Speech-Language Pathologists Salary
The median pay for a speech-language pathologists in Iowa is $81,050/year ($38.97/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $63K at the entry level to $106K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 88.86), which stretches that salary to about $91,211 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,064/month, or 20.8% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Iowa. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $81K get you in Iowa?
About speech-language pathologists
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What this looks like in Iowa
Pay for speech-language pathologists in Iowa runs about 17% below the U.S. median of $98K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,064/month, 20.9% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 88.86 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 11% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Lower pay, lower costs, Iowa can be a reasonable trade-off for speech-language pathologistss who value affordability over top-dollar markets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Iowa
Entry-level speech-language pathologists (10th percentile) start around $63K. Mid-career wages sit at $81K. Top earners bring in $106K or more, a $43K spread from bottom to top.
Speech-Language Pathologists salary by metro in Iowa
8 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dubuque | $85K | +5% | 30 |
| Des Moines-West Des Moines | $84K | +4% | 380 |
| Ames | $83K | +3% | 60 |
| Sioux City | $82K | +1% | 70 |
| Waterloo-Cedar Falls | $81K | +0% | 130 |
| Iowa City | $79K | -3% | 100 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island | $78K | -3% | 200 |
| Cedar Rapids | $78K | -4% | 80 |
Compare to other states
Track speech-language pathologists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Iowa numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a speech-language pathologist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Iowa?
Yes — at the median salary of $81K, rent takes 20.9% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,064/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for speech-language pathologists in Iowa?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new speech-language pathologists typically earn — is $63K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,796/month. At HUD’s $1,064/month FMR, rent would take 28% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is speech-language pathologist a high-paying job in Iowa?
Local pay runs 17% below the national median — $81K here vs. $98K nationally. Cost of living is 11% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Iowa compare to the national average for speech-language pathologists?
Iowa pays $81K median vs. the U.S. average of $98K — that’s -17%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 88.86), the purchasing-power equivalent is $91K — below the national median.
How much do speech-language pathologists make in Iowa?
The median is $81,050 a year, that works out to about $39 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $63,270, and experienced speech-language pathologists can clear $106,460. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $81K enough to live in Iowa?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,101/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,064/month, which eats 20.9% 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 Iowa?
Iowa has a Regional Price Parity of 88.86 (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 $91,211 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.