Speech-Language Pathologist salary in California
Speech-Language Pathologists in California earn a median of $118,970 a year ($57.20 an hour), based on BLS data for 16,930 workers.
Pay ranges from $79,750 for the lowest-paid 10% to $160,900 for the top 10%. That is 22% higher than the national median of $97,870. California ranks 1st of 51 states for Speech-Language pathologists pay, one of the best-paying states for this job. There are 0.93 Speech-Language pathologists per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.79). The average (mean) salary is $118,600, close to the median.
Pay range for Speech-Language pathologists in California
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $79,750 | $38.34 |
| 25th percentile | $98,920 | $47.56 |
| Median | $118,970 | $57.20 |
| 75th percentile | $135,070 | $64.94 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $160,900 | $77.36 |
| Average (mean) | $118,600 | $57.02 |
Half of Speech-Language pathologists earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $9,914.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $4,957.08 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $4,575.77 |
| Weekly | $2,287.88 |
| Hourly | $57.20 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Speech-Language Pathologist salary in cities in California
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| El Centro, CA | $133,760 | 70 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $132,720 | 890 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $130,850 | 1,760 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $127,470 | 160 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $126,850 | 200 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $126,360 | 1,030 |
| Vallejo, CA | $124,440 | 130 |
| Napa, CA | $123,870 | 50 |
| Salinas, CA | $122,770 | 200 |
| Hanford-Corcoran, CA | $120,550 | 50 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $119,690 | 1,590 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $118,670 | 110 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $118,660 | 310 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $118,560 | 2,120 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $117,350 | 310 |
| Modesto, CA | $116,770 | 220 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $115,560 | 100 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $115,060 | 530 |
| Merced, CA | $114,220 | 100 |
| Fresno, CA | $110,960 | 820 |
| Chico, CA | $110,720 | 130 |
| Yuba City, CA | $109,830 | 80 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $109,740 | 4,800 |
| Visalia, CA | $106,760 | 220 |
| Redding, CA | $99,210 | 110 |
Highest-paying states for Speech-Language pathologists
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| California | $118,970 |
| Colorado | $110,750 |
| District of Columbia | $109,380 |
| Washington | $105,550 |
| Nevada | $104,510 |
| Rhode Island | $104,000 |
| Delaware | $102,760 |
| Alaska | $102,670 |
| Oregon | $102,660 |
| New Jersey | $101,560 |
Related jobs in California
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nurse | $140,270 | $67.44 |
| Pharmacist | $164,610 | $79.14 |
| Physical Therapist | $124,190 | $59.71 |
| Physicians, All Other | $281,590 | $135.38 |
| Nurse Practitioner | $168,520 | $81.02 |
| Dental Hygienist | $124,930 | $60.06 |
| Respiratory Therapist | $104,820 | $50.40 |
| Dentists, General | $165,950 | $79.79 |
| Occupational Therapist | $124,510 | $59.86 |
| Physician Assistant | $165,650 | $79.64 |
| Veterinarian | $163,920 | $78.81 |
| Dietitians and Nutritionists | $98,850 | $47.52 |
| Optometrist | $136,300 | $65.53 |
| Pediatricians, General | $214,140 | $102.95 |
More: Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations · all salaries in California
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 29-1127. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Speech-Language pathologist make in California?
The median salary for Speech-Language pathologists in California is $118,970 a year, or $57.20 an hour. Pay ranges from $79,750 for the lowest-paid 10% to $160,900 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid Speech-Language pathologists make in California?
The top 10% of Speech-Language pathologists in California earn at least $160,900 a year. The top 25% earn $135,070 or more.
What is the starting pay for Speech-Language pathologists in California?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $79,750 a year, and a quarter of Speech-Language pathologists earn $98,920 or less.
How many Speech-Language pathologists work in California?
About 16,930 Speech-Language pathologists are employed in California, not counting the self-employed.