Speech-Language Pathologists Salary
The median pay for a speech-language pathologists in Modesto, CA is $116,770/year ($56.14/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $89K at the entry level to $168K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 104.11), that's roughly $112,160 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,758/month, or 24.5% of estimated take-home pay.
Where the paycheck goes
What $117K actually covers in Modesto, month by month
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Modesto’s Regional Price Parity (104.11). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About speech-language pathologists
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
What this looks like in Modesto
Modesto sits well above the national pay line for speech-language pathologists, local pay runs about 19% higher than the U.S. median of $98K. Rent runs $1,758/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 25.3% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost of living (RPP 104.11) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for speech-language pathologists in metros near Modesto, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim | $110K | $97K |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario | $119K | $111K |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont | $131K | $113K |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | $120K | $107K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Modesto, CA
Entry-level speech-language pathologists (10th percentile) start around $89K. Mid-career wages sit at $117K. Top earners bring in $168K or more, a $79K spread from bottom to top.
Speech-Language Pathologists pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Speech-Language Pathologists salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | $119K | +22% | 16,930 |
| Colorado | $111K | +13% | 4,420 |
| District of Columbia | $109K | +12% | 390 |
| Washington | $106K | +8% | 3,570 |
| Nevada | $105K | +7% | 1,270 |
| Rhode Island | $104K | +6% | 720 |
| Delaware | $103K | +5% | 690 |
| Alaska | $103K | +5% | 340 |
| Oregon | $103K | +5% | 1,600 |
| New Jersey | $102K | +4% | 6,840 |
| Massachusetts | $101K | +4% | 5,290 |
| New York | $101K | +3% | 15,310 |
| Connecticut | $100K | +2% | 2,390 |
| Florida | $100K | +2% | 10,080 |
| Texas | $100K | +2% | 19,120 |
| Maryland | $99K | +1% | 3,510 |
| New Mexico | $99K | +1% | 1,250 |
| Arizona | $98K | -0% | 3,390 |
| Hawaii | $98K | -0% | 270 |
| Georgia | $97K | -1% | 4,030 |
| Virginia | $96K | -2% | 4,460 |
| Illinois | $95K | -3% | 9,040 |
| Ohio | $93K | -5% | 7,270 |
| Pennsylvania | $93K | -5% | 6,570 |
| Utah | $92K | -6% | 1,460 |
| South Carolina | $91K | -7% | 2,190 |
| Minnesota | $89K | -9% | 3,890 |
| Missouri | $89K | -9% | 3,230 |
| Michigan | $89K | -9% | 4,730 |
| Indiana | $87K | -11% | 3,310 |
| North Carolina | $86K | -12% | 5,600 |
| Tennessee | $85K | -14% | 3,320 |
| Oklahoma | $84K | -14% | 1,870 |
| Idaho | $84K | -14% | 1,210 |
| Nebraska | $84K | -14% | 1,310 |
| Arkansas | $84K | -15% | 2,430 |
| Kentucky | $84K | -15% | 2,610 |
| New Hampshire | $83K | -15% | 720 |
| Wisconsin | $83K | -15% | 2,940 |
| Maine | $83K | -16% | 640 |
| Vermont | $82K | -16% | 430 |
| Wyoming | $82K | -16% | 240 |
| Iowa | $81K | -17% | 1,540 |
| West Virginia | $81K | -17% | 880 |
| Kansas | $80K | -18% | 1,690 |
| Montana | $79K | -20% | 490 |
| Mississippi | $78K | -20% | 1,790 |
| North Dakota | $75K | -23% | 630 |
| Alabama | $74K | -25% | 2,060 |
| Louisiana | $70K | -29% | 3,000 |
| South Dakota | $66K | -33% | 410 |
Showing 1–10 of 51 (all 50 states + DC)
Track speech-language pathologists salary changes
BLS updates this data annually. We'll email you when Modesto numbers change.
Related careers in Healthcare
Quick answers
The stuff people actually ask about this job
Can a speech-language pathologist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Modesto?
Yes — at the median salary of $117K, rent takes 25.3% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,758/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for speech-language pathologists in Modesto?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new speech-language pathologists typically earn — is $89K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $5,567/month. At HUD’s $1,758/month FMR, rent would take 32% 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 Modesto?
Local pay is 19% above the national median — $117K here vs. $98K nationally.
How does Modesto compare to the national average for speech-language pathologists?
Modesto pays $117K median vs. the U.S. average of $98K — that’s +19%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 104.11), the purchasing-power equivalent is $112K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do speech-language pathologists make in Modesto, CA?
The median is $116,770 a year, that works out to about $56 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $89,370, and experienced speech-language pathologists can clear $168,470. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $117K enough to live in Modesto?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $6,961/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,758/month, which eats 25.3% 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 Modesto?
Modesto has a Regional Price Parity of 104.11 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median speech-language pathologists salary is worth about $112,160 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.