El Paso is $1,009 (0.98%). Houston's median is +2.59% compared to the US national median of $101,775.

Salary Range Comparison

The full salary range (10th to 90th percentile) in Houston spans $68,561,El Paso spans $70,516. El Paso has a wider pay range, suggesting more variation in pay between entry-level and experienced speech-language pathologists.

Houston
P10 (Entry)$72,429
P25$82,994
Median$104,406
P75$125,589
P90 (Top)$140,990
El Paso
P10 (Entry)$69,101
P25$78,440
Median$103,397
P75$128,032
P90 (Top)$139,617

Cost-of-Living Adjusted Comparison

After cost-of-living adjustment, El Paso ($114,998 effective) pays 8.63% more than Houston ($105,857 effective).

Houston
Nominal: $104,406
CoL Index: 98.629
Adjusted: $105,857
El Paso
Nominal: $103,397
CoL Index: 89.912
Adjusted: $114,998

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

Which City Is Right for You?

Choose Houston if…

  • Higher median salary ($104,406/year)
  • Better top-earner potential ($140,990)
  • Larger job market (3,780 employed)
  • You prefer the Texas area and lifestyle

Choose El Paso if…

  • Better purchasing power (CoL-adjusted: $114,998)
  • You prefer the Texas area and lifestyle

Historical Salary Growth Comparison

Based on BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, speech-language pathologist salaries in Houston grew 43.6% from 2019 to 2025, compared to 24.5% growth in El Paso over the same period.

Houston, TX

+43.6%

$69,900 (2019) → $100,400 (2025)

El Paso, TX

+24.5%

$79,890 (2019) → $99,430 (2025)

View Full Salary Data

Frequently Asked Questions

Which city pays speech-language pathologists more: Houston or El Paso?

Houston has a higher median speech-language pathologist salary at $104,406/year, compared to El Paso at $103,397/year — a difference of $1,009 (0.98%).

What is the hourly rate difference between Houston and El Paso?

Houston speech-language pathologists earn $50.20/hr while El Paso hygienists earn $49.71/hr (2026 est.).

Should I relocate from Houston to El Paso as a speech-language pathologist?

Consider more than just salary when comparing Houston and El Paso. Factor in cost of living (CoL-adjusted: Houston = $105,857, El Paso = $114,998), job availability (3,780 vs 620 employed), commute, and career growth potential.

What do entry-level speech-language pathologists earn in Houston vs El Paso?

Entry-level (10th percentile) speech-language pathologists earn $72,429 in Houston and $69,101 in El Paso. The Houston 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