Speech-Language Pathologist Salary in St. Cloud, MN: $88,433 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time speech-language pathologist in St. Cloud, MN earns a median $88,433/year (≈ $42.51/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-1127). Once you factor in St. Cloud's price level (12% below national, BEA RPP 87.6), that paycheck buys what $100,914 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 1.3% above the Minnesota state average.
Official BLS data · View source
In St. Cloud, Minnesota, speech-language pathologists can expect a median annual salary of $88,433, a figure that reflects local demand, especially for medical SLPs specializing in dysphagia. This specialty often commands higher wages due to the clinical skills required. The projected salary range in 2026 spans from approximately $64,068 at the 10th percentile to $113,859 at the 90th percentile, indicating a diverse spectrum of compensation based on experience and setting. These figures are derived from official Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) surveys, highlighting the robustness of the speech-language pathology field in St. Cloud, particularly in medical facilities and outpatient settings.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $64,068 | $30.80 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $74,623 | $35.88 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $88,433 | $42.51 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $107,390 | $51.63 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $113,859 | $54.74 |
Median Salary Position
13.11% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in St. Cloud
In St. Cloud, MN, the speech-language pathologist salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $49,791 (2026 est.). At $88,433, the local median is 13.11% below the national median of $101,775.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in St. Cloud: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How St. Cloud Speech-Language Pathologist Pay Compares
St. Cloud median: $88,433/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | St. Cloud Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Minnesota Average | $87,298 | +1.30% more |
| National Average | $101,775 | -13.11% less |
Speech-Language Pathologists in St. Cloud, MN earn a median of $88,433 per year (2026 est.), which is 13.11% lower than the national median of $101,775 and 1.30% above the Minnesota state average of $87,298.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
St. Cloud has a cost of living 12.37% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
St. Cloud, MN has a cost-of-living index of 87.632 (below the national average of 100). A speech-language pathologist earning $88,433 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $100,914 in an average-cost city — an effective 14.11% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$77,960
2025 BLS Actual
$85,040
2026 Current Est.
$88,433
2019–2027 Growth
+18.0%
Salary Trajectory for Speech-Language Pathologists in St. Cloud (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.99% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $77,960 | Actual |
| 2020 | $78,820 | Actual |
| 2021 | $77,290 | Actual |
| 2022 | $82,250 | Actual |
| 2023 | $84,070 | Actual |
| 2024 | $78,690 | Actual |
| 2025 | $85,040 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $88,433 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $91,962 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the St. Cloud metropolitan area, the median speech-language pathologist salary grew 9.1% from $77,960 (2019) to $85,040 (2025). At a 3.99% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $91,962 by 2027 — a total increase of $14,002 (17.96%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the St. Cloud 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) | $64,068 – $74,623 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $74,623 – $88,433 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $88,433 – $107,390 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $107,390 – $113,859 |
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 St. Cloud
The job market for speech-language pathologists in St. Cloud consists of about 130 professionals, indicating a healthy demand. With a cost-of-living index of 87.632, the actual purchasing power for these SLPs is favorable compared to many larger U.S. cities. Among local employers, skilled nursing facilities and outpatient pediatric clinics are known to offer some of the highest compensation packages, while school districts typically present more constrained salaries due to their year-round contracts and budget limitations. Factors driving wage variability include the nature of the setting—medical roles generally offer higher pay than those in schools or private practice. To maximize earnings, speech-language pathologists in this area might consider pursuing additional board certifications, exploring telepractice opportunities, or specializing in bilingual services, which can command a premium in the market.
More salary data for St. Cloud, MN:
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 $85,040 for speech-language pathologistsin the St. Cloud 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, 7-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