Speech-Language Pathologists Salary
The median pay for a speech-language pathologists in New Jersey is $101,560/year ($48.83/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $72K at the entry level to $167K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 99.34), that's roughly $102,235 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $2,067/month, about 33.1% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across New Jersey. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $102K get you in New Jersey?
About speech-language pathologists
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What this looks like in New Jersey
Speech-language pathologists pay in New Jersey tracks closely to the national median, $102K locally vs. $98K nationwide, a 4% difference. Rent runs $2,067/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 32.9% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost of living (RPP 99.34) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Pay and costs are both near average, leaving limited margin for savings at the median wage.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, New Jersey
Entry-level speech-language pathologists (10th percentile) start around $72K. Mid-career wages sit at $102K. Top earners bring in $167K or more, a $96K spread from bottom to top.
Speech-Language Pathologists salary by metro in New Jersey
3 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trenton-Princeton | $95K | -7% | 270 |
| Vineland | $88K | -13% | 70 |
| Atlantic City-Hammonton | $86K | -16% | 170 |
Compare to other states
Track speech-language pathologists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when New Jersey numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a speech-language pathologist afford a 2BR apartment alone in New Jersey?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $102K, rent takes 32.9% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,067/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,900/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for speech-language pathologists in New Jersey?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new speech-language pathologists typically earn — is $72K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,297/month. At HUD’s $2,067/month FMR, rent would take 48% 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 New Jersey?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $102K locally vs. $98K nationally, a 4% difference.
How does New Jersey compare to the national average for speech-language pathologists?
New Jersey pays $102K median vs. the U.S. average of $98K — that’s +4%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 99.34), the purchasing-power equivalent is $102K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do speech-language pathologists make in New Jersey?
The median is $101,560 a year, that works out to about $49 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $71,620, and experienced speech-language pathologists can clear $167,230. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $102K enough to live in New Jersey?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $6,291/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,067/month, which eats 32.9% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a speech-language pathologists salary go in New Jersey?
New Jersey has a Regional Price Parity of 99.34 (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 $102,235 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.