Speech-Language Pathologist Salary in Traverse City, MI: $90,638 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time speech-language pathologist in Traverse City, MI earns a median $90,638/year (≈ $43.57/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-1127). Once you factor in Traverse City's price level (7% below national, BEA RPP 93.4), that paycheck buys what $97,072 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 0.0% above the Michigan state average.
Official BLS data · View source
In Traverse City, Michigan, the projected median salary for a speech-language pathologist is $90,638 for 2026, which reflects a noticeable gap compared to the national median of $101,775. This regional compensation, while competitive, reveals a salary range that spans from $64,214 at the 10th percentile to $106,403 at the 90th percentile. These figures are based on the 2025 BLS OEWS data, projected to 2026, and highlight essential insights for practitioners considering their potential income. The job market for speech-language pathologists here indicates a robust demand, driven partly by the establishment of telepractice roles that offer supplemental income options for SLPs as the field continues to evolve post-2020.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $64,214 | $30.87 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $81,715 | $39.29 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $90,638 | $43.57 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $105,862 | $50.89 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $106,403 | $51.15 |
Median Salary Position
10.94% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Traverse City
In Traverse City, MI, the speech-language pathologist salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $42,189 (2026 est.). At $90,638, the local median is 10.94% below the national median of $101,775.
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At 40 hours/week in Traverse City: You'd be above the median
How Traverse City Speech-Language Pathologist Pay Compares
Traverse City median: $90,638/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Traverse City Pays |
|---|---|---|
| National Average | $101,775 | -10.94% less |
Speech-Language Pathologists in Traverse City, MI earn a median of $90,638 per year (2026 est.), which is 10.94% lower than the national median of $101,775.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Traverse City has a cost of living 6.63% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Traverse City, MI has a cost-of-living index of 93.372 (below the national average of 100). A speech-language pathologist earning $90,638 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $97,072 in an average-cost city — an effective 7.1% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$70,462
2025 BLS Actual
$87,160
2026 Current Est.
$90,638
2019–2027 Growth
+33.8%
Salary Trajectory for Speech-Language Pathologists in Traverse City (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.99% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $70,462 | Actual |
| 2020 | $71,673 | Actual |
| 2021 | $70,408 | Actual |
| 2022 | $74,932 | Actual |
| 2023 | $79,519 | Actual |
| 2024 | $77,970 | Actual |
| 2025 | $87,160 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $90,638 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $94,254 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Traverse City metropolitan area, the median speech-language pathologist salary grew 23.7% from $70,462 (2019) to $87,160 (2025). At a 3.99% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $94,254 by 2027 — a total increase of $23,792 (33.77%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Traverse 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) | $64,214 – $81,715 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $81,715 – $90,638 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $90,638 – $105,862 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $105,862 – $106,403 |
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 Traverse City
With 100 speech-language pathologists currently employed in Traverse City, the local market appears stable despite a cost of living index that stands at 93.372—indicating affordability compared to national averages. School districts, which employ approximately 55% of SLPs, typically offer lower pay, while opportunities in hospital settings or specialized clinics can yield higher compensation due to the nature of the work, especially in medical or bilingual roles. The difference in pay scales relates to various factors, including employment settings, the structure of contracts, and available stipends for board-certified specialties. For professionals seeking to maximize earnings, pursuing additional qualifications such as ASHA certification, engaging in telepractice through 1099 work, and exploring the growing demand for bilingual SLPs can provide substantial boosts to their income in the Traverse City area.
More salary data for Traverse City, MI:
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 $87,160 for speech-language pathologistsin the Traverse 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
Source: BLS, OEWS, 2-year dataset (–). 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