Speech-Language Pathologists Salary
The median pay for a speech-language pathologists in West Virginia is $80,970/year ($38.93/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $63K at the entry level to $125K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 89.03), which stretches that salary to about $90,947 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,008/month, or 19.7% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across West Virginia. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $81K get you in West Virginia?
About speech-language pathologists
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What this looks like in West Virginia
Pay for speech-language pathologists in West Virginia runs about 17% below the U.S. median of $98K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,008/month, 19.5% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 89.03 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 11% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Lower pay, lower costs, West Virginia can be a reasonable trade-off for speech-language pathologistss who value affordability over top-dollar markets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, West Virginia
Entry-level speech-language pathologists (10th percentile) start around $63K. Mid-career wages sit at $81K. Top earners bring in $125K or more, a $62K spread from bottom to top.
Speech-Language Pathologists salary by metro in West Virginia
7 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wheeling | $102K | +26% | 60 |
| Huntington-Ashland | $99K | +22% | 200 |
| Parkersburg-Vienna | $82K | +1% | 30 |
| Weirton-Steubenville | $73K | -10% | 60 |
| Morgantown | $71K | -12% | 60 |
| Charleston | $69K | -15% | 110 |
| Beckley | $65K | -19% | 80 |
Compare to other states
Track speech-language pathologists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when West Virginia numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a speech-language pathologist afford a 2BR apartment alone in West Virginia?
Yes — at the median salary of $81K, rent takes 19.5% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,008/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for speech-language pathologists in West Virginia?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new speech-language pathologists typically earn — is $63K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,761/month. At HUD’s $1,008/month FMR, rent would take 27% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is speech-language pathologist a high-paying job in West Virginia?
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 West Virginia compare to the national average for speech-language pathologists?
West Virginia pays $81K median vs. the U.S. average of $98K — that’s -17%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 89.03), the purchasing-power equivalent is $91K — below the national median.
How much do speech-language pathologists make in West Virginia?
The median is $80,970 a year, that works out to about $39 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $62,690, and experienced speech-language pathologists can clear $125,160. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $81K enough to live in West Virginia?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,174/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,008/month, which eats 19.5% 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 West Virginia?
West Virginia has a Regional Price Parity of 89.03 (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 $90,947 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.