SC · Charleston · Updated October 15, 2026

Speech-Language Pathologist jobs in Charleston, SC

Pay for speech-language pathologists in the Charleston area centers on $45.61 per hour, or about $94,870 a year. The lower quarter earns under $35.20 and the upper quarter over $54.28. That ranks 108th of 362 U.S. metro areas for speech-language pathologist pay, and 143rd of 328 once local prices are factored in. The CMS hospital directory lists 6 hospitals in Charleston. Tell us your role and we email current openings near Charleston.

Speech-Language Pathologist pay in Charleston, SC

The metro median is 3% above the South Carolina statewide median of $44.18 per hour. Nationally the median is $45.87 per hour. BLS counts about 390 speech-language pathologists employed in the Charleston-North Charleston 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%$29.38$61,11036% below U.S. median
Lower quartile$35.20$73,22023% below U.S. median
Median$45.61$94,8701% below U.S. median
Upper quartile$54.28$112,90018% above U.S. median
Top 10%$57.22$119,02025% above U.S. median

How Charleston ranks

  • 108th of 362 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
  • 143rd of 328 after adjusting for local prices
  • 3rd of 7 South Carolina 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 Charleston

  • Overall prices in Charleston-North Charleston run 1% above the U.S. average (index 101.0, U.S. = 100).
  • Housing is the biggest driver: 20% above the U.S. average (index 119.8).
  • Adjusted for local prices, a $45.61 median hour buys what $45.18 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 Charleston, what they pay and the roles open now. Free for candidates, email only.

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Estimate your Charleston paycheck

Estimated weekly gross$1,642
  • Per year: $82,098
  • Per month: $6,842

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

Travel assignment per diem in Charleston

ItemFederal rate
Lodging per night$246
Meals and incidentals per day$92
Per week (7 nights, 7 days)$2,366
13-week assignment$30,758

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 South Carolina

Nearest open roles with published pay. Your free report adds roles in Charleston as they open.

All Speech-Language Pathologist jobs in South Carolina

Hospitals in Charleston

CMS lists 6 hospitals in Charleston, 2 of the 5 rated ones with 4 or 5 stars. Hospitals are a major employer of speech-language pathologists.

HospitalTypeOwnershipCMS ratingEmergency
Charleston Va Medical Center
Charleston, SC
Acute Care - Veterans AdministrationGovernment and federal5 of 5Yes
Roper Hospital
Charleston, SC
Acute careNonprofit4 of 5Yes
Bon Secours-St Francis Xavier Hospital
Charleston, SC
Acute careNonprofit3 of 5Yes
Trident Medical Center
Charleston, SC
Acute careFor-profit3 of 5Yes
Musc Medical Center
Charleston, SC
Acute careGovernment and federal2 of 5Yes
Palmetto Lowcountry Behavioral Health
Charleston, SC
PsychiatricFor-profitNot 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
Mount Pleasant, SC6 mi$45.61/hr95,604
North Charleston, SC8 mi$45.61/hr126,005
Savannah, GA91 mi$38.65/hr148,808
Columbia, SC100 mi$40.70/hr144,788
Augusta, GA127 mi$40.86/hr201,737
Wilmington, NC153 mi$39.02/hr125,284

Speech-Language Pathologist jobs in South Carolina · Speech-Language Pathologist jobs nationwide

License and tax basics in South Carolina

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

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

South Carolina state guide

Other healthcare roles in Charleston

Charleston city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing

Common questions

How much do speech-language pathologists make in Charleston, SC?

Speech-Language Pathologists in the Charleston-North Charleston metro area have a median pay of $45.61 per hour, about $94,870 a year. The middle half earn between $35.20 and $54.28 per hour (BLS, May 2024).

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

Charleston-North Charleston ranks 143rd of 328 metro areas for speech-language pathologist pay after adjusting for local prices, and 108th of 362 before adjusting. Overall prices run 1% above the U.S. average.

Where do speech-language pathologists work in Charleston?

CMS lists 6 hospitals in Charleston, led by Charleston Va Medical Center. Ask for the free report to see current openings and pay.

Do I need a South Carolina license to work in Charleston as a speech-language pathologist?

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

The federal per diem benchmark in Charleston is $246 a night for lodging and $92 a day for meals and incidentals, about $2,366 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 Charleston?

Yes. We place healthcare staff in Charleston and across South Carolina. Tell us your profession and we email the roles open near Charleston.

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

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Pay report · SLP near Charleston, SC
Valorem Health Shift ReportFrom your recruiting team · [email protected]

Your SLP pay reportTop-paying hospitals shown · your South Carolina 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 South Carolina list

2What they are offering now

Low$24Median$43.88High$56

3 SLP postings with published pay in South Carolina, 3 of them posted in the last 30 days. Month-by-month history by employer comes with your full report.

3Open now: 3 SLP roles

  1. Health Technician (Audiology & Speech Language Pathology)Permanent
    $50k–$66k/ year
    Veterans Health Administration · Columbia, SC · posted yesterday
  2. Speech Language Pathologist / PRNPer diem
    $53.00–$56.00/ hour
    BrightSpring Health Services · Aiken, SC · posted 6 days ago

+ 1 more in your report. Each one has pay, shift and start date.

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