SLP Salary

Lewiston vs Portland: Speech-Language Pathologist Salary (2026)

Compare speech-language pathologist salaries between Lewiston, ME and Portland, ME. All figures are 2026 estimates projected from BLS 2025 data.

Lewiston, ME
$92,146
$44.30/hr
Portland, ME
$90,596
$43.56/hr

Side-by-Side Comparison

MetricLewiston, MEPortland, ME
Median Salary$92,146$90,596
Hourly Rate$44.30$43.56
Entry Level (P10)$65,108$57,538
25th Percentile$77,878$79,636
75th Percentile$102,940$103,730
Top Earner (P90)$121,336$114,815
Total Employed60260
Side-by-side bar chart comparing Lewiston ($92,146) and Portland ($90,596) speech-language pathologist salaries.LewistonPortlandMedian Salary$92,146$90,596Entry Level (P10)$65,108$57,538Top Earner (P90)$121,336$114,815US Median $101,775

Verdict

Lewiston, ME offers better overall compensation for speech-language pathologists, winning 3 out of 4 metrics compared to Portland.

The salary gap between Lewiston and Portland is $1,550 (1.71%). Lewiston's median is -9.46% compared to the US national median of $101,775.

Salary Range Comparison

The full salary range (10th to 90th percentile) in Lewiston spans $56,228,Portland spans $57,277. Portland has a wider pay range, suggesting more variation in pay between entry-level and experienced speech-language pathologists.

Lewiston
P10 (Entry)$65,108
P25$77,878
Median$92,146
P75$102,940
P90 (Top)$121,336
Portland
P10 (Entry)$57,538
P25$79,636
Median$90,596
P75$103,730
P90 (Top)$114,815

Cost-of-Living Adjusted Comparison

After cost-of-living adjustment, Lewiston ($97,266 effective) pays 9.36% more than Portland ($88,943 effective).

Lewiston
Nominal: $92,146
CoL Index: 94.736
Adjusted: $97,266
Portland
Nominal: $90,596
CoL Index: 101.858
Adjusted: $88,943

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

Which City Is Right for You?

Choose Lewiston if…

  • Higher median salary ($92,146/year)
  • Better top-earner potential ($121,336)
  • Better purchasing power (CoL-adjusted: $97,266)
  • You prefer the Maine area and lifestyle

Choose Portland if…

  • Larger job market (260 employed)
  • You prefer the Maine area and lifestyle

Historical Salary Growth Comparison

Based on BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, speech-language pathologist salaries in Lewiston grew 27.3% from 2019 to 2025, compared to 41.8% growth in Portland over the same period.

Lewiston, ME

+27.3%

$69,590 (2019) → $88,610 (2025)

Portland, ME

+41.8%

$61,430 (2019) → $87,120 (2025)

View Full Salary Data

Frequently Asked Questions

Which city pays speech-language pathologists more: Lewiston or Portland?

Lewiston has a higher median speech-language pathologist salary at $92,146/year, compared to Portland at $90,596/year — a difference of $1,550 (1.71%).

What is the hourly rate difference between Lewiston and Portland?

Lewiston speech-language pathologists earn $44.30/hr while Portland hygienists earn $43.56/hr (2026 est.).

Should I relocate from Lewiston to Portland as a speech-language pathologist?

Consider more than just salary when comparing Lewiston and Portland. Factor in cost of living (CoL-adjusted: Lewiston = $97,266, Portland = $88,943), job availability (60 vs 260 employed), commute, and career growth potential.

What do entry-level speech-language pathologists earn in Lewiston vs Portland?

Entry-level (10th percentile) speech-language pathologists earn $65,108 in Lewiston and $57,538 in Portland. The Lewiston 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