SLP Salary

Northampton vs Springfield: Speech-Language Pathologist Salary (2026)

Compare speech-language pathologist salaries between Northampton, MA and Springfield, MA. All figures are 2026 estimates projected from BLS 2025 data.

Northampton, MA
$93,306
$44.86/hr
Springfield, MA
$100,746
$48.44/hr

Side-by-Side Comparison

MetricNorthampton, MASpringfield, MA
Median Salary$93,306$100,746
Hourly Rate$44.86$48.44
Entry Level (P10)$63,588$66,387
25th Percentile$76,129$84,669
75th Percentile$107,996$110,177
Top Earner (P90)$124,088$130,008
Total Employed6370
Side-by-side bar chart comparing Northampton ($93,306) and Springfield ($100,746) speech-language pathologist salaries.NorthamptonSpringfieldMedian Salary$93,306$100,746Entry Level (P10)$63,588$66,387Top Earner (P90)$124,088$130,008US Median $101,775

Verdict

Springfield, MA offers better overall compensation for speech-language pathologists, winning 4 out of 4 metrics compared to Northampton.

The salary gap between Northampton and Springfield is $7,440 (7.97%). Springfield's median is -1.01% compared to the US national median of $101,775.

Salary Range Comparison

The full salary range (10th to 90th percentile) in Northampton spans $60,500,Springfield spans $63,621. Springfield has a wider pay range, suggesting more variation in pay between entry-level and experienced speech-language pathologists.

Northampton
P10 (Entry)$63,588
P25$76,129
Median$93,306
P75$107,996
P90 (Top)$124,088
Springfield
P10 (Entry)$66,387
P25$84,669
Median$100,746
P75$110,177
P90 (Top)$130,008

Cost-of-Living Adjusted Comparison

After cost-of-living adjustment, Springfield ($104,877 effective) pays 21.96% more than Northampton ($85,996 effective).

Northampton
Nominal: $93,306
CoL Index: 108.5
Adjusted: $85,996
Springfield
Nominal: $100,746
CoL Index: 96.061
Adjusted: $104,877

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

Which City Is Right for You?

Choose Northampton if…

  • You prefer the Massachusetts area and lifestyle

Choose Springfield if…

  • Higher median salary ($100,746/year)
  • Better top-earner potential ($130,008)
  • Larger job market (370 employed)
  • Better purchasing power (CoL-adjusted: $104,877)
  • You prefer the Massachusetts area and lifestyle

Historical Salary Growth Comparison

Based on BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, speech-language pathologist salaries in Northampton grew -6.1% from 2024 to 2025, compared to 22.0% growth in Springfield over the same period.

Northampton, MA

+-6.1%

$95,543 (2024) → $89,726 (2025)

Springfield, MA

+22.0%

$79,440 (2019) → $96,880 (2025)

View Full Salary Data

Frequently Asked Questions

Which city pays speech-language pathologists more: Northampton or Springfield?

Springfield has a higher median speech-language pathologist salary at $100,746/year, compared to Northampton at $93,306/year — a difference of $7,440 (7.97%).

What is the hourly rate difference between Northampton and Springfield?

Northampton speech-language pathologists earn $44.86/hr while Springfield hygienists earn $48.44/hr (2026 est.).

Should I relocate from Northampton to Springfield as a speech-language pathologist?

Consider more than just salary when comparing Northampton and Springfield. Factor in cost of living (CoL-adjusted: Northampton = $85,996, Springfield = $104,877), job availability (6 vs 370 employed), commute, and career growth potential.

What do entry-level speech-language pathologists earn in Northampton vs Springfield?

Entry-level (10th percentile) speech-language pathologists earn $63,588 in Northampton and $66,387 in Springfield. The Springfield 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