SLP Salary

Knoxville vs Morristown: Speech-Language Pathologist Salary (2026)

Compare speech-language pathologist salaries between Knoxville, TN and Morristown, TN. All figures are 2026 estimates projected from BLS 2025 data.

Knoxville, TN
$81,175
$39.03/hr
Morristown, TN
$89,171
$42.86/hr

Side-by-Side Comparison

MetricKnoxville, TNMorristown, TN
Median Salary$81,175$89,171
Hourly Rate$39.03$42.86
Entry Level (P10)$56,768$51,444
25th Percentile$64,911$64,682
75th Percentile$100,319$103,064
Top Earner (P90)$112,611$124,871
Total Employed40040
Side-by-side bar chart comparing Knoxville ($81,175) and Morristown ($89,171) speech-language pathologist salaries.KnoxvilleMorristownMedian Salary$81,175$89,171Entry Level (P10)$56,768$51,444Top Earner (P90)$112,611$124,871US Median $101,775

Verdict

Morristown, TN offers better overall compensation for speech-language pathologists, winning 3 out of 4 metrics compared to Knoxville.

The salary gap between Knoxville and Morristown is $7,996 (9.85%). Morristown's median is -12.38% compared to the US national median of $101,775.

Salary Range Comparison

The full salary range (10th to 90th percentile) in Knoxville spans $55,843,Morristown spans $73,427. Morristown has a wider pay range, suggesting more variation in pay between entry-level and experienced speech-language pathologists.

Knoxville
P10 (Entry)$56,768
P25$64,911
Median$81,175
P75$100,319
P90 (Top)$112,611
Morristown
P10 (Entry)$51,444
P25$64,682
Median$89,171
P75$103,064
P90 (Top)$124,871

Cost-of-Living Adjusted Comparison

After cost-of-living adjustment, Morristown ($103,250 effective) pays 17.74% more than Knoxville ($87,691 effective).

Knoxville
Nominal: $81,175
CoL Index: 92.569
Adjusted: $87,691
Morristown
Nominal: $89,171
CoL Index: 86.364
Adjusted: $103,250

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

Which City Is Right for You?

Choose Knoxville if…

  • Larger job market (400 employed)
  • You prefer the Tennessee area and lifestyle

Choose Morristown if…

  • Higher median salary ($89,171/year)
  • Better top-earner potential ($124,871)
  • Better purchasing power (CoL-adjusted: $103,250)
  • You prefer the Tennessee area and lifestyle

Historical Salary Growth Comparison

Based on BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, speech-language pathologist salaries in Knoxville grew 11.2% from 2019 to 2025, compared to 9.1% growth in Morristown over the same period.

Knoxville, TN

+11.2%

$70,170 (2019) → $78,060 (2025)

Morristown, TN

+9.1%

$78,620 (2019) → $85,750 (2025)

View Full Salary Data

Frequently Asked Questions

Which city pays speech-language pathologists more: Knoxville or Morristown?

Morristown has a higher median speech-language pathologist salary at $89,171/year, compared to Knoxville at $81,175/year — a difference of $7,996 (9.85%).

What is the hourly rate difference between Knoxville and Morristown?

Knoxville speech-language pathologists earn $39.03/hr while Morristown hygienists earn $42.86/hr (2026 est.).

Should I relocate from Knoxville to Morristown as a speech-language pathologist?

Consider more than just salary when comparing Knoxville and Morristown. Factor in cost of living (CoL-adjusted: Knoxville = $87,691, Morristown = $103,250), job availability (400 vs 40 employed), commute, and career growth potential.

What do entry-level speech-language pathologists earn in Knoxville vs Morristown?

Entry-level (10th percentile) speech-language pathologists earn $56,768 in Knoxville and $51,444 in Morristown. The Knoxville 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