Speech-Language Pathologist Salary in Cartersville, GA: $82,382 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time speech-language pathologist in Cartersville, GA earns a median $82,382/year (≈ $39.61/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-1127). Once you factor in Cartersville's price level (7% below national, BEA RPP 93.1), that paycheck buys what $88,488 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 4.7% below the Georgia state average.
Based on BLS state-level estimates · View source
For speech-language pathologists in Cartersville, Georgia, the projected median annual salary is $82,382 in 2026, representing a significant balance between local demand and specialization. Those in this vicinity can expect to see salaries ranging from $55,008 at the 10th percentile to $102,541 at the 90th percentile, underscoring a diversity of opportunities based on experience and expertise. Distinctly, professionals with a focus on dysphagia and related medical subspecialties often obtain a premium over their counterparts in educational settings, reflecting the increasing value placed on these specialized skills in a healthcare-driven job market. While this median salary is notably lower than the national figure of $101,775, it captures the local market's realities, influenced by cost of living adjustments based on regional pricing.
About the Cartersville Market
Salary estimated from Georgia average ($84,000) adjusted for local cost of living.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $55,008 | $26.44 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $65,890 | $31.68 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $82,382 | $39.61 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $91,618 | $44.05 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $102,541 | $49.30 |
Median Salary Position
19.05% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Cartersville
In Cartersville, GA, the speech-language pathologist salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $47,533 (2026 est.). At $82,382, the local median is 19.05% below the national median of $101,775.
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How Cartersville Speech-Language Pathologist Pay Compares
Cartersville median: $82,382/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Cartersville Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Georgia Average | $86,445 | -4.70% less |
| National Average | $101,775 | -19.05% less |
Speech-Language Pathologists in Cartersville, GA earn a median of $82,382 per year (2026 est.), which is 19.05% lower than the national median of $101,775 and 4.70% below the Georgia state average of $86,445.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Cartersville has a cost of living 6.90% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Cartersville, GA has a cost-of-living index of 93.1 (below the national average of 100). A speech-language pathologist earning $82,382 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $88,488 in an average-cost city — an effective 7.41% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$64,044
2025 BLS Actual
$79,221
2026 Current Est.
$82,382
2019–2027 Growth
+33.8%
Salary Trajectory for Speech-Language Pathologists in Cartersville (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.99% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $64,044 | Actual |
| 2020 | $65,145 | Actual |
| 2021 | $63,995 | Actual |
| 2022 | $68,107 | Actual |
| 2023 | $72,276 | Actual |
| 2024 | $74,491 | Actual |
| 2025 | $79,221 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $82,382 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $85,669 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Cartersville metropolitan area, the median speech-language pathologist salary grew 23.7% from $64,044 (2019) to $79,221 (2025). At a 3.99% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $85,669 by 2027 — a total increase of $21,625 (33.77%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Cartersville 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.
Salary by Experience Level
| Experience | Estimated Salary Range |
|---|---|
| 0-2 years (New Graduate) | $55,008 – $65,890 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $65,890 – $82,382 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $82,382 – $91,618 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $91,618 – $102,541 |
SLP salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual speech-language pathologist compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Speech-Language Pathologist Job Market in Cartersville
In Cartersville, the local job market features only four employed speech-language pathologists, indicating a competitive environment for new graduates and those in the Clinical Fellowship Year (CFY). The cost-of-living index, set at 93.1, signals a below-average expense for residents, which can afford SLPs a better quality of life despite a lower salary range compared to national averages. Among local employers, medical facilities, such as inpatient rehab and skilled nursing facilities, tend to offer higher salaries than school districts or private practices. This disparity in pay among various settings is often due to the complexity of medical cases and year-round contracts versus the academic calendars that school SLPs follow. For professionals in Cartersville looking to maximize their earnings, focusing on acquiring board specialty certifications or exploring telepractice roles—which have significantly expanded since 2020—could prove beneficial in enhancing both their pay scale and job security.
More salary data for Cartersville, GA:
Frequently Asked Questions
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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.
Methodology & Data Source
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. The BLS reported a median annual salary of $79,221 for speech-language pathologistsin the Cartersville metropolitan area. A 3.99% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), calculated from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to project current 2026 compensation. Percentile ranges (P10–P90) represent the full salary distribution across experience levels and practice settings in this market.
Data Sources & Methodology
Salary data for Cartersville is estimated from official BLS state-level occupational wage data (2025), adjusted for regional cost-of-living differences using BEA RPP (Regional Price Parities).
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