Speech-Language Pathologist Salary in Wilmington, NC: $85,698 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time speech-language pathologist in Wilmington, NC earns a median $85,698/year (≈ $41.20/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-1127). Once you factor in Wilmington's price level (4% below national, BEA RPP 96.4), that paycheck buys what $88,878 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 2.2% below the North Carolina state average.
Official BLS data · View source
In 2026, the speech-language pathologist salary in Wilmington, NC, is projected to reach a median of $85,698. This figure is below the national median of $101,775, indicating a difference of about 15.80%. The salary range for speech-language pathologists in Wilmington spans from $51,808 at the 10th percentile to $128,105 at the 90th percentile. These figures, derived from official BLS OEWS surveys, reflect the structural divide between school-based and medical speech-language pathology roles. Typically, school-based SLPs work with shorter contracts that align with the academic calendar, while their medical counterparts often secure year-round placements, leading to variances in overall compensation based directly on employment settings and contract lengths.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $51,808 | $24.91 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $73,999 | $35.57 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $85,698 | $41.20 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $106,975 | $51.43 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $128,105 | $61.59 |
Median Salary Position
15.8% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Wilmington
In Wilmington, NC, the speech-language pathologist salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $76,297 (2026 est.). At $85,698, the local median is 15.8% below the national median of $101,775.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Wilmington: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Wilmington Speech-Language Pathologist Pay Compares
Wilmington median: $85,698/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Wilmington Pays |
|---|---|---|
| North Carolina Average | $87,626 | -2.20% less |
| National Average | $101,775 | -15.80% less |
Speech-Language Pathologists in Wilmington, NC earn a median of $85,698 per year (2026 est.), which is 15.80% lower than the national median of $101,775 and 2.20% below the North Carolina state average of $87,626.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Wilmington has a cost of living 3.58% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Wilmington, NC has a cost-of-living index of 96.422 (below the national average of 100). A speech-language pathologist earning $85,698 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $88,878 in an average-cost city — an effective 3.71% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$81,260
2025 BLS Actual
$82,410
2026 Current Est.
$85,698
2019–2027 Growth
+9.7%
Salary Trajectory for Speech-Language Pathologists in Wilmington (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.99% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $81,260 | Actual |
| 2020 | $79,950 | Actual |
| 2021 | $75,670 | Actual |
| 2022 | $72,190 | Actual |
| 2023 | $78,870 | Actual |
| 2024 | $81,170 | Actual |
| 2025 | $82,410 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $85,698 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $89,118 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Wilmington metropolitan area, the median speech-language pathologist salary grew 1.4% from $81,260 (2019) to $82,410 (2025). At a 3.99% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $89,118 by 2027 — a total increase of $7,858 (9.67%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Wilmington 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) | $51,808 – $73,999 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $73,999 – $85,698 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $85,698 – $106,975 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $106,975 – $128,105 |
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 Wilmington
The local job market in Wilmington has 300 speech-language pathologists employed, providing a stable pool for those entering the field. With a cost of living index of 96.422, professionals can find that their take-home pay stretches further in this coastal city compared to many other regions. Among the highest-paying employers are hospital inpatient rehabilitation facilities and outpatient pediatric clinics, which often provide better compensation than school districts, where the majority of SLP jobs are concentrated. Factors contributing to salary discrepancies include the setting of practice, with medical positions typically offering higher salaries, and specialized certifications, such as bilingual capabilities, can command premium rates. For those aiming to maximize their potential earnings in Wilmington, pursuing roles in medical settings or telepractice, which experienced significant growth since 2020, may present lucrative opportunities not only for financial gain but also for professional development.
More salary data for Wilmington, NC:
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 $82,410 for speech-language pathologistsin the Wilmington 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