Speech-Language Pathologists Salary
The median pay for a speech-language pathologists in Wisconsin is $83,000/year ($39.9/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $61K at the entry level to $108K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 94.33), which stretches that salary to about $87,989 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,202/month, or 22.9% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Wisconsin. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $83K get you in Wisconsin?
About speech-language pathologists
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What this looks like in Wisconsin
Pay for speech-language pathologists in Wisconsin runs about 15% below the U.S. median of $98K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,202/month, 22.7% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 94.33 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 6% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Lower pay, lower costs, Wisconsin can be a reasonable trade-off for speech-language pathologistss who value affordability over top-dollar markets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Wisconsin
Entry-level speech-language pathologists (10th percentile) start around $61K. Mid-career wages sit at $83K. Top earners bring in $108K or more, a $47K spread from bottom to top.
Speech-Language Pathologists salary by metro in Wisconsin
13 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Milwaukee-Waukesha | $88K | +6% | 1,000 |
| Madison | $87K | +5% | 410 |
| Appleton | $82K | -1% | 90 |
| Racine-Mount Pleasant | $82K | -1% | 70 |
| Fond du Lac | $82K | -2% | 50 |
| Green Bay | $81K | -3% | 180 |
| La Crosse-Onalaska | $79K | -4% | 100 |
| Sheboygan | $79K | -5% | 50 |
| Oshkosh-Neenah | $79K | -5% | 70 |
| Kenosha | $79K | -5% | 80 |
| Janesville-Beloit | $78K | -6% | 80 |
| Wausau | $78K | -6% | 60 |
| Eau Claire | $76K | -9% | 100 |
Showing 1–10 of 13 metros
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BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Wisconsin numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a speech-language pathologist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Wisconsin?
Yes — at the median salary of $83K, rent takes 22.7% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,202/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for speech-language pathologists in Wisconsin?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new speech-language pathologists typically earn — is $61K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,679/month. At HUD’s $1,202/month FMR, rent would take 33% 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 Wisconsin?
Local pay runs 15% below the national median — $83K here vs. $98K nationally. Cost of living is 6% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Wisconsin compare to the national average for speech-language pathologists?
Wisconsin pays $83K median vs. the U.S. average of $98K — that’s -15%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 94.33), the purchasing-power equivalent is $88K — below the national median.
How much do speech-language pathologists make in Wisconsin?
The median is $83,000 a year, that works out to about $40 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $61,320, and experienced speech-language pathologists can clear $108,360. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $83K enough to live in Wisconsin?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,285/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,202/month, which eats 22.7% 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 Wisconsin?
Wisconsin has a Regional Price Parity of 94.33 (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 $87,989 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.