CA · La Mesa · Updated October 15, 2026

Speech-Language Pathologist jobs in La Mesa, CA

The median speech-language pathologist pay in the La Mesa area is $51.53 per hour ($107,180 a year), with the typical range running from $40.49 to $61.83. 4 open roles with published pay are listed for La Mesa and its metro area. The CMS hospital directory lists 2 hospitals in La Mesa. Your free pay report adds named employers and the roles open near La Mesa.

Open Speech-Language Pathologist roles near La Mesa

Roles in other cities of the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad area.

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Named employers near La Mesa, what they pay and the roles open now. Free for candidates, email only.

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Who is hiring speech-language pathologists near La Mesa

EmployerRolesMedian pay / hour
BrightSpring Health Services2$62.50
Sharp HealthCare1$59.96
Sharp Healthcare1$59.96

Speech-Language Pathologist pay in La Mesa, CA

The metro median is 8% below the California statewide median of $55.77 per hour. Nationally the median is $45.87 per hour. BLS counts about 1,560 speech-language pathologists employed in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad metro area, 1.0 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is less concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 0.88).

LevelPer hourPer yearCompared with U.S.
Lowest 10%$29.33$61,01036% below U.S. median
Lower quartile$40.49$84,22012% below U.S. median
Median$51.53$107,18012% above U.S. median
Upper quartile$61.83$128,61035% above U.S. median
Top 10%$66.37$138,05045% above U.S. median

How La Mesa ranks

  • 24th of 362 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
  • 114th of 328 after adjusting for local prices
  • 19th of 22 California metro areas

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024, Speech-Language Pathologists (SOC 29-1127), all industries. This is what employers report paying, not an offer for a specific role.

What your pay buys in La Mesa

  • Overall prices in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad run 12% above the U.S. average (index 111.9, U.S. = 100).
  • Housing is the biggest driver: 79% above the U.S. average (index 179.3).
  • Adjusted for local prices, a $51.53 median hour buys what $46.06 buys at the national price level, in line with the national median.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024. Prices are for the metro area, not for a single neighborhood.

Estimate your La Mesa paycheck

Estimated weekly gross$1,855
  • Per year: $92,754
  • Per month: $7,730

Gross pay before taxes and benefits, from BLS pay levels for the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad metro area. For take-home pay use the take-home pay calculator.

Travel assignment per diem in La Mesa

ItemFederal rate
Lodging per night$205
Meals and incidentals per day$86
Per week (7 nights, 7 days)$2,037
13-week assignment$26,481

Travel speech-language pathologist assignments commonly pay housing and meals stipends. The GSA per diem is the federal benchmark for what those stipends can be tax-free. Whether a stipend is tax-free for you depends on keeping a valid tax home, so confirm with your recruiter and a tax professional. Compare with your offer in the travel pay calculator.

Source: U.S. General Services Administration per diem rates, fiscal year 2026 (average across months).

Hospitals in La Mesa

CMS lists 2 hospitals in La Mesa, 1 of the 1 rated ones with 4 or 5 stars. Hospitals are a major employer of speech-language pathologists.

HospitalTypeOwnershipCMS ratingEmergency
Grossmont Hospital
La Mesa, CA
Acute careGovernment and federal4 of 5Yes
Alvarado Parkway Institute Behavioral Health Syste
La Mesa, CA
PsychiatricNonprofitNot ratedNo

Source: CMS Hospital General Information, public data. A directory of hospitals, not a list of our clients.

Speech-Language Pathologist pay in nearby cities

CityDistanceMedian payPopulation
El Cajon, CA4 mi$51.53/hr103,291
Santee, CA6 mi$51.53/hr59,104
Temecula, CA50 mi$55.48/hr112,431

Speech-Language Pathologist jobs in California · Speech-Language Pathologist jobs nationwide

License and tax basics in California

Master’s degree in speech-language pathology. Credentials are issued state by state, so confirm what California requires for your role with the California licensing board and with your recruiter before you commit to a start date.

California taxes wage income. Use your own rates in the take-home pay calculator.

California state guide

Other healthcare roles in La Mesa

La Mesa city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing

Common questions

How much do speech-language pathologists make in La Mesa, CA?

Speech-Language Pathologists in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad metro area have a median pay of $51.53 per hour, about $107,180 a year. The middle half earn between $40.49 and $61.83 per hour (BLS, May 2024).

Is La Mesa a good place for speech-language pathologists once cost of living is counted?

San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad ranks 114th of 328 metro areas for speech-language pathologist pay after adjusting for local prices, and 24th of 362 before adjusting. Overall prices run 12% above the U.S. average.

Who is hiring speech-language pathologists in La Mesa?

We list 4 open roles with published pay from 3 employers in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad area. Your free report adds named employers and pay near La Mesa.

Do I need a California license to work in La Mesa as a speech-language pathologist?

Master’s degree in speech-language pathology. Credentials are issued state by state, so confirm what California requires for your role with the California licensing board and with your recruiter before you commit to a start date. Confirm with the board before you accept a role.

What is the per diem for a travel assignment in La Mesa?

The federal per diem benchmark in La Mesa is $205 a night for lodging and $86 a day for meals and incidentals, about $2,037 a week (GSA, fiscal year 2026). Your actual stipend depends on the assignment and your tax home.

Does Valorem Health place speech-language pathologists in La Mesa?

Yes. We place healthcare staff in La Mesa and across California. Tell us your profession and we email the roles open near La Mesa.

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What do employers near La Mesa pay speech-language pathologists? Get the report.

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The Joint Commission Gold Seal of Approval: Health Care Staffing Services Certification, since 2022American Staffing Association memberNATHO member: National Association of Travel Healthcare OrganizationsNALTO member: National Association of Locum Tenens Organizations

Pay report · SLP near La Mesa, CA
Valorem Health Shift ReportFrom your recruiting team · [email protected]

Your SLP pay reportLa Mesa, CA · pay published by employers and employer-reported wage offers in federal filings

1Pay for your role at other employers

  • El Camino HealthMountain View, CA · 2 postings$77.32/ hr$60–$95
  • Community Hospital of the Monterey PeninsulaMonterey, CA · 2 wage offers$76.88/ hr$77–$77
  • BrightSpring Health ServicesESCONDIDO, CA · 7 postings$62.50/ hr$60–$65
  • CommonSpirit HealthOXNARD, CA · 5 postings$61.91/ hr$50–$77

Median pay per hour, with the range each employer published or reported in federal filings.

2What they are offering now

Low$50Median$61.91High$73

25 SLP postings with published pay in California, 21 of them posted in the last 30 days. Month-by-month history by employer comes with your full report.

3Open now: 25 SLP roles

  1. Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP), PRNPer diem
    $38.40–$65.00/ hour
    LifePoint Health · Paramount, CA · posted today
  2. Speech Language Pathologist - Home Health & Physical Rehab Services - HospitalPermanent
    $43.87–$52.64/ hour
    Marshall Medical Center · Placerville, CA · posted today

+ 23 more in your report. Each one has pay, shift and start date.

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