CA · Palo Alto · Updated October 15, 2026

Speech-Language Pathologist jobs in Palo Alto, CA

Pay for speech-language pathologists in the Palo Alto area centers on $65.32 per hour, or about $135,860 a year. The lower quarter earns under $52.98 and the upper quarter over $75.45. The CMS hospital directory lists 2 hospitals in Palo Alto. That ranks 1st of 362 U.S. metro areas for speech-language pathologist pay, and 1st of 328 once local prices are factored in. The free report below lists employers near Palo Alto and what they pay.

Open Speech-Language Pathologist roles near Palo Alto

Roles in other cities of the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara area.

More open Speech-Language Pathologist roles in Palo Alto

1 more open role from employers in Palo Alto. Each employer’s range arrives with your free pay report.

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

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Speech-Language Pathologist pay in Palo Alto, CA

The metro median is 17% above the California statewide median of $55.77 per hour. Nationally the median is $45.87 per hour. BLS counts about 630 speech-language pathologists employed in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara metro area, 0.6 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is less concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 0.48).

LevelPer hourPer yearCompared with U.S.
Lowest 10%$40.10$83,41013% below U.S. median
Lower quartile$52.98$110,20016% above U.S. median
Median$65.32$135,86042% above U.S. median
Upper quartile$75.45$156,94064% above U.S. median
Top 10%$79.10$164,53072% above U.S. median

How Palo Alto ranks

  • 1st of 362 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
  • 1st of 328 after adjusting for local prices
  • 1st 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 Palo Alto

  • Overall prices in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara run 10% above the U.S. average (index 110.4, U.S. = 100).
  • Housing is the biggest driver: 112% above the U.S. average (index 211.9).
  • Adjusted for local prices, a $65.32 median hour buys what $59.15 buys at the national price level, 29% 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.

Estimate your Palo Alto paycheck

Estimated weekly gross$2,352
  • Per year: $117,576
  • Per month: $9,798

Gross pay before taxes and benefits, from BLS pay levels for the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara metro area. For take-home pay use the take-home pay calculator.

Travel assignment per diem in Palo Alto

ItemFederal rate
Lodging per night$192
Meals and incidentals per day$92
Per week (7 nights, 7 days)$1,988
13-week assignment$25,844

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 Palo Alto

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

HospitalTypeOwnershipCMS ratingEmergency
Palo Alto Va Medical Center
Palo Alto, CA
Acute Care - Veterans AdministrationGovernment and federal5 of 5Yes
Lucile Salter Packard Children's Hsp At Stanford
Palo Alto, CA
Children'sNonprofitNot 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
Mountain View, CA4 mi$65.32/hr87,316
Sunnyvale, CA6 mi$65.32/hr156,792
Redwood City, CA9 mi$62.63/hr82,982
Fremont, CA13 mi$62.63/hr228,192
San Mateo, CA15 mi$62.63/hr103,006
Union City, CA16 mi$62.63/hr66,196

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 Palo Alto

Palo Alto city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing

Common questions

How much do speech-language pathologists make in Palo Alto, CA?

Speech-Language Pathologists in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara metro area have a median pay of $65.32 per hour, about $135,860 a year. The middle half earn between $52.98 and $75.45 per hour (BLS, May 2024).

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

San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara ranks 1st of 328 metro areas for speech-language pathologist pay after adjusting for local prices, and 1st of 362 before adjusting. Overall prices run 10% above the U.S. average.

Who is hiring speech-language pathologists in Palo Alto?

We list 2 open roles with published pay from 1 employer in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara area. Your free report adds named employers and pay near Palo Alto.

Do I need a California license to work in Palo Alto 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 Palo Alto?

The federal per diem benchmark in Palo Alto is $192 a night for lodging and $92 a day for meals and incidentals, about $1,988 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 Palo Alto?

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

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What do employers near Palo Alto pay speech-language pathologists? Get the report.

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    Pay for your role at other hospitals

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    What they are offering now

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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 Palo Alto, CA
Valorem Health Shift ReportFrom your recruiting team · [email protected]

Your SLP pay reportPalo Alto, 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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