Speech-Language Pathologists Salary
The median pay for a speech-language pathologists in Arkansas is $83,580/year ($40.18/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $56K at the entry level to $134K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 87.64), which stretches that salary to about $95,367 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,021/month, or 19.3% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Arkansas. Jump to a metro for precise data:
Where the paycheck goes
What $84K actually covers in Arkansas, month by month
About speech-language pathologists
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What this looks like in Arkansas
Pay for speech-language pathologists in Arkansas runs about 15% below the U.S. median of $98K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,021/month, 19.1% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 87.64 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 12% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Lower pay, lower costs, Arkansas can be a reasonable trade-off for speech-language pathologists who value affordability over top-dollar markets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Arkansas
Entry-level speech-language pathologists (10th percentile) start around $56K. Mid-career wages sit at $84K. Top earners bring in $134K or more, a $78K spread from bottom to top.
Speech-Language Pathologists salary by metro in Arkansas
5 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jonesboro | $91K | +9% | 240 |
| Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway | $86K | +3% | 810 |
| Fort Smith | $81K | -3% | 150 |
| Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers | $81K | -4% | 440 |
| Hot Springs | $79K | -5% | 60 |
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BLS updates this data annually. We'll email you when Arkansas numbers change.
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Quick answers
The stuff people actually ask about this job
Can a speech-language pathologist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Arkansas?
Yes — at the median salary of $84K, rent takes 19.1% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,021/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for speech-language pathologists in Arkansas?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new speech-language pathologists typically earn — is $56K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,767/month. At HUD’s $1,021/month FMR, rent would take 27% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is speech-language pathologist a high-paying job in Arkansas?
Local pay runs 15% below the national median — $84K here vs. $98K nationally. Cost of living is 12% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Arkansas compare to the national average for speech-language pathologists?
Arkansas pays $84K median vs. the U.S. average of $98K — that’s -15%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 87.64), the purchasing-power equivalent is $95K — below the national median.
How much do speech-language pathologists make in Arkansas?
The median is $83,580 a year, that works out to about $40 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $56,250, and experienced speech-language pathologists can clear $134,420. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $84K enough to live in Arkansas?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,341/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,021/month, which eats 19.1% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a speech-language pathologists salary go in Arkansas?
Arkansas has a Regional Price Parity of 87.64 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median speech-language pathologists salary is worth about $95,367 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do speech-language pathologists get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.