Speech-Language Pathologist salary in California
Speech-Language Pathologists in California earn a median of $55.77 per hour, about $116,000 a year, 22% above the U.S. median of $45.87. The middle half earn between $46.07 and $63.65 per hour. The highest median among California metro areas is in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA, at $65.32 per hour. Source: BLS, May 2024.
- $55.77median pay per hour
- $116,000median pay per year
- 14,680employed in California
- #1of 50 states by median pay
Speech-Language Pathologist pay in California: percentiles
| Level | California per hour | California per year | U.S. per hour |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% | $32.28 | $67,140 | $29.08 |
| Lower quartile | $46.07 | $95,830 | $36.21 |
| Median | $55.77 | $116,000 | $45.87 |
| Upper quartile | $63.65 | $132,390 | $54.09 |
| Top 10% | $74.01 | $153,940 | $63.87 |
Speech-Language Pathologist pay by metro area in California
| Metro area | Median / hr | Median / year | Employed | vs California median | After cost of living |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $65.32 | $135,860 | 630 | 17% above | $59.15 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $62.63 | $130,270 | 1,930 | 12% above | $54.17 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $61.87 | $128,700 | 160 | 11% above | $56.87 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $59.71 | $124,190 | 410 | 7% above | $54.02 |
| Salinas, CA | $59.64 | $124,050 | 150 | 7% above | $54.69 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $59.41 | $123,560 | 130 | 7% above | $55.12 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $58.89 | $122,490 | 750 | 6% above | $55.21 |
| El Centro, CA | $58.70 | $122,100 | 40 | 5% above | — |
| Merced, CA | $57.42 | $119,430 | 80 | 3% above | $58.43 |
| Yuba City, CA | $57.16 | $118,890 | 50 | 2% above | $54.84 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $56.05 | $116,590 | 330 | 1% above | $53.34 |
| Chico, CA | $55.71 | $115,870 | 100 | in line with | $55.05 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $55.48 | $115,390 | 1,800 | 1% below | $52.12 |
| Vallejo, CA | $54.10 | $112,520 | 140 | 3% below | $49.87 |
| Modesto, CA | $54.00 | $112,320 | 140 | 3% below | $51.87 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $52.62 | $109,450 | 110 | 6% below | $47.88 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $52.48 | $109,170 | 4,370 | 6% below | $46.21 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $52.22 | $108,630 | 90 | 6% below | $48.09 |
| Fresno, CA | $52.17 | $108,500 | 570 | 6% below | $51.07 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $51.53 | $107,180 | 1,560 | 8% below | $46.06 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $50.88 | $105,830 | 280 | 9% below | $50.43 |
| Redding, CA | $48.73 | $101,350 | 70 | 13% below | $48.40 |
| Visalia, CA | $47.97 | $99,770 | 200 | 14% below | $48.05 |
Metro areas with 30 or more workers in the BLS sample. After cost of living divides the median by the BEA regional price index (U.S. = 100).
Speech-Language Pathologist pay in states next to California
What employers are posting in California
- 25roles with published pay
- $61.91median pay per hour
- $50–$72typical published range
- 10employers hiring
| Employer | Roles | Median pay / hour |
|---|---|---|
| BrightSpring Health Services | 7 | $62.50 |
| CommonSpirit Health | 5 | $61.91 |
| LifePoint Health | 4 | $51.70 |
| Marshall Medical Center | 2 | $48.25 |
| El Camino Health | 2 | $77.32 |
| Sharp HealthCare | 1 | $59.96 |
| Military Treatment Facilities under DHA | 1 | $61.87 |
| Sharp Healthcare | 1 | $59.96 |
Midpoints of pay ranges in 25 postings collected October 15, 2026. Posted pay is a different measure from the BLS survey above and can run higher or lower.
Speech-Language Pathologist jobs in California · Speech-Language Pathologist salary nationwide · California state guide
Common questions
How much does a speech-language pathologist make in California?
The median is $55.77 per hour, about $116,000 a year. The lowest 10% earn under $32.28 and the top 10% earn over $74.01 (BLS, May 2024).
Which California city pays speech-language pathologists the most?
Among California metro areas, San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA has the highest median at $65.32 per hour. See the metro table for the rest and for pay after cost of living.
Where does California rank for speech-language pathologist pay?
California ranks 1st of 50 states by median speech-language pathologist pay.
Is this the same as the pay in job postings?
No. BLS figures come from a survey of employers and cover all workers in the occupation. Posted pay is the range an employer lists on one open role. Both are useful: use the survey for the market and the posting for a specific job.
What do employers near you pay speech-language pathologists? Get the report.
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- 1Pay for your role at other hospitals
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Your SLP pay reportCalifornia · 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
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.