Speech-Language Pathologist Salary in Richmond, VA: $99,914 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time speech-language pathologist in Richmond, VA earns a median $99,914/year (≈ $48.03/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-1127). Once you factor in Richmond's price level (2% below national, BEA RPP 97.9), that paycheck buys what $102,101 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 2.9% above the Virginia state average.
Official BLS data · View source
In 2026, the projected median annual salary for speech-language pathologists in Richmond, Virginia, stands at $99,914, reflecting a competitive position in the market compared to the national median of $101,775. With a salary range spanning from $70,401 at the bottom (P10) to $129,780 at the top (P90), these figures indicate that specialists in dysphagia and related medical fields can command a notable premium within this market. This data, derived from the 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) surveys, highlights the growth potential for speech-language pathologists in Richmond, particularly as demand for services in both clinical and educational settings continues to rise.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $70,401 | $33.85 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $84,783 | $40.76 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $99,914 | $48.03 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $121,450 | $58.39 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $129,780 | $62.39 |
Median Salary Position
1.83% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Richmond
In Richmond, VA, the speech-language pathologist salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $59,379 (2026 est.). At $99,914, the local median is 1.83% below the national median of $101,775.
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How Richmond Speech-Language Pathologist Pay Compares
Richmond median: $99,914/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Richmond Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Virginia Average | $97,098 | +2.90% more |
| National Average | $101,775 | -1.83% less |
Speech-Language Pathologists in Richmond, VA earn a median of $99,914 per year (2026 est.), which is 1.83% lower than the national median of $101,775 and 2.90% above the Virginia state average of $97,098.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Richmond has a cost of living 2.14% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Richmond, VA has a cost-of-living index of 97.858 (below the national average of 100). A speech-language pathologist earning $99,914 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $102,101 in an average-cost city — an effective 2.19% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$81,670
2025 BLS Actual
$96,080
2026 Current Est.
$99,914
2019–2027 Growth
+27.2%
Salary Trajectory for Speech-Language Pathologists in Richmond (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.99% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $81,670 | Actual |
| 2020 | $86,230 | Actual |
| 2021 | $79,240 | Actual |
| 2022 | $81,980 | Actual |
| 2023 | $87,340 | Actual |
| 2024 | $95,770 | Actual |
| 2025 | $96,080 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $99,914 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $103,900 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Richmond metropolitan area, the median speech-language pathologist salary grew 17.6% from $81,670 (2019) to $96,080 (2025). At a 3.99% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $103,900 by 2027 — a total increase of $22,230 (27.22%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Richmond 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) | $70,401 – $84,783 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $84,783 – $99,914 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $99,914 – $121,450 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $121,450 – $129,780 |
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 Richmond
Currently, Richmond employs around 770 speech-language pathologists, indicating a healthy job market in the region. With a cost-of-living index of 97.858, professionals in Richmond enjoy an advantageous economic environment that can enhance their purchasing power compared to larger metropolitan areas. Notably, the highest salaries are often found in hospital inpatient rehabilitation services and skilled nursing facilities, where medical SLPs with expertise in dysphagia can earn significantly more than peers in educational settings. Factors influencing salary disparities include the type of employment, with medical settings typically offering higher pay than private practice or school environments. Strategies for maximizing earnings involve targeting these higher-paying sectors, seeking board specialty certifications for additional stipends, and exploring telepractice opportunities, which have expanded significantly since 2020.
More salary data for Richmond, VA:
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 $96,080 for speech-language pathologistsin the Richmond 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