SLP Salary

Liberty vs St. Louis: Speech-Language Pathologist Salary (2026)

Compare speech-language pathologist salaries between Liberty, MO and St. Louis, MO. All figures are 2026 estimates projected from BLS 2025 data.

Liberty, MO
$91,689
$44.08/hr
St. Louis, MO
$89,931
$43.24/hr

Side-by-Side Comparison

MetricLiberty, MOSt. Louis, MO
Median Salary$91,689$89,931
Hourly Rate$44.08$43.24
Entry Level (P10)$59,341$60,501
25th Percentile$72,486$73,511
75th Percentile$103,869$107,359
Top Earner (P90)$118,238$117,997
Total Employed51,630
Side-by-side bar chart comparing Liberty ($91,689) and St. Louis ($89,931) speech-language pathologist salaries.LibertySt. LouisMedian Salary$91,689$89,931Entry Level (P10)$59,341$60,501Top Earner (P90)$118,238$117,997US Median $101,775

Verdict

Liberty, MO offers better overall compensation for speech-language pathologists, winning 3 out of 4 metrics compared to St. Louis.

The salary gap between Liberty and St. Louis is $1,758 (1.95%). Liberty's median is -9.91% compared to the US national median of $101,775.

Salary Range Comparison

The full salary range (10th to 90th percentile) in Liberty spans $58,897,St. Louis spans $57,496. Liberty has a wider pay range, meaning more potential for high earners but also more variation.

Liberty
P10 (Entry)$59,341
P25$72,486
Median$91,689
P75$103,869
P90 (Top)$118,238
St. Louis
P10 (Entry)$60,501
P25$73,511
Median$89,931
P75$107,359
P90 (Top)$117,997

Cost-of-Living Adjusted Comparison

After cost-of-living adjustment, Liberty ($102,331 effective) pays 8.20% more than St. Louis ($94,577 effective).

Liberty
Nominal: $91,689
CoL Index: 89.6
Adjusted: $102,331
St. Louis
Nominal: $89,931
CoL Index: 95.088
Adjusted: $94,577

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

Which City Is Right for You?

Choose Liberty if…

  • Higher median salary ($91,689/year)
  • Better top-earner potential ($118,238)
  • Better purchasing power (CoL-adjusted: $102,331)
  • You prefer the Missouri area and lifestyle

Choose St. Louis if…

  • Larger job market (1,630 employed)
  • You prefer the Missouri area and lifestyle

Historical Salary Growth Comparison

Based on BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, speech-language pathologist salaries in Liberty grew 24.8% from 2024 to 2025, compared to -2.1% growth in St. Louis over the same period.

Liberty, MO

+24.8%

$70,639 (2024) → $88,171 (2025)

St. Louis, MO

+-2.1%

$88,360 (2019) → $86,480 (2025)

View Full Salary Data

Frequently Asked Questions

Which city pays speech-language pathologists more: Liberty or St. Louis?

Liberty has a higher median speech-language pathologist salary at $91,689/year, compared to St. Louis at $89,931/year — a difference of $1,758 (1.95%).

What is the hourly rate difference between Liberty and St. Louis?

Liberty speech-language pathologists earn $44.08/hr while St. Louis hygienists earn $43.24/hr (2026 est.).

Should I relocate from Liberty to St. Louis as a speech-language pathologist?

Consider more than just salary when comparing Liberty and St. Louis. Factor in cost of living (CoL-adjusted: Liberty = $102,331, St. Louis = $94,577), job availability (5 vs 1,630 employed), commute, and career growth potential.

What do entry-level speech-language pathologists earn in Liberty vs St. Louis?

Entry-level (10th percentile) speech-language pathologists earn $59,341 in Liberty and $60,501 in St. Louis. The St. Louis 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