Speech-Language Pathologist Salary in California: $123,058 (2026)

Quick Answer:Across California's 158 metropolitan areas, the average median speech-language pathologist pay sits at $123,058/year heading into 2026 — a figure projected from 2025 BLS OEWS wage data for SOC 29-1127. Because California sits at BEA RPP 113.1 (13% above the U.S. baseline), that statewide median translates to roughly $108,805 in nationally-comparable purchasing power. Highest-paying metros: Sunnyvale ($135,836), Santa Clara ($134,944), Oakland ($133,828).

Speech-Language Pathologist Salary in California - 2025 BLS Data Infographic — California speech-language pathologist salary overview (2026)

$123,058

Avg Median Salary

$59.16

Avg Hourly Rate

19,099

Metro Employed

158

Cities

In California, speech-language pathologists (SLPs) can expect an average median salary of $123,058 in 2026, significantly higher than the national median of $101,775, creating a 20.9% salary advantage in the state. The difference in pay between the highest and lowest paying cities is notable, with Sunnyvale offering $141,256 and Redding at $103,168, illustrating a $38,088 gap driven by factors such as cost of living, demand for speech therapy services, and local funding for healthcare and education. California has specific licensing requirements and scope of practice laws that can influence job prospects and salaries. As the state maintains a high demand for qualified SLPs, particularly in urban areas, the job market reflects a healthy growth rate of 3.99% annually. In addition to Sunnyvale, other cities projected to offer competitive salaries include Santa Clara at $140,328, Oakland at $139,168, El Centro at $139,097, and San Jose at $138,016. With over 19,099 SLPs employed statewide, the outlook for this profession remains strong, ensuring opportunities for both new graduates and experienced clinicians alike.

California Speech-Language Pathologist Salary Range

Entry Level (10th %ile)

$83,134

avg across 158 cities

Median

$123,058

state average

Top Earners (90th %ile)

$166,345

avg across 158 cities

Overall salary range in California: $61,968 (lowest entry-level) to $211,630 (highest top earner)

California vs National Average

California

$123,058

National Median

$101,775

California speech-language pathologists earn 20.91% more than the national median (+$21,283/year difference).

California Speech-Language Pathologist Salary Distribution (2026)

Speech-Language Pathologist salaries in California range from $83,134 (entry-level, 10th percentile) to $166,345 (top earners, 90th percentile), with a median of $123,058. The California median is $21,283 above the US national median of $101,775. The average hourly rate is $59.16/hr. Approximately 19,099 speech-language pathologists are employed across 158 cities.

2019 BLS Actual

$92,106

2025 BLS Actual

$118,336

2026 Current Est.

$123,058

2019–2027 Growth

+38.9%

Salary Trajectory for Speech-Language Pathologists in California (2019–2027)

2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.99% projection.

BLS Actual Estimated Projected

Year	Annual Salary	Status
2019	$92,106	Actual
2020	$96,468	Actual
2021	$102,454	Actual
2022	$106,816	Actual
2023	$111,237	Actual
2024	$116,620	Actual
2025	$118,336	Actual
2026(current)	$123,058	Estimated
2027	$127,968	Projected

Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the California metropolitan area, the median speech-language pathologist salary grew 28.5% from $92,106 (2019) to $118,336 (2025). At a 3.99% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $127,968 by 2027 — a total increase of $35,862 (38.94%) from 2019.

Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the California metropolitan area, sourced from annual Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys. 2026–2026 figures are current estimates, and 2027 values are projections, calculated using a 3.99% CAGR derived from 7-year BLS historical data. Actual salaries may vary based on employer, experience, certifications, and local market conditions.

Top 5 Highest Paying Cities in California

Sunnyvale

26 employed · $67.92/hr

$141,256

+14.79% vs avg

Santa Clara

32 employed · $67.47/hr

$140,328

+14.03% vs avg

Oakland

78 employed · $66.91/hr

$139,168

+13.09% vs avg

El Centro

70 employed · $66.88/hr

$139,097

+13.03% vs avg

San Jose

890 employed · $66.36/hr

$138,016

+12.16% vs avg

Lowest Paying Cities in California

City	Median Salary	vs State Avg	Hourly
Redding	$103,168	-16.16%	$49.60
Visalia	$111,020	-9.78%	$53.38
Los Angeles	$114,119	-7.26%	$54.87
Yuba City	$114,212	-7.19%	$54.92
Long Beach	$114,497	-6.96%	$55.04

Best Value Cities for Speech-Language Pathologists in California

When adjusted for local cost of living, these California cities offer the most purchasing power for speech-language pathologists.

City	Nominal Salary	CoL Index	Adjusted Salary
El Centro	$139,097	95.174	$146,150
San Jose	$138,016	110.423	$124,988
Sunnyvale	$141,256	113.1	$124,895
Santa Clara	$140,328	113.1	$124,074
Hanford	$125,360	101.612	$123,371

Adjusted salary = nominal salary × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average. Lower index = lower cost of living.

Salary by Experience Level in California

Experience Level	Estimated Annual	Est. Hourly	Description
Entry Level (0-2 years)	$83,134	$39.97	10th percentile, new graduates
Mid Career (3-7 years)	$123,058	$59.16	50th percentile, median salary
Experienced (7+ years)	$166,345	$79.97	90th percentile, top earners

Estimates based on BLS percentile data averaged across California metro areas. Individual pay varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.

All 158 Cities in California

#	City	Median Salary	Hourly	Entry (P10)	Top (P90)	Employed
1	Sunnyvale	$141,256	$67.92	$89,172	$198,969	26
2	Santa Clara	$140,328	$67.47	$87,107	$190,518	32
3	Oakland	$139,168	$66.91	$85,191	$201,584	78
4	El Centro	$139,097	$66.88	$97,314	$204,205	70
5	San Jose	$138,016	$66.36	$74,956	$177,303	890
6	Fremont	$136,098	$65.43	$78,937	$199,767	43
7	San Francisco	$136,071	$65.42	$101,889	$170,138	1,760
8	Santa Rosa	$132,556	$63.73	$106,943	$169,150	160
9	Folsom	$132,290	$63.60	$81,101	$178,263	17
10	Santa Maria	$131,911	$63.42	$99,778	$178,135	200
11	Sacramento	$131,402	$63.17	$88,423	$154,217	1,030
12	Petaluma	$131,288	$63.12	$88,100	$180,968	12
13	Roseville	$130,860	$62.91	$87,076	$185,074	35
14	Santa Ana	$130,740	$62.85	$77,179	$185,270	69
15	Vallejo	$129,405	$62.22	$83,920	$159,292	130
16	Napa	$128,812	$61.94	$68,082	$211,630	50
17	Fontana	$128,322	$61.70	$75,861	$181,907	32
18	Irvine	$128,180	$61.62	$81,200	$185,216	72
19	Salinas	$127,669	$61.37	$88,932	$181,556	200
20	Pomona	$127,555	$61.32	$80,011	$174,925	36
21	Simi Valley	$127,484	$61.29	$80,239	$179,094	23
22	Escondido	$127,455	$61.28	$80,300	$174,248	31
23	Fairfield	$127,226	$61.17	$79,660	$173,455	25
24	Fullerton	$126,758	$60.94	$78,238	$176,893	25
25	Daly City	$126,647	$60.89	$77,995	$171,799	20
26	El Monte	$126,608	$60.87	$78,416	$176,374	20
27	Vista	$126,538	$60.83	$78,261	$175,802	24
28	Concord	$126,508	$60.82	$78,195	$176,028	29
29	Clovis	$126,319	$60.73	$77,777	$170,343	19
30	Garden Grove	$126,189	$60.67	$76,984	$174,925	37
31	Temecula	$126,159	$60.66	$77,425	$170,128	25
32	Santa Clarita	$126,074	$60.62	$80,373	$182,872	41
33	Lancaster	$125,910	$60.53	$76,878	$182,121	40
34	Inglewood	$125,910	$60.53	$76,878	$182,121	21
35	Corona	$125,750	$60.46	$76,400	$181,151	24
36	Richmond	$125,730	$60.45	$75,978	$173,345	25
37	Rialto	$125,671	$60.42	$76,353	$173,141	17
38	Torrance	$125,511	$60.35	$75,500	$180,724	26
39	Hanford	$125,360	$60.27	$101,120	$140,438	50
40	Elk Grove	$125,272	$60.23	$75,355	$171,446	25
41	Oceanside	$125,241	$60.21	$75,291	$171,261	28
42	Whittier	$125,205	$60.20	$80,908	$168,375	22
43	San Rafael	$125,195	$60.19	$80,758	$168,261	11
44	Rancho Cucamonga	$125,082	$60.14	$74,944	$170,799	46
45	Hayward	$125,013	$60.11	$74,792	$178,661	23
46	Woodland	$124,980	$60.09	$80,268	$172,173	15
47	Buena Park	$124,961	$60.08	$80,351	$167,867	20
48	Ontario	$124,952	$60.08	$76,919	$173,456	42
49	Encinitas	$124,950	$60.08	$80,328	$167,513	16
50	Downey	$124,943	$60.06	$74,264	$178,744	22
51	Dublin	$124,872	$60.03	$80,150	$167,568	14
52	Redlands	$124,834	$60.01	$80,062	$171,991	16
53	Chino	$124,765	$59.98	$79,778	$166,885	17
54	Westminster	$124,726	$59.96	$79,306	$171,622	21
55	Santa Monica	$124,716	$59.96	$79,667	$166,721	20
56	San Mateo	$124,704	$59.95	$74,122	$177,588	21
57	Tulare	$124,667	$59.94	$79,555	$166,556	17
58	San Buenaventura	$124,624	$59.92	$83,348	$177,637	19
59	Chula Vista	$124,610	$59.91	$72,274	$174,845	51
60	Mission Viejo	$124,541	$59.88	$79,395	$166,445	23
61	Moreno Valley	$124,539	$59.88	$77,588	$177,486	53
62	Pleasanton	$124,521	$59.87	$79,351	$170,603	16
63	San Diego	$124,466	$59.85	$87,560	$154,436	1,590
64	Pasadena	$124,344	$59.78	$79,666	$176,345	35
65	Santee	$124,257	$59.74	$78,753	$165,490	9
66	Glendale	$124,145	$59.69	$82,281	$175,982	36
67	Mountain View	$124,081	$59.66	$78,355	$164,898	13
68	Pittsburg	$124,072	$59.65	$77,826	$169,392	19
69	Novato	$124,032	$59.63	$78,118	$164,417	11
70	Costa Mesa	$123,985	$59.61	$78,876	$175,432	23
71	Berkeley	$123,856	$59.54	$81,638	$166,962	23
72	Huntington Beach	$123,826	$59.53	$81,945	$179,167	50
73	Jurupa Valley	$123,716	$59.48	$81,701	$174,182	24
74	Hemet	$123,681	$59.46	$77,454	$163,554	14
75	Union City	$123,670	$59.46	$77,432	$163,521	11
76	West Covina	$123,657	$59.45	$81,569	$173,897	25
77	Chino Hills	$123,621	$59.43	$77,195	$167,531	21
78	Gilroy	$123,445	$59.35	$76,928	$175,115	10
79	San Bernardino	$123,443	$59.35	$71,597	$181,130	33
80	Carlsbad	$123,425	$59.34	$80,935	$173,833	23
81	Santa Cruz	$123,405	$59.33	$89,733	$161,538	110
82	Stockton	$123,395	$59.33	$88,953	$153,676	310
83	San Marcos	$123,377	$59.32	$76,268	$174,879	17
84	Riverside	$123,291	$59.27	$61,968	$152,075	2,120
85	Tustin	$123,270	$59.26	$76,029	$166,680	18
86	San Ramon	$123,260	$59.26	$76,513	$166,332	19
87	Eastvale	$123,143	$59.20	$76,251	$165,937	10
88	Murrieta	$123,138	$59.20	$80,546	$172,203	25
89	Vacaville	$123,138	$59.20	$80,546	$177,106	15
90	Brentwood	$123,084	$59.17	$76,119	$173,872	13
91	Hesperia	$123,025	$59.15	$75,989	$173,673	14
92	Lake Elsinore	$123,016	$59.14	$75,967	$173,324	18
93	Citrus Heights	$122,859	$59.07	$75,618	$165,299	19
94	El Cajon	$122,749	$59.01	$75,687	$171,199	18
95	San Clemente	$122,712	$58.99	$75,167	$172,288	10
96	Bellflower	$122,663	$58.97	$75,184	$172,435	11
97	Palmdale	$122,609	$58.95	$79,262	$174,966	29
98	La Mirada	$122,608	$58.94	$81,439	$159,804	10
99	Apple Valley	$122,585	$58.93	$75,011	$164,068	19
100	Menifee	$122,550	$58.92	$79,255	$170,522	20
101	Yucaipa	$122,498	$58.89	$74,817	$171,869	14
102	Norwalk	$122,490	$58.89	$79,001	$169,998	22
103	Rancho Cordova	$122,381	$58.84	$74,557	$171,156	20
104	Montebello	$122,263	$58.79	$74,297	$171,071	16
105	Compton	$122,214	$58.75	$74,064	$162,829	25
106	Porterville	$122,127	$58.71	$73,995	$162,848	11
107	Lompoc	$122,110	$58.70	$80,399	$158,169	8
108	Bakersfield	$122,032	$58.67	$102,066	$153,177	310
109	Hawthorne	$121,921	$58.62	$73,543	$162,164	13
110	Antioch	$121,881	$58.60	$77,675	$172,475	17
111	Burbank	$121,872	$58.59	$73,801	$168,226	22
112	Lodi	$121,691	$58.50	$80,710	$166,317	14
113	Alhambra	$121,589	$58.45	$82,541	$168,785	13
114	Livermore	$121,589	$58.45	$78,495	$168,785	21
115	Orange	$121,553	$58.44	$77,085	$167,150	21
116	South Gate	$121,550	$58.44	$81,953	$168,652	25
117	Victorville	$121,523	$58.42	$77,020	$166,731	30
118	West Sacramento	$121,481	$58.40	$81,799	$168,421	9
119	Poway	$121,450	$58.39	$78,858	$156,315	8
120	Modesto	$121,429	$58.38	$92,936	$175,192	220
121	San Leandro	$121,286	$58.31	$81,729	$171,876	23
122	Indio	$121,149	$58.24	$81,048	$167,302	23
123	Lake Forest	$121,149	$58.24	$81,048	$167,302	14
124	Carson	$120,934	$58.14	$81,059	$170,991	21
125	Rocklin	$120,914	$58.13	$81,014	$170,924	10
126	Newport Beach	$120,710	$58.04	$80,553	$165,826	12
127	Redwood City	$120,699	$58.03	$80,407	$165,405	13
128	Turlock	$120,670	$58.02	$80,342	$169,788	17
129	Manteca	$120,632	$58.00	$80,377	$165,565	13
130	Perris	$120,621	$58.00	$79,861	$165,530	12
131	Madera	$120,523	$57.94	$80,136	$164,895	8
132	Baldwin Park	$120,309	$57.84	$79,532	$164,178	19
133	Palo Alto	$120,309	$57.84	$79,654	$168,876	15
134	Lakewood	$120,260	$57.82	$79,545	$164,323	19
135	San Luis Obispo	$120,171	$57.78	$63,517	$148,487	100
136	Beaumont	$119,908	$57.65	$78,268	$163,151	9
137	Tracy	$119,879	$57.63	$78,694	$162,747	14
138	Alameda	$119,839	$57.61	$78,607	$166,988	12
139	Laguna Niguel	$119,810	$57.60	$78,051	$167,197	16
140	Milpitas	$119,752	$57.57	$78,412	$166,694	16
141	Oxnard	$119,651	$57.53	$77,098	$173,372	530
142	Camarillo	$119,497	$57.45	$77,847	$161,789	13
143	Oakley	$119,448	$57.42	$74,263	$161,451	8
144	Davis	$119,419	$57.41	$77,552	$161,148	14
145	Upland	$119,332	$57.37	$76,991	$165,594	18
146	Thousand Oaks	$119,167	$57.29	$79,430	$168,887	32
147	La Habra	$119,156	$57.29	$76,969	$164,626	16
148	Lynwood	$119,107	$57.27	$76,984	$160,499	16
149	Merced	$118,777	$57.10	$82,568	$170,419	100
150	Brea	$117,074	$56.29	$78,489	$157,587	10
151	Anaheim	$116,150	$55.84	$70,109	$166,642	51
152	Fresno	$115,387	$55.48	$92,489	$193,806	820
153	Chico	$115,138	$55.35	$102,274	$148,238	130
154	Long Beach	$114,497	$55.04	$66,697	$168,503	89
155	Yuba City	$114,212	$54.92	$96,399	$175,171	80
156	Los Angeles	$114,119	$54.87	$82,662	$166,831	4,800
157	Visalia	$111,020	$53.38	$72,034	$157,753	220
158	Redding	$103,168	$49.60	$83,171	$136,903	110

More California Salary Data

Hourly Rates

Explore speech-language pathologist hourly pay in California cities.

Sunnyvale →Santa Clara →Oakland →

Entry Level

Starting salaries for new speech-language pathologists.

Sunnyvale →Santa Clara →Oakland →

Senior / Experienced

Top earner salaries for experienced speech-language pathologists.

Sunnyvale →Santa Clara →Oakland →

Compare Cities in California

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View all comparisons →

Explore More Speech-Language Pathologist Salary Data

National OverviewMedian salary & full US data Entry-Level SalariesStarting pay & new grad earnings Hourly Pay RatesPer-hour rates & part-time income Highest Paying StatesTop states ranked by salary

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do speech-language pathologists make in California in 2026?

The average median speech-language pathologist salary in California is $123,058/year across 158 metro areas, based on estimated 2026 (projected from 2025 BLS data). Salaries range from $103,168 in Redding to $141,256 in Sunnyvale. This makes California one of the higher-paying states, at 20.91% above the national median of $101,775. The state employs approximately 19,099 speech-language pathologists.

What is the highest paying city for speech-language pathologists in California?

Sunnyvale offers the highest speech-language pathologist salary in California at $141,256/year ($67.92/hr), based on estimated 2026 (projected from 2025 BLS data). The top 3 highest-paying cities are Sunnyvale ($141,256), Santa Clara ($140,328), Oakland ($139,168). Higher pay in these metros is typically driven by cost of living, demand for speech-language pathology services, and competition among employers for licensed speech-language pathologists.

How does California speech-language pathologist pay compare to the national average?

California's average speech-language pathologist salary of $123,058 is 20.91% above the national median of $101,775 in 2026. The state employs approximately 19,099 speech-language pathologists across 158 metropolitan areas. When comparing salaries, consider cost-of-living differences — a lower nominal salary in an affordable area may provide better purchasing power than a higher salary in an expensive metro.

What is the entry-level speech-language pathologist salary in California?

Entry-level speech-language pathologists (10th percentile) in California earn approximately $83,134/year on average, based on estimated 2026 (projected from 2025 BLS data). Starting salaries range from $61,968 in lower-paying areas to $106,943 in the highest-paying metros. New graduates should expect salaries at the lower end and can typically reach the area median within 3–5 years of clinical experience.

How many speech-language pathologists are employed in California?

California employs approximately 19,099 speech-language pathologists across 158 metropolitan areas, based on the latest BLS data. This makes California one of the larger employers of speech-language pathologists nationally. Demand continues to grow as the speech-language pathology field expands and the population ages.

Which California city offers the best value for speech-language pathologists?

When adjusted for cost of living, El Centro offers the highest purchasing power for speech-language pathologists in California, with an adjusted salary of $146,150 (nominal: $139,097, CoL index: 95.174). This means your dollar goes 5% further compared to the national average, making it an attractive option for maximizing real income.

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

Statewide salary figures on this page are 2026 projections based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2026 release. A 3.99% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), derived from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to each metro area's reported salary to estimate current 2026 speech-language pathologist compensation across California. State averages are employment-weighted across 158 metro areas — larger metro areas with more speech-language pathologistscontribute proportionally more to the average, producing figures that better reflect typical compensation. Individual pay varies by city, employer, certifications, and experience.

Data Sources & Methodology

Source: BLS, OEWS, 7-year dataset (2019–2025). Per-city data from annual BLS metropolitan area surveys.

2026 figures are projected from 2025 BLS data using a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.99%, derived from historical BLS wage trends for speech-language pathologists (SOC 29-1127).

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

Last verified: June 10, 2026

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