Speech-Language Pathologist Salary in Frankfort, KY: $83,602 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time speech-language pathologist in Frankfort, KY earns a median $83,602/year (≈ $40.19/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-1127). Once you factor in Frankfort's price level (11% below national, BEA RPP 89.3), that paycheck buys what $93,619 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 2.0% below the Kentucky state average.
Based on BLS state-level estimates · View source
In 2026, speech-language pathologists in Frankfort, Kentucky, can expect a median annual salary of $83,602, which reflects a notable disparity when compared to the national average of $101,775. The salary range for this profession locally spans from $53,621 at the 10th percentile to $114,932 at the 90th percentile. These figures, drawn from 2025 BLS data and adjusted for local economic factors, suggest that professionals embarking on telepractice models may find considerable financial opportunities, as they often earn effective hourly wages that can be competitive. With a growth rate projected at 3.99% annually, the job market for speech-language pathologists in Frankfort demonstrates resilience, even within a region where the cost of living is below the national average.
About the Frankfort Market
Salary estimated from Kentucky average ($82,000) adjusted for local cost of living.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $53,621 | $25.78 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $65,473 | $31.48 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $83,602 | $40.19 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $95,910 | $46.11 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $114,932 | $55.26 |
Median Salary Position
17.86% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Frankfort
In Frankfort, KY, the speech-language pathologist salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $61,311 (2026 est.). At $83,602, the local median is 17.86% below the national median of $101,775.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Frankfort: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Frankfort Speech-Language Pathologist Pay Compares
Frankfort median: $83,602/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Frankfort Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Kentucky Average | $85,308 | -2.00% less |
| National Average | $101,775 | -17.86% less |
Speech-Language Pathologists in Frankfort, KY earn a median of $83,602 per year (2026 est.), which is 17.86% lower than the national median of $101,775 and 2.00% below the Kentucky state average of $85,308.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Frankfort has a cost of living 10.70% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Frankfort, KY has a cost-of-living index of 89.3 (below the national average of 100). A speech-language pathologist earning $83,602 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $93,619 in an average-cost city — an effective 11.98% boost.
Compare Purchasing Power
Select a city to see how your salary compares after cost of living
Select a city above to compare purchasing power
2019 BLS Actual
$64,992
2025 BLS Actual
$80,394
2026 Current Est.
$83,602
2019–2027 Growth
+33.8%
Salary Trajectory for Speech-Language Pathologists in Frankfort (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.99% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $64,992 | Actual |
| 2020 | $66,109 | Actual |
| 2021 | $64,943 | Actual |
| 2022 | $69,116 | Actual |
| 2023 | $73,346 | Actual |
| 2024 | $71,731 | Actual |
| 2025 | $80,394 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $83,602 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $86,937 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Frankfort metropolitan area, the median speech-language pathologist salary grew 23.7% from $64,992 (2019) to $80,394 (2025). At a 3.99% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $86,937 by 2027 — a total increase of $21,945 (33.77%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Frankfort 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) | $53,621 – $65,473 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $65,473 – $83,602 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $83,602 – $95,910 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $95,910 – $114,932 |
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 Frankfort
Analyzing the local job market reveals that currently, there are six speech-language pathologists employed in the Frankfort area, and the cost of living index sits at 89.3, affecting take-home pay and purchasing power. Schools continue to dominate as employers, hiring about 55% of professionals, but medical settings and telepractice avenues typically offer higher pay levels. Factors such as contract type, the setting of employment, and additional certifications contribute to the broad salary spread, with medical practitioners often earning more than their school-based peers. For speech-language pathologists in Frankfort, maximizing salary may involve pursuing positions in skilled nursing facilities or inpatient rehabilitation, leveraging bilingual capabilities for premium pay, or considering telepractice as a supplemental income source. Understanding these dynamics can help professionals navigate their career paths effectively within the local context.
More salary data for Frankfort, KY:
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do speech-language pathologists make in Frankfort, KY in 2026?
Is Frankfort, KY a good place to work as a speech-language pathologist?
Can speech-language pathologists make $100K in Frankfort?
What is the cost-of-living adjusted speech-language pathologist salary in Frankfort?
How much does a speech-language pathologist make per hour in Frankfort?
Related Pages
Compare Salaries
Career Resources
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 $80,394 for speech-language pathologistsin the Frankfort 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 Frankfort 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