SLP Salary

Little Rock vs Texarkana: Speech-Language Pathologist Salary (2026)

Compare speech-language pathologist salaries between Little Rock, AR and Texarkana, AR. All figures are 2026 estimates projected from BLS 2025 data.

Little Rock, AR
$89,827
$43.19/hr
Texarkana, AR
$103,110
$49.57/hr

Side-by-Side Comparison

MetricLittle Rock, ARTexarkana, AR
Median Salary$89,827$103,110
Hourly Rate$43.19$49.57
Entry Level (P10)$65,389$71,536
25th Percentile$74,457$84,741
75th Percentile$126,025$119,938
Top Earner (P90)$139,409$138,103
Total Employed8107
Side-by-side bar chart comparing Little Rock ($89,827) and Texarkana ($103,110) speech-language pathologist salaries.Little RockTexarkanaMedian Salary$89,827$103,110Entry Level (P10)$65,389$71,536Top Earner (P90)$139,409$138,103US Median $101,775

Verdict

Little Rock and Texarkana are closely matched on overall speech-language pathologist compensation, each winning on different metrics.

The salary gap between Little Rock and Texarkana is $13,283 (14.79%). Texarkana's median is +1.31% compared to the US national median of $101,775.

Salary Range Comparison

The full salary range (10th to 90th percentile) in Little Rock spans $74,020,Texarkana spans $66,567. Little Rock has a wider pay range, meaning more potential for high earners but also more variation.

Little Rock
P10 (Entry)$65,389
P25$74,457
Median$89,827
P75$126,025
P90 (Top)$139,409
Texarkana
P10 (Entry)$71,536
P25$84,741
Median$103,110
P75$119,938
P90 (Top)$138,103

Cost-of-Living Adjusted Comparison

After cost-of-living adjustment, Texarkana ($118,654 effective) pays 18.04% more than Little Rock ($100,518 effective).

Little Rock
Nominal: $89,827
CoL Index: 89.364
Adjusted: $100,518
Texarkana
Nominal: $103,110
CoL Index: 86.9
Adjusted: $118,654

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

Which City Is Right for You?

Choose Little Rock if…

  • Better top-earner potential ($139,409)
  • Larger job market (810 employed)
  • You prefer the Arkansas area and lifestyle

Choose Texarkana if…

  • Higher median salary ($103,110/year)
  • Better purchasing power (CoL-adjusted: $118,654)
  • You prefer the Arkansas area and lifestyle

Historical Salary Growth Comparison

Based on BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, speech-language pathologist salaries in Little Rock grew 23.3% from 2019 to 2025, compared to 52.1% growth in Texarkana over the same period.

Little Rock, AR

+23.3%

$70,070 (2019) → $86,380 (2025)

Texarkana, AR

+52.1%

$65,199 (2024) → $99,154 (2025)

View Full Salary Data

Frequently Asked Questions

Which city pays speech-language pathologists more: Little Rock or Texarkana?

Texarkana has a higher median speech-language pathologist salary at $103,110/year, compared to Little Rock at $89,827/year — a difference of $13,283 (14.79%).

What is the hourly rate difference between Little Rock and Texarkana?

Little Rock speech-language pathologists earn $43.19/hr while Texarkana hygienists earn $49.57/hr (2026 est.).

Should I relocate from Little Rock to Texarkana as a speech-language pathologist?

Consider more than just salary when comparing Little Rock and Texarkana. Factor in cost of living (CoL-adjusted: Little Rock = $100,518, Texarkana = $118,654), job availability (810 vs 7 employed), commute, and career growth potential.

What do entry-level speech-language pathologists earn in Little Rock vs Texarkana?

Entry-level (10th percentile) speech-language pathologists earn $65,389 in Little Rock and $71,536 in Texarkana. The Texarkana 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