IA · Cedar Rapids · Updated October 15, 2026

Speech-Language Pathologist jobs in Cedar Rapids, IA

Speech-Language Pathologists in the Cedar Rapids area earn a median of $39.96 per hour, about $83,110 a year, and the middle half of them earn between $32.81 and $42.49. That ranks 210th of 362 U.S. metro areas for speech-language pathologist pay, and 150th of 328 once local prices are factored in. The CMS hospital directory lists 2 hospitals in Cedar Rapids. The free report below lists employers near Cedar Rapids and what they pay.

Speech-Language Pathologist pay in Cedar Rapids, IA

The metro median is 2% above the Iowa statewide median of $39.00 per hour. Nationally the median is $45.87 per hour. BLS counts about 140 speech-language pathologists employed in the Cedar Rapids metro area, 1.0 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is less concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 0.87).

LevelPer hourPer yearCompared with U.S.
Lowest 10%$27.00$56,16041% below U.S. median
Lower quartile$32.81$68,24028% below U.S. median
Median$39.96$83,11013% below U.S. median
Upper quartile$42.49$88,3807% below U.S. median
Top 10%$51.29$106,68012% above U.S. median

How Cedar Rapids ranks

  • 210th of 362 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
  • 150th of 328 after adjusting for local prices
  • 3rd of 8 Iowa 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 Cedar Rapids

  • Overall prices in Cedar Rapids run 11% below the U.S. average (index 89.0, U.S. = 100).
  • Housing is the biggest driver: 29% below the U.S. average (index 71.4).
  • Adjusted for local prices, a $39.96 median hour buys what $44.92 buys at the national price level, 2% below 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.

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

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Estimate your Cedar Rapids paycheck

Estimated weekly gross$1,439
  • Per year: $71,928
  • Per month: $5,994

Gross pay before taxes and benefits, from BLS pay levels for the Cedar Rapids metro area. For take-home pay use the take-home pay calculator.

Travel assignment per diem in Cedar Rapids

ItemFederal 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).

Hospitals in Cedar Rapids

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

HospitalTypeOwnershipCMS ratingEmergency
Mercy Medical Center - Cedar Rapids
Cedar Rapids, IA
Acute careNonprofit4 of 5Yes
St Lukes Hospital
Cedar Rapids, IA
Acute careNonprofit4 of 5Yes

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
Iowa City, IA23 mi$39.54/hr76,710
Waterloo, IA50 mi$36.58/hr67,477
Dubuque, IA62 mi$40.98/hr58,987
Davenport, IA62 mi$36.33/hr100,938
Ames, IA100 mi$39.94/hr69,026
Ankeny, IA100 mi$46.11/hr76,727

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

License and tax basics in Iowa

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

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

Iowa state guide

Other healthcare roles in Cedar Rapids

Cedar Rapids city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing

Common questions

How much do speech-language pathologists make in Cedar Rapids, IA?

Speech-Language Pathologists in the Cedar Rapids metro area have a median pay of $39.96 per hour, about $83,110 a year. The middle half earn between $32.81 and $42.49 per hour (BLS, May 2024).

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

Cedar Rapids ranks 150th of 328 metro areas for speech-language pathologist pay after adjusting for local prices, and 210th of 362 before adjusting. Overall prices run 11% below the U.S. average.

Where do speech-language pathologists work in Cedar Rapids?

CMS lists 2 hospitals in Cedar Rapids, led by Mercy Medical Center - Cedar Rapids. Ask for the free report to see current openings and pay.

Do I need a Iowa license to work in Cedar Rapids as a speech-language pathologist?

Master’s degree in speech-language pathology. Credentials are issued state by state, so confirm what Iowa requires for your role with the Iowa 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 Cedar Rapids?

The federal per diem benchmark in Cedar Rapids 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 Cedar Rapids?

Yes. We place healthcare staff in Cedar Rapids and across Iowa. Tell us your profession and we email the roles open near Cedar Rapids.

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What do employers near Cedar Rapids 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 Cedar Rapids, IA
Valorem Health Shift ReportFrom your recruiting team · [email protected]

Your SLP pay reportTop-paying hospitals shown · your Iowa list by name comes with the full report

1Pay for your role at other hospitals

  • AmedisysButler, GA · 3 postings$73.50/ hr$49–$85
  • BrightSpring Health ServicesESCONDIDO, CA · 7 postings$62.50/ hr$60–$65
  • CommonSpirit HealthOXNARD, CA · 5 postings$61.91/ hr$50–$77
  • Seattle Children'sSeattle, WA · 4 postings$60.17/ hr$48–$79

Median posted pay per hour, with the range each employer published. Request your Iowa list

2What they are offering now

Low$36Median$49.00High$62

203 SLP postings with published pay in the US, 154 of them posted in the last 30 days. Month-by-month history by employer comes with your full report.

3Open SLP roles

Open SLP roles near Cedar Rapids, IA, each with pay, shift and start date, arrive with your report.

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