Speech-Language Pathologists Salary
The median pay for a speech-language pathologists in Georgia is $96,760/year ($46.52/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $60K at the entry level to $126K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 91.89), which stretches that salary to about $105,300 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,434/month, or 23.4% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Georgia. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $97K get you in Georgia?
About speech-language pathologists
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
What this looks like in Georgia
Speech-language pathologists pay in Georgia tracks closely to the national median, $97K locally vs. $98K nationwide, a 1% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,434/month, 24% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 91.89 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 8% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Georgia
Entry-level speech-language pathologists (10th percentile) start around $60K. Mid-career wages sit at $97K. Top earners bring in $126K or more, a $66K spread from bottom to top.
Speech-Language Pathologists salary by metro in Georgia
12 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell | $103K | +6% | 2,410 |
| Brunswick-St. Simons | $100K | +4% | 50 |
| Athens-Clarke County | $94K | -3% | 70 |
| Columbus | $94K | -3% | 140 |
| Rome | $85K | -12% | 50 |
| Savannah | $83K | -14% | 210 |
| Augusta-Richmond County | $83K | -14% | 260 |
| Warner Robins | $83K | -15% | 60 |
| Macon-Bibb County | $82K | -15% | 100 |
| Albany | $79K | -18% | 30 |
| Gainesville | $77K | -20% | 50 |
| Valdosta | $71K | -27% | 70 |
Showing 1–10 of 12 metros
Compare to other states
Track speech-language pathologists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Georgia numbers change.
Related careers in Healthcare
Frequently asked questions
Can a speech-language pathologist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Georgia?
Yes — at the median salary of $97K, rent takes 24% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,434/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for speech-language pathologists in Georgia?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new speech-language pathologists typically earn — is $60K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,588/month. At HUD’s $1,434/month FMR, rent would take 40% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is speech-language pathologist a high-paying job in Georgia?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $97K locally vs. $98K nationally, a 1% difference.
How does Georgia compare to the national average for speech-language pathologists?
Georgia pays $97K median vs. the U.S. average of $98K — that’s -1%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 91.89), the purchasing-power equivalent is $105K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do speech-language pathologists make in Georgia?
The median is $96,760 a year, that works out to about $47 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $59,800, and experienced speech-language pathologists can clear $125,550. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $97K enough to live in Georgia?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,966/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,434/month, which eats 24% 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 Georgia?
Georgia has a Regional Price Parity of 91.89 (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 $105,300 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.