Per diemPosted today
Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP), PRN
LifePoint Health · Paramount, CA
$38.40–$65.00/ hour
New this week
Speech-Language Pathologist jobs in Merced, CA
Pay for speech-language pathologists in the Merced area centers on $57.42 per hour, or about $119,430 a year. The lower quarter earns under $49.09 and the upper quarter over $60.85. That ranks 10th of 362 U.S. metro areas for speech-language pathologist pay, and 2nd of 328 once local prices are factored in. The CMS hospital directory lists 1 hospital in Merced. Your free pay report adds named employers and the roles open near Merced.
- $57.42median pay per hour, Merced
- $49–$61typical range per hour
- 80employed in the metro area
- 98cost of living index (U.S. = 100)
Speech-Language Pathologist pay in Merced, CA
The metro median is 3% above the California statewide median of $55.77 per hour. Nationally the median is $45.87 per hour. BLS counts about 80 speech-language pathologists employed in the Merced metro area, 1.0 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is less concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 0.82).
| Level | Per hour | Per year | Compared with U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% | $38.29 | $79,640 | 17% below U.S. median |
| Lower quartile | $49.09 | $102,110 | 7% above U.S. median |
| Median | $57.42 | $119,430 | 25% above U.S. median |
| Upper quartile | $60.85 | $126,570 | 33% above U.S. median |
| Top 10% | $73.95 | $153,820 | 61% above U.S. median |
How Merced ranks
- 10th of 362 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
- 2nd of 328 after adjusting for local prices
- 8th 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 Merced
- Overall prices in Merced run 2% below the U.S. average (index 98.3, U.S. = 100).
- Housing is the biggest driver: 21% below the U.S. average (index 78.6).
- Adjusted for local prices, a $57.42 median hour buys what $58.43 buys at the national price level, 27% above 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.
Get the Merced Speech-Language Pathologist pay report
Named employers near Merced, what they pay and the roles open now. Free for candidates, email only.
Get my free pay reportEstimate your Merced paycheck
Estimated weekly gross$2,067
- Per year: $103,356
- Per month: $8,613
Gross pay before taxes and benefits, from BLS pay levels for the Merced metro area. For take-home pay use the take-home pay calculator.
Travel assignment per diem in Merced
| Item | Federal rate |
|---|---|
| Lodging per night | $110 |
| Meals and incidentals per day | $68 |
| Per week (7 nights, 7 days) | $1,246 |
| 13-week assignment | $16,198 |
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 (this is the standard rate that applies here). 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).
Open Speech-Language Pathologist roles in California
Nearest open roles with published pay. Your free report adds roles in Merced as they open.
PermanentPosted today
Speech Language Pathologist - Home Health & Physical Rehab Services - Hospital
Marshall Medical Center · Placerville, CA
$43.87–$52.64/ hour
New this week
For youUpdated weekly
230+ more Speech-Language Pathologist roles for you in California
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Per diemPosted 3 days ago
Speech Therapist II
CommonSpirit Health · Oxnard, CA
$59.97–$71.60/ hour
Top 25% payNew this week
Per diemPosted 3 days ago
Acute (Adult) SLP - Per Diem- Memorial
Sharp HealthCare · San Diego, CA
$52.36–$67.57/ hour
New this week
PermanentPosted 8 days ago
Speech Language Pathologist - PD - Days - Rehabilitation Services @ MV
El Camino Health · Mountain View, CA
$60.06–$90.09/ hour
Top 25% pay
PermanentPosted 8 days ago
Audiologist
Military Treatment Facilities under DHA · Travis AFB, CA
$112k–$145k/ year
Hospitals in Merced
CMS lists 1 hospital in Merced, 0 of the 1 rated ones with 4 or 5 stars. Hospitals are a major employer of speech-language pathologists.
| Hospital | Type | Ownership | CMS rating | Emergency |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mercy Medical Center Merced, CA | Acute care | Nonprofit | 3 of 5 | Yes |
Source: CMS Hospital General Information, public data. A directory of hospitals, not a list of our clients.
Speech-Language Pathologist pay in nearby cities
| City | Distance | Median pay | Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| Turlock, CA | 25 mi | $54.00/hr | 72,888 |
| Madera, CA | 32 mi | $52.17/hr | 69,094 |
| Modesto, CA | 37 mi | $54.00/hr | 220,592 |
| Fresno, CA | 52 mi | $52.17/hr | 550,105 |
| Manteca, CA | 53 mi | $56.05/hr | 94,292 |
| Clovis, CA | 55 mi | $52.17/hr | 127,993 |
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.
Other healthcare roles in Merced
Merced city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing
Common questions
How much do speech-language pathologists make in Merced, CA?
Speech-Language Pathologists in the Merced metro area have a median pay of $57.42 per hour, about $119,430 a year. The middle half earn between $49.09 and $60.85 per hour (BLS, May 2024).
Is Merced a good place for speech-language pathologists once cost of living is counted?
Merced ranks 2nd of 328 metro areas for speech-language pathologist pay after adjusting for local prices, and 10th of 362 before adjusting. Overall prices run 2% below the U.S. average.
Where do speech-language pathologists work in Merced?
CMS lists 1 hospital in Merced, led by Mercy Medical Center. Ask for the free report to see current openings and pay.
Do I need a California license to work in Merced 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 Merced?
The federal per diem benchmark in Merced is $110 a night for lodging and $68 a day for meals and incidentals, about $1,246 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 Merced?
Yes. We place healthcare staff in Merced and across California. Tell us your profession and we email the roles open near Merced.
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What do employers near Merced pay speech-language pathologists? Get the report.
Tell us your role and city. Within 24 hours you get an email with three things, by employer name. It costs you nothing, because employers pay us.
- 1Pay for your role at other hospitals
The hourly pay at named employers near you, so you see who pays most.
- 2What they are offering now
The pay range and median across current postings, and how many were posted this month.
- 3Roles open for you right now
Every current opening near you with pay, shift and start date. Reply with one click.
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230+ Speech-Language Pathologist roles in California, sent free by email
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Valorem Health Shift ReportFrom your recruiting team · [email protected]
Your SLP pay reportMerced, 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
- Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP), PRNPer diem$38.40–$65.00/ hour
- Speech Language Pathologist - Home Health & Physical Rehab Services - HospitalPermanent$43.87–$52.64/ hour
+ 23 more in your report. Each one has pay, shift and start date.
I'm interestedOne click. A recruiter writes only after you reply.