SLP Salary

Raleigh vs Statesville: Speech-Language Pathologist Salary (2026)

Compare speech-language pathologist salaries between Raleigh, NC and Statesville, NC. All figures are 2026 estimates projected from BLS 2025 data.

Raleigh, NC
$90,887
$43.70/hr
Statesville, NC
$86,884
$41.77/hr

Side-by-Side Comparison

MetricRaleigh, NCStatesville, NC
Median Salary$90,887$86,884
Hourly Rate$43.70$41.77
Entry Level (P10)$65,410$57,515
25th Percentile$74,301$69,364
75th Percentile$105,175$100,957
Top Earner (P90)$129,041$116,194
Total Employed1,0507
Side-by-side bar chart comparing Raleigh ($90,887) and Statesville ($86,884) speech-language pathologist salaries.RaleighStatesvilleMedian Salary$90,887$86,884Entry Level (P10)$65,410$57,515Top Earner (P90)$129,041$116,194US Median $101,775

Verdict

Raleigh, NC offers better overall compensation for speech-language pathologists, winning 4 out of 4 metrics compared to Statesville.

The salary gap between Raleigh and Statesville is $4,003 (4.61%). Raleigh's median is -10.70% compared to the US national median of $101,775.

Salary Range Comparison

The full salary range (10th to 90th percentile) in Raleigh spans $63,631,Statesville spans $58,679. Raleigh has a wider pay range, meaning more potential for high earners but also more variation.

Raleigh
P10 (Entry)$65,410
P25$74,301
Median$90,887
P75$105,175
P90 (Top)$129,041
Statesville
P10 (Entry)$57,515
P25$69,364
Median$86,884
P75$100,957
P90 (Top)$116,194

Cost-of-Living Adjusted Comparison

After cost-of-living adjustment, Statesville ($92,825 effective) pays 0.25% more than Raleigh ($92,593 effective).

Raleigh
Nominal: $90,887
CoL Index: 98.157
Adjusted: $92,593
Statesville
Nominal: $86,884
CoL Index: 93.6
Adjusted: $92,825

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

Which City Is Right for You?

Choose Raleigh if…

  • Higher median salary ($90,887/year)
  • Better top-earner potential ($129,041)
  • Larger job market (1,050 employed)
  • You prefer the North Carolina area and lifestyle

Choose Statesville if…

  • Better purchasing power (CoL-adjusted: $92,825)
  • You prefer the North Carolina area and lifestyle

Historical Salary Growth Comparison

Based on BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, speech-language pathologist salaries in Raleigh grew 28.9% from 2019 to 2025, compared to 9.8% growth in Statesville over the same period.

Raleigh, NC

+28.9%

$67,810 (2019) → $87,400 (2025)

Statesville, NC

+9.8%

$76,114 (2024) → $83,550 (2025)

View Full Salary Data

Frequently Asked Questions

Which city pays speech-language pathologists more: Raleigh or Statesville?

Raleigh has a higher median speech-language pathologist salary at $90,887/year, compared to Statesville at $86,884/year — a difference of $4,003 (4.61%).

What is the hourly rate difference between Raleigh and Statesville?

Raleigh speech-language pathologists earn $43.70/hr while Statesville hygienists earn $41.77/hr (2026 est.).

Should I relocate from Raleigh to Statesville as a speech-language pathologist?

Consider more than just salary when comparing Raleigh and Statesville. Factor in cost of living (CoL-adjusted: Raleigh = $92,593, Statesville = $92,825), job availability (1,050 vs 7 employed), commute, and career growth potential.

What do entry-level speech-language pathologists earn in Raleigh vs Statesville?

Entry-level (10th percentile) speech-language pathologists earn $65,410 in Raleigh and $57,515 in Statesville. The Raleigh 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