Speech-Language Pathologist Salary in Virginia Beach, VA: $101,775 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time speech-language pathologist in Virginia Beach, VA earns a median $101,775/year (≈ $48.93/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-1127). Once you factor in Virginia Beach's price level (2% below national, BEA RPP 97.9), that paycheck buys what $103,915 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 4.8% above the Virginia state average.
Official BLS data · View source
In 2026, a speech-language pathologist salary in Virginia Beach is projected to reach a median of $101,775, aligning with the national average. The salary range varies significantly, with entry-level positions starting at around $68,061 and top earners achieving up to $136,268. This data, derived from 2025 BLS OEWS surveys, highlights the opportunities available within the local job market, where a focus on telepractice has created additional income potential for professionals. With effective hourly compensation estimated at $48.93, SLPs in Virginia Beach can find diverse roles that cater to both educational settings and clinical environments, reflecting the growing demand for services across different populations.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $68,061 | $32.73 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $83,390 | $40.10 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $101,775 | $48.93 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $118,289 | $56.87 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $136,268 | $65.51 |
Median Salary Position
0.00% above the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Virginia Beach
In Virginia Beach, VA, the speech-language pathologist salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $68,207 (2026 est.). At $101,775, the local median is 0% above the national median of $101,775.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Virginia Beach: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Virginia Beach Speech-Language Pathologist Pay Compares
Virginia Beach median: $101,775/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Virginia Beach Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Virginia Average | $97,114 | +4.80% more |
| National Average | $101,775 | +0.00% more |
Speech-Language Pathologists in Virginia Beach, VA earn a median of $101,775 per year (2026 est.), which is 0.00% higher than the national median of $101,775 and 4.80% above the Virginia state average of $97,114.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Virginia Beach has a cost of living 2.06% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Virginia Beach, VA has a cost-of-living index of 97.941 (below the national average of 100). A speech-language pathologist earning $101,775 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $103,915 in an average-cost city — an effective 2.1% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$81,340
2025 BLS Actual
$97,870
2026 Current Est.
$101,775
2019–2027 Growth
+30.1%
Salary Trajectory for Speech-Language Pathologists in Virginia Beach (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.99% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $81,340 | Actual |
| 2020 | $83,050 | Actual |
| 2021 | $79,340 | Actual |
| 2022 | $83,490 | Actual |
| 2023 | $86,630 | Actual |
| 2024 | $97,180 | Actual |
| 2025 | $97,870 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $101,775 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $105,836 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Virginia Beach metropolitan area, the median speech-language pathologist salary grew 20.3% from $81,340 (2019) to $97,870 (2025). At a 3.99% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $105,836 by 2027 — a total increase of $24,496 (30.12%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Virginia Beach 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) | $68,061 – $83,390 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $83,390 – $101,775 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $101,775 – $118,289 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $118,289 – $136,268 |
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 Virginia Beach
The local job market for speech-language pathologists in Virginia Beach is robust, with approximately 880 professionals employed in various settings. Given the cost of living index at 97.941, SLPs can enjoy a relatively comfortable lifestyle, impacting their take-home purchasing power positively compared to more expensive areas. School districts, which typically hire around 55% of speech-language pathologists, often offer competitive salaries, but those working in medical settings like hospitals and skilled nursing facilities usually command higher pay due to specialized services. Pay disparities can also be attributed to contractual differences—year-round roles in outpatient clinics pay more than nine-month contracts in schools. To maximize earnings, SLPs should consider additional certifications, pursue bilingual roles, and explore telepractice options, which have seen significant growth since 2020.
More salary data for Virginia Beach, 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 $97,870 for speech-language pathologistsin the Virginia Beach 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