Speech-Language Pathologist Salary in Garden City, KS: $91,687 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time speech-language pathologist in Garden City, KS earns a median $91,687/year (≈ $44.08/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-1127). Once you factor in Garden City's price level (9% below national, BEA RPP 90.9), that paycheck buys what $100,866 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 0.9% below the Kansas state average.
Based on BLS state-level estimates · View source
In 2026, the projected median annual salary for a speech-language pathologist in Garden City, Kansas, is $91,687, which is approximately 9.91% lower than the national median of $101,775. The salary range for local professionals varies significantly, with estimates indicating a low of $60,501 (P10) and a high of $119,019 (P90). This disparity often reflects the structural divide between school-based roles and medical settings, where hospital and skilled nursing facility positions typically offer better pay. The employment landscape in Garden City includes just six speech-language pathologists, underscoring a tightly-knit community that can influence both job availability and salary levels.
About the Garden City Market
Salary estimated from Kansas average ($80,000) adjusted for local cost of living.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $60,501 | $29.09 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $73,131 | $35.16 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $91,687 | $44.08 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $106,526 | $51.22 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $119,019 | $57.23 |
Median Salary Position
9.91% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Garden City
In Garden City, KS, the speech-language pathologist salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $58,518 (2026 est.). At $91,687, the local median is 9.91% below the national median of $101,775.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Garden City: You'd be above the median
How Garden City Speech-Language Pathologist Pay Compares
Garden City median: $91,687/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Garden City Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Kansas Average | $92,520 | -0.90% less |
| National Average | $101,775 | -9.91% less |
Speech-Language Pathologists in Garden City, KS earn a median of $91,687 per year (2026 est.), which is 9.91% lower than the national median of $101,775 and 0.90% below the Kansas state average of $92,520.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Garden City has a cost of living 9.10% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Garden City, KS has a cost-of-living index of 90.9 (below the national average of 100). A speech-language pathologist earning $91,687 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $100,866 in an average-cost city — an effective 10.01% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$71,278
2025 BLS Actual
$88,169
2026 Current Est.
$91,687
2019–2027 Growth
+33.8%
Salary Trajectory for Speech-Language Pathologists in Garden City (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.99% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $71,278 | Actual |
| 2020 | $72,503 | Actual |
| 2021 | $71,223 | Actual |
| 2022 | $75,800 | Actual |
| 2023 | $80,439 | Actual |
| 2024 | $72,070 | Actual |
| 2025 | $88,169 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $91,687 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $95,345 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Garden City metropolitan area, the median speech-language pathologist salary grew 23.7% from $71,278 (2019) to $88,169 (2025). At a 3.99% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $95,345 by 2027 — a total increase of $24,067 (33.76%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Garden City 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) | $60,501 – $73,131 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $73,131 – $91,687 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $91,687 – $106,526 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $106,526 – $119,019 |
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 Garden City
In Garden City, the cost of living index stands at 90.9, indicating a lower-than-average cost of living compared to national standards. This situation can enhance the take-home purchasing power for speech-language pathologists, despite the salaries being slightly below national averages. Among local employers, medical settings such as hospitals and skilled nursing facilities often provide the highest compensation, particularly for specialists like dysphagia experts. In contrast, school districts generally offer lower pay due to seasonal contracts. Factors that create a pay gap include settings—with medical roles enjoying greater financial rewards—and the potential for additional stipends for specialty certifications or bilingual skills. For those looking to maximize their earnings in this market, pursuing telepractice opportunities or additional certifications may open higher-paying options and broaden their professional reach.
More salary data for Garden City, KS:
Frequently Asked Questions
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Can speech-language pathologists make $100K in Garden City?
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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 $88,169 for speech-language pathologistsin the Garden City 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 Garden City 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