Speech-Language Pathologist Salary in Jacksonville, NC: $81,424 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time speech-language pathologist in Jacksonville, NC earns a median $81,424/year (≈ $39.15/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-1127). Once you factor in Jacksonville's price level (8% below national, BEA RPP 92.1), that paycheck buys what $88,423 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 7.1% below the North Carolina state average.
Official BLS data · View source
In 2026, the projected salary for a speech-language pathologist in Jacksonville, NC, reaches $81,424, which significantly lags behind the national median of $101,775. The overall salary range for this profession in the area spans from $58,401 at the 10th percentile to $119,807 at the 90th percentile, indicating a diverse landscape for pay based on experience and setting. This data is derived from official Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) OEWS surveys and reflects a growing job market that includes employment in both school systems and medical facilities. Notably, the division between school and medical practice influences compensation, with school SLPs often working on a school-year contract whereas their medical counterparts generally maintain year-round employment, which can affect overall earnings and job stability.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $58,401 | $28.08 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $66,138 | $31.80 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $81,424 | $39.15 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $107,016 | $51.45 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $119,807 | $57.60 |
Median Salary Position
20% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Jacksonville
In Jacksonville, NC, the speech-language pathologist salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $61,406 (2026 est.). At $81,424, the local median is 20% below the national median of $101,775.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Jacksonville: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Jacksonville Speech-Language Pathologist Pay Compares
Jacksonville median: $81,424/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Jacksonville Pays |
|---|---|---|
| North Carolina Average | $87,647 | -7.10% less |
| National Average | $101,775 | -20.00% less |
Speech-Language Pathologists in Jacksonville, NC earn a median of $81,424 per year (2026 est.), which is 20.00% lower than the national median of $101,775 and 7.10% below the North Carolina state average of $87,647.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Jacksonville has a cost of living 7.92% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Jacksonville, NC has a cost-of-living index of 92.085 (below the national average of 100). A speech-language pathologist earning $81,424 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $88,423 in an average-cost city — an effective 8.6% 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
$77,820
2025 BLS Actual
$78,300
2026 Current Est.
$81,424
2019–2027 Growth
+8.8%
Salary Trajectory for Speech-Language Pathologists in Jacksonville (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.99% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $77,820 | Actual |
| 2020 | $65,930 | Actual |
| 2021 | $61,060 | Actual |
| 2022 | $68,650 | Actual |
| 2023 | $79,310 | Actual |
| 2024 | $82,510 | Actual |
| 2025 | $78,300 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $81,424 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $84,673 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Jacksonville metropolitan area, the median speech-language pathologist salary grew 0.6% from $77,820 (2019) to $78,300 (2025). At a 3.99% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $84,673 by 2027 — a total increase of $6,853 (8.81%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Jacksonville 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) | $58,401 – $66,138 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $66,138 – $81,424 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $81,424 – $107,016 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $107,016 – $119,807 |
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 Jacksonville
In Jacksonville, there are currently 60 speech-language pathologists actively employed. Given the cost-of-living index of 92.085, which is below the national average, practitioners may find that their take-home pay allows for a comfortable lifestyle in the area. Employers at local hospital facilities and skilled nursing facilities typically offer higher salaries compared to school districts, which can be attributed to the demands of medical rehabilitation services, particularly with dysphagia management. The salary variation also reflects the differences in employment settings; while medical SLPs tend to earn more, private practice and telepractice roles have gained popularity, with telepractice increasing significantly since 2020. For speech-language pathologists looking to optimize earnings in Jacksonville, strategies might include pursuing specialized certifications or bilingual capabilities, as these qualifications can lead to higher pay and increased demand in the competitive healthcare landscape.
More salary data for Jacksonville, NC:
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do speech-language pathologists make in Jacksonville, NC in 2026?
Is Jacksonville, NC a good place to work as a speech-language pathologist?
Can speech-language pathologists make $100K in Jacksonville?
What is the cost-of-living adjusted speech-language pathologist salary in Jacksonville?
How much does a speech-language pathologist make per hour in Jacksonville?
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 $78,300 for speech-language pathologistsin the Jacksonville 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