Speech-Language Pathologists Salary
The median pay for a speech-language pathologists in Illinois is $95,080/year ($45.71/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $61K at the entry level to $124K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 93.85), which stretches that salary to about $101,311 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,407/month, or 23.4% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Illinois. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $95K get you in Illinois?
About speech-language pathologists
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What this looks like in Illinois
Speech-language pathologists pay in Illinois tracks closely to the national median, $95K locally vs. $98K nationwide, a 3% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,407/month, 23.9% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 93.85 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 6% 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, Illinois
Entry-level speech-language pathologists (10th percentile) start around $61K. Mid-career wages sit at $95K. Top earners bring in $124K or more, a $63K spread from bottom to top.
Speech-Language Pathologists salary by metro in Illinois
8 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin | $98K | +4% | 7,150 |
| Rockford | $97K | +2% | 190 |
| Bloomington | $84K | -11% | 130 |
| Champaign-Urbana | $83K | -13% | 150 |
| Springfield | $82K | -13% | 160 |
| Peoria | $82K | -14% | 210 |
| Decatur | $82K | -14% | 50 |
| Kankakee | $77K | -19% | 50 |
Compare to other states
Track speech-language pathologists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Illinois numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a speech-language pathologist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Illinois?
Yes — at the median salary of $95K, rent takes 23.9% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,407/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for speech-language pathologists in Illinois?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new speech-language pathologists typically earn — is $61K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,652/month. At HUD’s $1,407/month FMR, rent would take 39% 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 Illinois?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $95K locally vs. $98K nationally, a 3% difference.
How does Illinois compare to the national average for speech-language pathologists?
Illinois pays $95K median vs. the U.S. average of $98K — that’s -3%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 93.85), the purchasing-power equivalent is $101K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do speech-language pathologists make in Illinois?
The median is $95,080 a year, that works out to about $46 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $60,870, and experienced speech-language pathologists can clear $123,800. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $95K enough to live in Illinois?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,881/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,407/month, which eats 23.9% 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 Illinois?
Illinois has a Regional Price Parity of 93.85 (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 $101,311 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.