Speech-Language Pathologist salary in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
Speech-Language Pathologists in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn a median of $98,490 a year ($47.35 an hour), based on BLS data for 7,150 workers.
Pay ranges from $62,470 for the lowest-paid 10% to $124,400 for the top 10%. That is 1% higher than the national median of $97,870. Pay here is 4% higher than the Illinois statewide median of $95,080. There are 1.6 Speech-Language pathologists per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.3× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $95,200, close to the median.
Pay range for Speech-Language pathologists in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $62,470 | $30.04 |
| 25th percentile | $77,960 | $37.48 |
| Median | $98,490 | $47.35 |
| 75th percentile | $109,640 | $52.71 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $124,400 | $59.81 |
| Average (mean) | $95,200 | $45.77 |
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 | $8,207.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $4,103.75 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,788.08 |
| Weekly | $1,894.04 |
| Hourly | $47.35 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Speech-Language Pathologist salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $103,420 | 710 |
| Cape Girardeau, MO-IL | $97,900 | 80 |
| Rockford, IL | $96,740 | 190 |
| Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN | $96,570 | 90 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $95,930 | 1,690 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | $93,320 | 1,360 |
| Bloomington, IN | $91,950 | 40 |
| Terre Haute, IN | $86,780 | 60 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $86,480 | 1,630 |
| Evansville, IN | $85,220 | 210 |
| Bloomington, IL | $84,330 | 130 |
| Fort Wayne, IN | $83,200 | 270 |
| South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI | $83,170 | 150 |
| Champaign-Urbana, IL | $82,570 | 150 |
| Springfield, IL | $82,280 | 160 |
| Peoria, IL | $82,060 | 210 |
| Decatur, IL | $81,600 | 50 |
| Muncie, IN | $80,860 | 40 |
| Elkhart-Goshen, IN | $80,110 | 70 |
| Michigan City-La Porte, IN | $79,250 | 30 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $78,320 | 200 |
| Kankakee, IL | $77,210 | 50 |
| Paducah, KY-IL | $73,900 | 70 |
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 |
See Speech-Language Pathologist pay in every state or the Illinois statewide figures.
Related jobs in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nurse | $100,490 | $48.31 |
| Physicians, All Other | $94,820 | $45.59 |
| Pharmacist | $140,880 | $67.73 |
| Physical Therapist | $105,720 | $50.83 |
| Nurse Practitioner | $131,740 | $63.34 |
| Dental Hygienist | $100,260 | $48.20 |
| Occupational Therapist | $99,860 | $48.01 |
| Dentists, General | $156,100 | $75.05 |
| Respiratory Therapist | $87,060 | $41.86 |
| Physician Assistant | $127,940 | $61.51 |
| Dietitians and Nutritionists | $73,560 | $35.36 |
| Anesthesiologist | $77,770 | $37.39 |
| Veterinarian | $148,730 | $71.51 |
| Chiropractor | $72,440 | $34.83 |
More: Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations · all salaries in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
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 Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
The median salary for Speech-Language pathologists in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $98,490 a year, or $47.35 an hour. Pay ranges from $62,470 for the lowest-paid 10% to $124,400 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid Speech-Language pathologists make in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
The top 10% of Speech-Language pathologists in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn at least $124,400 a year. The top 25% earn $109,640 or more.
What is the starting pay for Speech-Language pathologists in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $62,470 a year, and a quarter of Speech-Language pathologists earn $77,960 or less.
How many Speech-Language pathologists work in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
About 7,150 Speech-Language pathologists are employed in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area, not counting the self-employed.