Speech-Language Pathologist Salary in Illinois: $99,710 (2026)

Quick Answer:Across Illinois's 65 metropolitan areas, the average median speech-language pathologist pay sits at $99,710/year heading into 2026 — a figure projected from 2025 BLS OEWS wage data for SOC 29-1127. Because Illinois sits at BEA RPP 97.1 (3% below the U.S. baseline), that statewide median translates to roughly $102,688 in nationally-comparable purchasing power. Highest-paying metros: Naperville ($99,518), Chicago ($98,490), Elgin ($97,611).

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

$99,710

Avg Median Salary

$47.94

Avg Hourly Rate

8,701

Metro Employed

Cities

In Illinois, the average median salary for speech-language pathologists is projected to be $99,710 in 2026, which is slightly below the national median of $101,775, reflecting a 2.0% disparity. The highest paying city in the state is Naperville, where salaries are expected to reach $103,489, whereas Carbondale offers the lowest at $80,284. The salary gap of $23,205 can be attributed to varying factors such as cost of living, demand for services, and population density in urban versus rural areas. State licensing requirements in Illinois necessitate a master's degree in communication disorders, supervised experience, and passing a national examination. The scope of practice laws further outline specific duties and responsibilities that can enhance career growth. Factors driving demand include an aging population, increasing awareness of speech and language disorders, and a proactive approach to early intervention services. With a projected annual growth rate of 3.99%, the job market for speech-language pathologists in Illinois indicates a steady upward trend. The total number employed is approximately 8,701, suggesting a healthy demand for professionals in this field, particularly in metropolitan areas such as Chicago and Elgin, where salaries are also relatively high at $102,420 and $101,506, respectively.

Illinois Speech-Language Pathologist Salary Range

Entry Level (10th %ile)

$63,923

avg across 65 cities

Median

$99,710

state average

Top Earners (90th %ile)

$126,988

avg across 65 cities

Overall salary range in Illinois: $50,955 (lowest entry-level) to $149,453 (highest top earner)

Illinois vs National Average

Illinois

$99,710

National Median

$101,775

Illinois speech-language pathologists earn 2.03% less than the national median ($-2,065/year difference).

Illinois Speech-Language Pathologist Salary Distribution (2026)

Speech-Language Pathologist salaries in Illinois range from $63,923 (entry-level, 10th percentile) to $126,988 (top earners, 90th percentile), with a median of $99,710. The Illinois median is $2,065 below the US national median of $101,775. The average hourly rate is $47.94/hr. Approximately 8,701 speech-language pathologists are employed across 65 cities.

2019 BLS Actual

$78,049

2025 BLS Actual

$95,884

2026 Current Est.

$99,710

2019–2027 Growth

+32.8%

Salary Trajectory for Speech-Language Pathologists in Illinois (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	$78,049	Actual
2020	$80,022	Actual
2021	$79,243	Actual
2022	$80,441	Actual
2023	$87,127	Actual
2024	$83,728	Actual
2025	$95,884	Actual
2026(current)	$99,710	Estimated
2027	$103,688	Projected

Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Illinois metropolitan area, the median speech-language pathologist salary grew 22.9% from $78,049 (2019) to $95,884 (2025). At a 3.99% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $103,688 by 2027 — a total increase of $25,639 (32.85%) from 2019.

Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Illinois 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 Illinois

Naperville

23 employed · $49.76/hr

$103,489

+3.79% vs avg

Chicago

7,150 employed · $49.24/hr

$102,420

+2.72% vs avg

Elgin

16 employed · $48.80/hr

$101,506

+1.80% vs avg

Rockford

190 employed · $48.37/hr

$100,600

+0.89% vs avg

Bloomington

130 employed · $42.16/hr

$87,695

-12.05% vs avg

Lowest Paying Cities in Illinois

City	Median Salary	vs State Avg	Hourly
Carbondale	$80,284	-19.48%	$38.60
Kankakee	$80,291	-19.48%	$38.60
Elmhurst	$81,084	-18.68%	$38.99
Calumet City	$81,284	-18.48%	$39.08
Galesburg	$81,310	-18.45%	$39.09

Best Value Cities for Speech-Language Pathologists in Illinois

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

City	Nominal Salary	CoL Index	Adjusted Salary
Rockford	$100,600	92.154	$109,165
Naperville	$103,489	97.1	$106,580
Elgin	$101,506	97.1	$104,538
Chicago	$102,420	103.595	$98,866
Decatur	$84,856	88.422	$95,967

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

Salary by Experience Level in Illinois

Experience Level	Estimated Annual	Est. Hourly	Description
Entry Level (0-2 years)	$63,923	$30.73	10th percentile, new graduates
Mid Career (3-7 years)	$99,710	$47.94	50th percentile, median salary
Experienced (7+ years)	$126,988	$61.05	90th percentile, top earners

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

All 65 Cities in Illinois

#	City	Median Salary	Hourly	Entry (P10)	Top (P90)	Employed
1	Naperville	$103,489	$49.76	$63,109	$149,453	23
2	Chicago	$102,420	$49.24	$64,963	$129,364	7,150
3	Elgin	$101,506	$48.80	$66,474	$142,846	16
4	Rockford	$100,600	$48.37	$66,897	$110,708	190
5	Bloomington	$87,695	$42.16	$64,203	$114,275	130
6	Orland Park	$86,910	$41.78	$56,062	$116,973	9
7	Bolingbrook	$86,536	$41.61	$52,332	$115,710	19
8	Palatine	$85,885	$41.29	$53,390	$116,653	16
9	Champaign	$85,865	$41.28	$62,269	$125,911	150
10	Waukegan	$85,838	$41.26	$53,634	$121,944	18
11	Mount Prospect	$85,674	$41.19	$53,269	$115,722	13
12	Springfield	$85,563	$41.14	$58,182	$123,051	160
13	Urbana	$85,552	$41.13	$60,020	$115,369	6
14	Hoffman Estates	$85,397	$41.06	$52,648	$115,005	8
15	Peoria	$85,334	$41.02	$59,607	$108,087	210
16	Evanston	$85,233	$40.98	$52,285	$119,654	16
17	Joliet	$85,162	$40.94	$55,128	$118,567	25
18	Oak Park	$85,091	$40.91	$51,969	$113,980	10
19	Danville	$84,915	$40.83	$56,066	$110,175	5
20	Decatur	$84,856	$40.80	$62,488	$121,585	50
21	Addison	$84,735	$40.73	$55,645	$112,795	6
22	Berwyn	$84,697	$40.72	$51,100	$112,667	12
23	Aurora	$84,642	$40.69	$53,996	$116,807	44
24	Tinley Park	$84,629	$40.69	$57,374	$117,818	8
25	Northbrook	$84,543	$40.65	$55,106	$111,948	8
26	St. Charles	$84,489	$40.62	$55,071	$108,783	7
27	Gurnee	$84,469	$40.61	$55,024	$108,927	8
28	Arlington Heights	$84,350	$40.56	$57,088	$116,875	18
29	Wheaton	$84,242	$40.50	$56,843	$116,510	14
30	Woodridge	$84,216	$40.49	$54,348	$107,896	9
31	Schaumburg	$84,175	$40.47	$56,603	$119,124	13
32	Buffalo Grove	$84,150	$40.45	$58,603	$115,843	7
33	Bartlett	$84,144	$40.45	$54,268	$107,868	9
34	Lake in the Hills	$83,830	$40.31	$53,458	$114,778	6
35	Collinsville	$83,817	$40.30	$53,515	$109,778	5
36	Skokie	$83,794	$40.29	$55,747	$114,737	12
37	Wheeling	$83,671	$40.22	$57,475	$114,249	6
38	Carpentersville	$83,578	$40.18	$57,344	$114,147	8
39	Oak Lawn	$83,523	$40.15	$54,882	$114,099	14
40	O'Fallon	$83,505	$40.15	$52,799	$113,697	6
41	Quincy	$83,178	$39.99	$52,054	$112,827	6
42	Algonquin	$83,178	$39.99	$51,703	$112,827	5
43	Carol Stream	$83,106	$39.95	$51,888	$112,587	10
44	Normal	$83,102	$39.95	$51,861	$112,699	8
45	Lombard	$83,053	$39.93	$51,767	$112,411	8
46	Cicero	$82,966	$39.89	$53,985	$112,250	21
47	Moline	$82,888	$39.85	$53,886	$107,172	10
48	Plainfield	$82,880	$39.85	$57,861	$111,843	11
49	Des Plaines	$82,864	$39.84	$53,760	$111,913	12
50	Oswego	$82,547	$39.68	$57,084	$110,754	7
51	DeKalb	$82,481	$39.65	$57,278	$113,455	9
52	Park Ridge	$82,414	$39.62	$57,123	$110,320	7
53	Hanover Park	$82,381	$39.61	$57,045	$113,127	6
54	Glenview	$82,374	$39.60	$57,029	$113,104	12
55	Romeoville	$82,042	$39.44	$56,259	$109,108	7
56	Streamwood	$81,929	$39.39	$55,997	$111,437	8
57	Downers Grove	$81,776	$39.32	$55,644	$111,140	11
58	Belleville	$81,756	$39.31	$55,598	$107,979	10
59	Crystal Lake	$81,623	$39.25	$55,293	$110,641	9
60	Rock Island	$81,605	$39.24	$51,274	$105,703	5
61	Galesburg	$81,310	$39.09	$54,576	$109,623	4
62	Calumet City	$81,284	$39.08	$54,516	$106,460	7
63	Elmhurst	$81,084	$38.99	$54,060	$106,022	9
64	Kankakee	$80,291	$38.60	$50,955	$118,382	50
65	Carbondale	$80,284	$38.60	$58,045	$104,737	5

More Illinois Salary Data

Hourly Rates

Explore speech-language pathologist hourly pay in Illinois cities.

Naperville →Chicago →Elgin →

Entry Level

Starting salaries for new speech-language pathologists.

Naperville →Chicago →Elgin →

Senior / Experienced

Top earner salaries for experienced speech-language pathologists.

Naperville →Chicago →Elgin →

Compare Cities in Illinois

Chicago, ILvsPeoria, IL Chicago, ILvsRockford, IL Chicago, ILvsSpringfield, IL Chicago, ILvsChampaign, IL Chicago, ILvsBloomington, IL Chicago, ILvsDecatur, IL

View all comparisons →

Explore More Speech-Language Pathologist Salary Data

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Frequently Asked Questions

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

The average median speech-language pathologist salary in Illinois is $99,710/year across 65 metro areas, based on estimated 2026 (projected from 2025 BLS data). Salaries range from $80,284 in Carbondale to $103,489 in Naperville. This makes Illinois 2.03% below the national median of $101,775. The state employs approximately 8,701 speech-language pathologists.

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

Naperville offers the highest speech-language pathologist salary in Illinois at $103,489/year ($49.76/hr), based on estimated 2026 (projected from 2025 BLS data). The top 3 highest-paying cities are Naperville ($103,489), Chicago ($102,420), Elgin ($101,506). 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 Illinois speech-language pathologist pay compare to the national average?

Illinois's average speech-language pathologist salary of $99,710 is 2.03% below the national median of $101,775 in 2026. The state employs approximately 8,701 speech-language pathologists across 65 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 Illinois?

Entry-level speech-language pathologists (10th percentile) in Illinois earn approximately $63,923/year on average, based on estimated 2026 (projected from 2025 BLS data). Starting salaries range from $50,955 in lower-paying areas to $66,897 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 Illinois?

Illinois employs approximately 8,701 speech-language pathologists across 65 metropolitan areas, based on the latest BLS data. This makes Illinois 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 Illinois city offers the best value for speech-language pathologists?

When adjusted for cost of living, Rockford offers the highest purchasing power for speech-language pathologists in Illinois, with an adjusted salary of $109,165 (nominal: $100,600, CoL index: 92.154). This means your dollar goes 9% 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 Illinois. State averages are employment-weighted across 65 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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