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 Santa Cruz, CA
Speech-Language Pathologists in the Santa Cruz area earn a median of $52.62 per hour, about $109,450 a year, and the middle half of them earn between $44.81 and $65.22. That ranks 18th of 362 U.S. metro areas for speech-language pathologist pay, and 77th of 328 once local prices are factored in. The CMS hospital directory lists 3 hospitals in Santa Cruz. The free report below lists employers near Santa Cruz and what they pay.
- $52.62median pay per hour, Santa Cruz
- $45–$65typical range per hour
- 110employed in the metro area
- 110cost of living index (U.S. = 100)
Speech-Language Pathologist pay in Santa Cruz, CA
The metro median is 6% below the California statewide median of $55.77 per hour. Nationally the median is $45.87 per hour. BLS counts about 110 speech-language pathologists employed in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville metro area, 1.1 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is about as concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 0.96).
| Level | Per hour | Per year | Compared with U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% | $31.37 | $65,250 | 32% below U.S. median |
| Lower quartile | $44.81 | $93,200 | 2% below U.S. median |
| Median | $52.62 | $109,450 | 15% above U.S. median |
| Upper quartile | $65.22 | $135,660 | 42% above U.S. median |
| Top 10% | $72.00 | $149,760 | 57% above U.S. median |
How Santa Cruz ranks
- 18th of 362 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
- 77th of 328 after adjusting for local prices
- 15th 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 Santa Cruz
- Overall prices in Santa Cruz-Watsonville run 10% above the U.S. average (index 109.9, U.S. = 100).
- Housing is the biggest driver: 64% above the U.S. average (index 164.3).
- Adjusted for local prices, a $52.62 median hour buys what $47.88 buys at the national price level, 4% 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 Santa Cruz Speech-Language Pathologist pay report
Named employers near Santa Cruz, what they pay and the roles open now. Free for candidates, email only.
Get my free pay reportEstimate your Santa Cruz paycheck
Estimated weekly gross$1,894
- Per year: $94,716
- Per month: $7,893
Gross pay before taxes and benefits, from BLS pay levels for the Santa Cruz-Watsonville metro area. For take-home pay use the take-home pay calculator.
Travel assignment per diem in Santa Cruz
| Item | Federal rate |
|---|---|
| Lodging per night | $148 |
| Meals and incidentals per day | $86 |
| Per week (7 nights, 7 days) | $1,638 |
| 13-week assignment | $21,294 |
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).
Open Speech-Language Pathologist roles in California
Nearest open roles with published pay. Your free report adds roles in Santa Cruz 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 Santa Cruz
CMS lists 3 hospitals in Santa Cruz, 1 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dominican Hospital Santa Cruz, CA | Acute care | Nonprofit | 4 of 5 | Yes |
| Sutter Maternity & Surgery Center Of Santa Cruz Santa Cruz, CA | Acute care | Nonprofit | Not rated | No |
| Santa Cruz County Psychiatric Health Facility Santa Cruz, CA | Psychiatric | For-profit | Not rated | No |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Watsonville, CA | 15 mi | $52.62/hr | 51,320 |
| Cupertino, CA | 24 mi | $65.32/hr | 58,710 |
| Gilroy, CA | 25 mi | $65.32/hr | 60,390 |
| San Jose, CA | 25 mi | $65.32/hr | 997,368 |
| Santa Clara, CA | 27 mi | $65.32/hr | 133,132 |
| Sunnyvale, CA | 28 mi | $65.32/hr | 156,792 |
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 Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing
Common questions
How much do speech-language pathologists make in Santa Cruz, CA?
Speech-Language Pathologists in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville metro area have a median pay of $52.62 per hour, about $109,450 a year. The middle half earn between $44.81 and $65.22 per hour (BLS, May 2024).
Is Santa Cruz a good place for speech-language pathologists once cost of living is counted?
Santa Cruz-Watsonville ranks 77th of 328 metro areas for speech-language pathologist pay after adjusting for local prices, and 18th of 362 before adjusting. Overall prices run 10% above the U.S. average.
Where do speech-language pathologists work in Santa Cruz?
CMS lists 3 hospitals in Santa Cruz, led by Dominican Hospital. Ask for the free report to see current openings and pay.
Do I need a California license to work in Santa Cruz 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 Santa Cruz?
The federal per diem benchmark in Santa Cruz is $148 a night for lodging and $86 a day for meals and incidentals, about $1,638 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 Santa Cruz?
Yes. We place healthcare staff in Santa Cruz and across California. Tell us your profession and we email the roles open near Santa Cruz.
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What do employers near Santa Cruz 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 reportSanta Cruz, 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.