Speech-Language Pathologist Salary in Durham, NC: $86,790 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time speech-language pathologist in Durham, NC earns a median $86,790/year (≈ $41.73/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-1127). Once you factor in Durham's price level (2% below national, BEA RPP 97.6), that paycheck buys what $88,950 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 0.9% below the North Carolina state average.
Official BLS data · View source
In 2026, the anticipated median annual salary for speech-language pathologists in Durham, North Carolina, is projected to be $86,790. When considering the salary range, professionals can expect compensation between $62,654 at the 10th percentile and $130,643 at the 90th percentile, reflecting the distinct divide between school and medical settings in this field. This salary data, derived from reliable BLS OEWS surveys, highlights the variations in pay based on contract types—year-round positions generally offering more stability and benefits compared to school-year contracts. Given that school districts comprise the largest sector employing approximately 55% of SLPs, understanding this differentiation is crucial for anyone considering a career or advancement within the profession in Durham.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $62,654 | $30.13 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $66,221 | $31.84 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $86,790 | $41.73 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $107,432 | $51.65 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $130,643 | $62.81 |
Median Salary Position
14.72% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Durham
In Durham, NC, the speech-language pathologist salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $67,989 (2026 est.). At $86,790, the local median is 14.72% below the national median of $101,775.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Durham: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Durham Speech-Language Pathologist Pay Compares
Durham median: $86,790/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Durham Pays |
|---|---|---|
| North Carolina Average | $87,578 | -0.90% less |
| National Average | $101,775 | -14.72% less |
Speech-Language Pathologists in Durham, NC earn a median of $86,790 per year (2026 est.), which is 14.72% lower than the national median of $101,775 and 0.90% below the North Carolina state average of $87,578.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Durham has a cost of living 2.43% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Durham, NC has a cost-of-living index of 97.572 (below the national average of 100). A speech-language pathologist earning $86,790 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $88,950 in an average-cost city — an effective 2.49% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$69,520
2025 BLS Actual
$83,460
2026 Current Est.
$86,790
2019–2027 Growth
+29.8%
Salary Trajectory for Speech-Language Pathologists in Durham (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.99% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $69,520 | Actual |
| 2020 | $66,760 | Actual |
| 2021 | $74,880 | Actual |
| 2022 | $73,330 | Actual |
| 2023 | $77,960 | Actual |
| 2024 | $81,640 | Actual |
| 2025 | $83,460 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $86,790 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $90,253 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Durham metropolitan area, the median speech-language pathologist salary grew 20.1% from $69,520 (2019) to $83,460 (2025). At a 3.99% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $90,253 by 2027 — a total increase of $20,733 (29.82%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Durham 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) | $62,654 – $66,221 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $66,221 – $86,790 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $86,790 – $107,432 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $107,432 – $130,643 |
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 Durham
In terms of the job market in Durham, around 390 speech-language pathologists are currently employed, contributing to a competitive environment. The cost-of-living index in the area rests at 97.572, indicating that daily expenses are slightly below the national average, which impacts overall purchasing power and the real value of take-home pay. Among local employers, medical facilities such as hospitals and skilled nursing facilities often provide the highest salaries compared to school districts and private practices. The disparity in wages can be attributed to various factors, including practice setting, the stability of year-round contracts versus seasonal school roles, and additional stipends for certifications or specialties. For those looking to maximize their pay in Durham, pursuing opportunities in telepractice—which has seen significant growth since 2020—as well as obtaining bilingual certifications may enhance marketability and earnings potential in the evolving landscape of speech-language pathology.
More salary data for Durham, NC:
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do speech-language pathologists make in Durham, NC in 2026?
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Can speech-language pathologists make $100K in Durham?
What is the cost-of-living adjusted speech-language pathologist salary in Durham?
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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 $83,460 for speech-language pathologistsin the Durham 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