Speech-Language Pathologists Salary
The median pay for a speech-language pathologists in Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ is $98,040/year ($47.14/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $70K at the entry level to $131K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 103.32), that's roughly $94,890 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,839/month, or 29.1% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $98K get you in Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler’s Regional Price Parity (103.32). 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
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What this looks like in Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler
Speech-language pathologists pay in Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler tracks closely to the national median, $98K locally vs. $98K nationwide, a 0% difference. Rent runs $1,839/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 29.5% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost of living (RPP 103.32) 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.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for speech-language pathologists in metros near Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Tucson | $95K | $99K |
| Flagstaff | $96K | $96K |
| Prescott Valley-Prescott | $95K | $97K |
| Lake Havasu City-Kingman | $95K | $101K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ
Entry-level speech-language pathologists (10th percentile) start around $70K. Mid-career wages sit at $98K. Top earners bring in $131K or more, a $62K 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
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Frequently asked questions
Can a speech-language pathologist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler?
Yes — at the median salary of $98K, rent takes 29.5% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,839/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for speech-language pathologists in Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new speech-language pathologists typically earn — is $70K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,184/month. At HUD’s $1,839/month FMR, rent would take 44% 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 Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $98K locally vs. $98K nationally, a 0% difference.
How does Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler compare to the national average for speech-language pathologists?
Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler pays $98K median vs. the U.S. average of $98K — that’s +0%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 103.32), the purchasing-power equivalent is $95K — below the national median.
How much do speech-language pathologists make in Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ?
The median is $98,040 a year, that works out to about $47 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $69,740, and experienced speech-language pathologists can clear $131,270. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $98K enough to live in Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $6,242/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,839/month, which eats 29.5% 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 Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler?
Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler has a Regional Price Parity of 103.32 (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 $94,890 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.