Speech-Language Pathologist Salary in Missouri: $90,999 (2026)
Quick Answer:Across Missouri's 33 metropolitan areas, the average median speech-language pathologist pay sits at $90,999/year heading into 2026 — a figure projected from 2025 BLS OEWS wage data for SOC 29-1127. Because Missouri sits at BEA RPP 89.6 (10% below the U.S. baseline), that statewide median translates to roughly $101,561 in nationally-comparable purchasing power. Highest-paying metros: Cape Girardeau ($97,900), Columbia ($97,610), St. Joseph ($93,880).
In Missouri, the average median salary for speech-language pathologists is projected to be $90,999 in 2026, which is approximately 10.6% lower than the national median of $101,775. The highest paying city in the state is Cape Girardeau, where salaries reach $101,806, while Joplin offers the lowest salaries at $84,273. This significant salary gap of $17,533 between these cities can be attributed to varying cost of living, local demand for services, and the availability of specialized positions or healthcare institutions. Missouri requires speech-language pathologists to obtain state licensure, which involves completing a master's degree, passing a national examination, and fulfilling supervised clinical hours. The demand for these professionals is driven by factors such as an aging population that often requires speech therapy, as well as increased awareness of speech and language disorders among both children and adults. With a projected annual growth rate of 3.99%, the job market for speech-language pathologists in Missouri appears stable. As of 2026, there are expected to be around 3,812 employed speech-language pathologists across the state, with top cities like Columbia, St. Joseph, Springfield, and Independence also offering competitive salaries, indicative of a healthy outlook for this profession.
Missouri Speech-Language Pathologist Salary Range
Overall salary range in Missouri: $55,739 (lowest entry-level) to $137,372 (highest top earner)
Missouri vs National Average
Missouri speech-language pathologists earn 10.59% less than the national median ($-10,776/year difference).
Missouri Speech-Language Pathologist Salary Distribution (2026)
Speech-Language Pathologist salaries in Missouri range from $61,080 (entry-level, 10th percentile) to $121,322 (top earners, 90th percentile), with a median of $90,999. The Missouri median is $10,776 below the US national median of $101,775. The average hourly rate is $43.75/hr. Approximately 3,812 speech-language pathologists are employed across 33 cities.
2019 BLS Actual
$81,601
2025 BLS Actual
$87,507
2026 Current Est.
$90,999
2019–2027 Growth
+16.0%
Salary Trajectory for Speech-Language Pathologists in Missouri (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.99% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $81,601 | Actual |
| 2020 | $81,469 | Actual |
| 2021 | $76,757 | Actual |
| 2022 | $77,811 | Actual |
| 2023 | $80,163 | Actual |
| 2024 | $83,016 | Actual |
| 2025 | $87,507 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $90,999 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $94,630 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Missouri metropolitan area, the median speech-language pathologist salary grew 7.2% from $81,601 (2019) to $87,507 (2025). At a 3.99% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $94,630 by 2027 — a total increase of $13,029 (15.97%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Missouri 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 Missouri
Lowest Paying Cities in Missouri
| City | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Joplin | $84,273 |
| Hannibal | $85,852 |
| Raymore | $86,132 |
| Branson | $86,460 |
| Jefferson City | $87,081 |
Best Value Cities for Speech-Language Pathologists in Missouri
When adjusted for local cost of living, these Missouri cities offer the most purchasing power for speech-language pathologists.
| City | Nominal Salary | CoL Index | Adjusted Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cape Girardeau | $101,806 | 86.078 | $118,272 |
| Columbia | $101,505 | 89.438 | $113,492 |
| St. Joseph | $97,626 | 86.382 | $113,017 |
| Springfield | $96,149 | 88.585 | $108,539 |
| Independence | $94,951 | 89.6 | $105,972 |
Adjusted salary = nominal salary × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average. Lower index = lower cost of living.
Salary by Experience Level in Missouri
| Experience Level | Estimated Annual |
|---|---|
| Entry Level (0-2 years) | $61,080 |
| Mid Career (3-7 years) | $90,999 |
| Experienced (7+ years) | $121,322 |
Estimates based on BLS percentile data averaged across Missouri metro areas. Individual pay varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
All 33 Cities in Missouri
| # | City | Median Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cape Girardeau | $101,806 |
| 2 | Columbia | $101,505 |
| 3 | St. Joseph | $97,626 |
| 4 | Springfield | $96,149 |
| 5 | Independence | $94,951 |
| 6 | St. Peters | $94,258 |
| 7 | St. Charles | $94,081 |
| 8 | O'Fallon | $92,990 |
| 9 | Florissant | $92,503 |
| 10 | Wildwood | $92,300 |
| 11 | Kirkwood | $92,273 |
| 12 | Lee's Summit | $92,222 |
| 13 | Chesterfield | $92,209 |
| 14 | University City | $91,725 |
| 15 | Liberty | $91,689 |
| 16 | Grandview | $91,530 |
| 17 | Maryland Heights | $91,378 |
| 18 | Blue Springs | $90,344 |
| 19 | St. Louis | $89,931 |
| 20 | Raytown | $89,805 |
| 21 | Kansas City | $89,556 |
| 22 | Webster Groves | $89,357 |
| 23 | Sedalia | $89,329 |
| 24 | Ballwin | $89,169 |
| 25 | Nixa | $89,161 |
| 26 | Gladstone | $88,924 |
| 27 | Wentzville | $88,715 |
| 28 | Belton | $87,965 |
| 29 | Jefferson City | $87,081 |
| 30 | Branson | $86,460 |
| 31 | Raymore | $86,132 |
| 32 | Hannibal | $85,852 |
| 33 | Joplin | $84,273 |
More Missouri Salary Data
Hourly Rates
Explore speech-language pathologist hourly pay in Missouri cities.
Entry Level
Starting salaries for new speech-language pathologists.
Senior / Experienced
Top earner salaries for experienced speech-language pathologists.
Compare Cities in Missouri
View all comparisons →Explore More Speech-Language Pathologist Salary Data
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do speech-language pathologists make in Missouri in 2026?
What is the highest paying city for speech-language pathologists in Missouri?
How does Missouri speech-language pathologist pay compare to the national average?
What is the entry-level speech-language pathologist salary in Missouri?
How many speech-language pathologists are employed in Missouri?
Which Missouri city offers the best value for speech-language pathologists?
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
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 Missouri. State averages are employment-weighted across 33 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 (–). 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