Speech-Language Pathologists Salary
The median pay for a speech-language pathologists in Pennsylvania is $92,960/year ($44.69/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $61K at the entry level to $131K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 94.97), which stretches that salary to about $97,884 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,351/month, or 22.5% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Pennsylvania. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $93K get you in Pennsylvania?
About speech-language pathologists
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What this looks like in Pennsylvania
Speech-language pathologists pay in Pennsylvania tracks closely to the national median, $93K locally vs. $98K nationwide, a 5% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,351/month, 22.9% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 94.97 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 5% 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, Pennsylvania
Entry-level speech-language pathologists (10th percentile) start around $61K. Mid-career wages sit at $93K. Top earners bring in $131K or more, a $70K spread from bottom to top.
Speech-Language Pathologists salary by metro in Pennsylvania
16 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gettysburg | $104K | +12% | 50 |
| Lancaster | $104K | +12% | 300 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington | $100K | +8% | 3,330 |
| Chambersburg | $100K | +7% | 70 |
| State College | $96K | +4% | 40 |
| York-Hanover | $96K | +4% | 190 |
| Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton | $96K | +3% | 550 |
| Lebanon | $96K | +3% | 40 |
| Scranton--Wilkes-Barre | $93K | +0% | 300 |
| Reading | $93K | -0% | 170 |
| Harrisburg-Carlisle | $90K | -4% | 410 |
| Altoona | $86K | -7% | 100 |
| Williamsport | $86K | -8% | 60 |
| Erie | $84K | -9% | 140 |
| Johnstown | $84K | -10% | 70 |
| Pittsburgh | $82K | -12% | 1,300 |
Showing 1–10 of 16 metros
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BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Pennsylvania numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a speech-language pathologist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Pennsylvania?
Yes — at the median salary of $93K, rent takes 22.9% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,351/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for speech-language pathologists in Pennsylvania?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new speech-language pathologists typically earn — is $61K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,639/month. At HUD’s $1,351/month FMR, rent would take 37% 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 Pennsylvania?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $93K locally vs. $98K nationally, a 5% difference.
How does Pennsylvania compare to the national average for speech-language pathologists?
Pennsylvania pays $93K median vs. the U.S. average of $98K — that’s -5%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 94.97), the purchasing-power equivalent is $98K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do speech-language pathologists make in Pennsylvania?
The median is $92,960 a year, that works out to about $45 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $60,650, and experienced speech-language pathologists can clear $130,780. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $93K enough to live in Pennsylvania?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,911/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,351/month, which eats 22.9% 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 Pennsylvania?
Pennsylvania has a Regional Price Parity of 94.97 (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 $97,884 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.