Speech-Language Pathologist Salary in Fayetteville, NC: $85,178 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time speech-language pathologist in Fayetteville, NC earns a median $85,178/year (≈ $40.95/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-1127). Once you factor in Fayetteville's price level (8% below national, BEA RPP 92.0), that paycheck buys what $92,607 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 2.8% below the North Carolina state average.
Official BLS data · View source
In 2026, the expected median annual salary for speech-language pathologists in Fayetteville, NC, stands at $85,178, reflecting a significant local pay deviation from the national median of $101,775. The salary range is broad, spanning from $61,708 at the 10th percentile to $124,372 at the 90th percentile. These figures represent official estimates based on 2025 BLS OEWS data, projected into 2026. With the growing acceptance of telepractice, many clinicians in Fayetteville are also exploring 1099 side-income opportunities, which can enhance their overall earnings. This increasing trend suggests a dynamic job market for speech-language pathologists, where a blend of diverse employment settings can offer varied compensation experiences.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $61,708 | $29.67 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $72,949 | $35.08 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $85,178 | $40.95 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $104,000 | $50.00 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $124,372 | $59.79 |
Median Salary Position
16.31% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Fayetteville
In Fayetteville, NC, the speech-language pathologist salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $62,664 (2026 est.). At $85,178, the local median is 16.31% below the national median of $101,775.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Fayetteville: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Fayetteville Speech-Language Pathologist Pay Compares
Fayetteville median: $85,178/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Fayetteville Pays |
|---|---|---|
| North Carolina Average | $87,632 | -2.80% less |
| National Average | $101,775 | -16.31% less |
Speech-Language Pathologists in Fayetteville, NC earn a median of $85,178 per year (2026 est.), which is 16.31% lower than the national median of $101,775 and 2.80% below the North Carolina state average of $87,632.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Fayetteville has a cost of living 8.02% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Fayetteville, NC has a cost-of-living index of 91.978 (below the national average of 100). A speech-language pathologist earning $85,178 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $92,607 in an average-cost city — an effective 8.72% 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
$60,280
2025 BLS Actual
$81,910
2026 Current Est.
$85,178
2019–2027 Growth
+46.9%
Salary Trajectory for Speech-Language Pathologists in Fayetteville (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.99% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $60,280 | Actual |
| 2020 | $61,640 | Actual |
| 2021 | $60,530 | Actual |
| 2022 | $75,180 | Actual |
| 2023 | $86,030 | Actual |
| 2024 | $86,020 | Actual |
| 2025 | $81,910 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $85,178 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $88,577 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Fayetteville metropolitan area, the median speech-language pathologist salary grew 35.9% from $60,280 (2019) to $81,910 (2025). At a 3.99% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $88,577 by 2027 — a total increase of $28,297 (46.94%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Fayetteville 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) | $61,708 – $72,949 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $72,949 – $85,178 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $85,178 – $104,000 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $104,000 – $124,372 |
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 Fayetteville
Fayetteville’s job market currently supports around 220 speech-language pathologists, providing a strong foundation for professional opportunities. The cost of living index at 91.978 indicates that living expenses here are below the national average, which enhances the purchasing power of speech-language pathologist salaries in Fayetteville. Employers that typically offer the highest pay include hospital inpatient rehabilitation facilities and specialized outpatient pediatric clinics, where the clinical demands can command better compensation. The discrepancies in pay among different settings arise from factors such as the nature of contracts—year-round versus school-year—and whether specialists hold board certifications or are bilingual, often earning a premium in various markets. To maximize earning potential in Fayetteville, prospective clinicians should consider diversifying their skills, including telepractice opportunities and pursuing additional certifications relevant to the area’s needs.
More salary data for Fayetteville, NC:
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do speech-language pathologists make in Fayetteville, NC in 2026?
Is Fayetteville, NC a good place to work as a speech-language pathologist?
Can speech-language pathologists make $100K in Fayetteville?
What is the cost-of-living adjusted speech-language pathologist salary in Fayetteville?
How much does a speech-language pathologist make per hour in Fayetteville?
Related Pages
Compare Salaries
Career Resources
Nearby Cities in North Carolina
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 $81,910 for speech-language pathologistsin the Fayetteville 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