Speech-Language Pathologist Salary in Altoona, PA: $89,920 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time speech-language pathologist in Altoona, PA earns a median $89,920/year (≈ $43.23/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-1127). Once you factor in Altoona's price level (10% below national, BEA RPP 89.5), that paycheck buys what $100,461 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 8.5% below the Pennsylvania state average.
Official BLS data · View source
In Altoona, Pennsylvania, speech-language pathologists are projected to earn a median annual salary of $89,920 in 2026, which is approximately 11.65% lower than the national median of $101,775 for the same year. The salary range for this profession varies from $66,668 at the 10th percentile to $123,405 at the 90th percentile. These figures, derived from 2025 BLS OEWS data and projected into 2026, reflect the structural divide often seen between SLPs working in educational settings versus those in medical environments. School contracts typically align with the academic year, while positions in healthcare facilities can offer year-round employment, impacting overall pay and work-life balance in Altoona's job market.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $66,668 | $32.05 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $72,096 | $34.66 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $89,920 | $43.23 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $106,475 | $51.19 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $123,405 | $59.33 |
Median Salary Position
11.65% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Altoona
In Altoona, PA, the speech-language pathologist salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $56,737 (2026 est.). At $89,920, the local median is 11.65% below the national median of $101,775.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Altoona: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Altoona Speech-Language Pathologist Pay Compares
Altoona median: $89,920/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Altoona Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania Average | $98,273 | -8.50% less |
| National Average | $101,775 | -11.65% less |
Speech-Language Pathologists in Altoona, PA earn a median of $89,920 per year (2026 est.), which is 11.65% lower than the national median of $101,775 and 8.50% below the Pennsylvania state average of $98,273.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Altoona has a cost of living 10.49% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Altoona, PA has a cost-of-living index of 89.507 (below the national average of 100). A speech-language pathologist earning $89,920 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $100,461 in an average-cost city — an effective 11.72% 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
$69,970
2025 BLS Actual
$86,470
2026 Current Est.
$89,920
2019–2027 Growth
+33.6%
Salary Trajectory for Speech-Language Pathologists in Altoona (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.99% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $69,970 | Actual |
| 2020 | $66,280 | Actual |
| 2021 | $77,320 | Actual |
| 2022 | $79,920 | Actual |
| 2023 | $80,320 | Actual |
| 2024 | $83,440 | Actual |
| 2025 | $86,470 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $89,920 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $93,508 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Altoona metropolitan area, the median speech-language pathologist salary grew 23.6% from $69,970 (2019) to $86,470 (2025). At a 3.99% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $93,508 by 2027 — a total increase of $23,538 (33.64%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Altoona 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) | $66,668 – $72,096 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $72,096 – $89,920 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $89,920 – $106,475 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $106,475 – $123,405 |
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 Altoona
The demand for SLPs in Altoona remains robust, with around 100 professionals currently employed in the area. However, the local cost-of-living index is relatively low at 89.507, which can enhance take-home purchasing power compared to other regions. Employers offering competitive salaries include hospital inpatient rehab facilities and outpatient pediatric clinics, where medical settings generally pay more than educational institutions. The gap in earnings is often influenced by factors such as full-year versus school-year contracts, specialty certification stipends, and the rise of telepractice opportunities, especially post-2020. For those looking to maximize their compensation in Altoona, pursuing bilingual credentials or seeking positions in higher-paying medical settings can be advantageous strategies to elevate speech-language pathologist pay in Altoona PA.
More salary data for Altoona, PA:
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do speech-language pathologists make in Altoona, PA in 2026?
Is Altoona, PA a good place to work as a speech-language pathologist?
Can speech-language pathologists make $100K in Altoona?
What is the cost-of-living adjusted speech-language pathologist salary in Altoona?
How much does a speech-language pathologist make per hour in Altoona?
Related Pages
Compare Salaries
Career Resources
Nearby Cities in Pennsylvania
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 $86,470 for speech-language pathologistsin the Altoona 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