SLP Salary

New Orleans vs Thibodaux: Speech-Language Pathologist Salary (2026)

Compare speech-language pathologist salaries between New Orleans, LA and Thibodaux, LA. All figures are 2026 estimates projected from BLS 2025 data.

New Orleans, LA
$80,509
$38.71/hr
Thibodaux, LA
$68,282
$32.83/hr

Side-by-Side Comparison

MetricNew Orleans, LAThibodaux, LA
Median Salary$80,509$68,282
Hourly Rate$38.71$32.83
Entry Level (P10)$65,940$47,415
25th Percentile$68,841$55,938
75th Percentile$99,799$77,183
Top Earner (P90)$106,465$87,004
Total Employed5506
Side-by-side bar chart comparing New Orleans ($80,509) and Thibodaux ($68,282) speech-language pathologist salaries.New OrleansThibodauxMedian Salary$80,509$68,282Entry Level (P10)$65,940$47,415Top Earner (P90)$106,465$87,004US Median $101,775

Verdict

New Orleans, LA offers better overall compensation for speech-language pathologists, winning 4 out of 4 metrics compared to Thibodaux.

The salary gap between New Orleans and Thibodaux is $12,227 (17.91%). New Orleans's median is -20.90% compared to the US national median of $101,775.

Salary Range Comparison

The full salary range (10th to 90th percentile) in New Orleans spans $40,525,Thibodaux spans $39,589. New Orleans has a wider pay range, meaning more potential for high earners but also more variation.

New Orleans
P10 (Entry)$65,940
P25$68,841
Median$80,509
P75$99,799
P90 (Top)$106,465
Thibodaux
P10 (Entry)$47,415
P25$55,938
Median$68,282
P75$77,183
P90 (Top)$87,004

Cost-of-Living Adjusted Comparison

After cost-of-living adjustment, New Orleans ($86,946 effective) pays 14.98% more than Thibodaux ($75,617 effective).

New Orleans
Nominal: $80,509
CoL Index: 92.597
Adjusted: $86,946
Thibodaux
Nominal: $68,282
CoL Index: 90.3
Adjusted: $75,617

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

Which City Is Right for You?

Choose New Orleans if…

  • Higher median salary ($80,509/year)
  • Better top-earner potential ($106,465)
  • Larger job market (550 employed)
  • Better purchasing power (CoL-adjusted: $86,946)
  • You prefer the Louisiana area and lifestyle

Choose Thibodaux if…

  • You prefer the Louisiana area and lifestyle

Historical Salary Growth Comparison

Based on BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, speech-language pathologist salaries in New Orleans grew 2.1% from 2019 to 2025, compared to -3.6% growth in Thibodaux over the same period.

New Orleans, LA

+2.1%

$75,830 (2019) → $77,420 (2025)

Thibodaux, LA

+-3.6%

$68,142 (2024) → $65,662 (2025)

View Full Salary Data

Frequently Asked Questions

Which city pays speech-language pathologists more: New Orleans or Thibodaux?

New Orleans has a higher median speech-language pathologist salary at $80,509/year, compared to Thibodaux at $68,282/year — a difference of $12,227 (17.91%).

What is the hourly rate difference between New Orleans and Thibodaux?

New Orleans speech-language pathologists earn $38.71/hr while Thibodaux hygienists earn $32.83/hr (2026 est.).

Should I relocate from New Orleans to Thibodaux as a speech-language pathologist?

Consider more than just salary when comparing New Orleans and Thibodaux. Factor in cost of living (CoL-adjusted: New Orleans = $86,946, Thibodaux = $75,617), job availability (550 vs 6 employed), commute, and career growth potential.

What do entry-level speech-language pathologists earn in New Orleans vs Thibodaux?

Entry-level (10th percentile) speech-language pathologists earn $65,940 in New Orleans and $47,415 in Thibodaux. The New Orleans 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