Speech-Language Pathologist Salary in Murfreesboro, TN: $85,579 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time speech-language pathologist in Murfreesboro, TN earns a median $85,579/year (≈ $41.14/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-1127). Once you factor in Murfreesboro's price level (8% below national, BEA RPP 91.8), that paycheck buys what $93,223 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 0.7% below the Tennessee state average.
Based on BLS state-level estimates · View source
In 2026, speech-language pathologists in Murfreesboro, TN, can expect a median annual salary of $85,579. This figure represents a notable gap compared to the national median of $101,775, reflecting a local market that favors certain employment settings. Salaries for speech-language pathologists in the area range from $55,205 at the lower end (P10) to $118,896 for those at the higher end (P90), indicating significant variability based on experience, setting, and specialization. Given that Murfreesboro serves as a hub for both school-based and medical speech-language pathologists, contracts often differ, especially between year-round positions in hospitals and school-year contracts common in educational settings. With roughly 29 speech-language pathologists employed in the area, the job market here is relatively constrained, yet still presents unique opportunities.
About the Murfreesboro Market
Salary estimated from Tennessee average ($82,000) adjusted for local cost of living.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $55,205 | $26.54 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $67,636 | $32.52 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $85,579 | $41.14 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $102,999 | $49.52 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $118,896 | $57.16 |
Median Salary Position
15.91% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Murfreesboro
In Murfreesboro, TN, the speech-language pathologist salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $63,691 (2026 est.). At $85,579, the local median is 15.91% below the national median of $101,775.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Murfreesboro: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Murfreesboro Speech-Language Pathologist Pay Compares
Murfreesboro median: $85,579/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Murfreesboro Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Tennessee Average | $86,182 | -0.70% less |
| National Average | $101,775 | -15.91% less |
Speech-Language Pathologists in Murfreesboro, TN earn a median of $85,579 per year (2026 est.), which is 15.91% lower than the national median of $101,775 and 0.70% below the Tennessee state average of $86,182.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Murfreesboro has a cost of living 8.20% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Murfreesboro, TN has a cost-of-living index of 91.8 (below the national average of 100). A speech-language pathologist earning $85,579 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $93,223 in an average-cost city — an effective 8.93% 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
$66,529
2025 BLS Actual
$82,295
2026 Current Est.
$85,579
2019–2027 Growth
+33.8%
Salary Trajectory for Speech-Language Pathologists in Murfreesboro (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.99% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $66,529 | Actual |
| 2020 | $67,672 | Actual |
| 2021 | $66,478 | Actual |
| 2022 | $70,750 | Actual |
| 2023 | $75,080 | Actual |
| 2024 | $74,682 | Actual |
| 2025 | $82,295 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $85,579 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $88,993 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Murfreesboro metropolitan area, the median speech-language pathologist salary grew 23.7% from $66,529 (2019) to $82,295 (2025). At a 3.99% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $88,993 by 2027 — a total increase of $22,464 (33.77%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Murfreesboro 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) | $55,205 – $67,636 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $67,636 – $85,579 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $85,579 – $102,999 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $102,999 – $118,896 |
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 Murfreesboro
The cost of living index in Murfreesboro stands at 91.8, suggesting that while salaries for speech-language pathologists may be below the national average, the purchasing power in the region is slightly favorable. Employers such as local school districts, outpatient pediatric clinics, and hospital inpatient rehabilitation centers typically offer the highest salaries. Notably, settings providing care for specialized needs, like dysphagia, tend to command better pay. The disparity between lower and higher salaries often arises from factors like the shift in demand from medical to private practice roles and the attractive stipends provided for board specialty certifications. For those looking to maximize their earnings, strategies might include pursuing bilingual certifications, considering telepractice opportunities that have surged post-2020, and identifying positions in high-demand areas, ensuring they are well-positioned in the evolving landscape of speech-language pathology in Murfreesboro.
More salary data for Murfreesboro, TN:
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do speech-language pathologists make in Murfreesboro, TN in 2026?
Is Murfreesboro, TN a good place to work as a speech-language pathologist?
Can speech-language pathologists make $100K in Murfreesboro?
What is the cost-of-living adjusted speech-language pathologist salary in Murfreesboro?
How much does a speech-language pathologist make per hour in Murfreesboro?
Related Pages
Compare Salaries
Career Resources
Nearby Cities in Tennessee
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 $82,295 for speech-language pathologistsin the Murfreesboro 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
Salary data for Murfreesboro is estimated from official BLS state-level occupational wage data (2025), adjusted for regional cost-of-living differences using BEA RPP (Regional Price Parities).
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