Speech-Language Pathologist Salary in Los Angeles, CA
Speech-Language Pathologists in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area earn a median $109,740 a year — 12% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $78,629 take-home, or $6,552 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median speech-language pathologist salary in Los Angeles, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$15,313
- Social Security (6.2%)$6,804
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,591
- California income tax$5,976
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$1,427
- Take-home pay$78,629
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 9.30% state
Speech-Language Pathologist pay by experience in Los Angeles, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $79,490 | $38.22 | $60,555 | $5,046 |
| 25th percentile | $91,570 | $44.02 | $67,773 | $5,648 |
| Median (50th) | $109,740 | $52.76 | $78,629 | $6,552 |
| 75th percentile | $133,360 | $64.12 | $92,511 | $7,709 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $160,430 | $77.13 | $108,144 | $9,012 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $109,740 buys in Los Angeles, CA
Prices in Los Angeles, CA are 13.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.70× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median speech-language pathologist's $78,629 take-home pay has the buying power of $69,237 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Speech-Language Pathologist jobs are less concentrated in Los Angeles, CA than nationally (location quotient 0.65), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for speech-language pathologists, adjusted for cost of living
Los Angeles, CA ranks #56 of 71 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | El Paso, TX | $99,430 | $78,779 | $87,618 |
| 2 | Austin, TX | $106,290 | $83,605 | $85,254 |
| 3 | Louisville, KY | $103,420 | $78,084 | $83,894 |
| 4 | McAllen, TX | $89,860 | $72,047 | $83,877 |
| 5 | San Jose, CA | $132,720 | $92,141 | $83,444 |
| 6 | Sacramento, CA | $126,360 | $88,468 | $82,937 |
| 7 | Las Vegas, NV | $104,510 | $82,353 | $82,176 |
| 8 | Cleveland, OH | $98,900 | $76,469 | $81,416 |
| 56 | Los Angeles, CA | $109,740 | $78,629 | $69,237 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 71 metros →
Speech-Language Pathologist salaries elsewhere in California
- San Jose, CA — $132,720
- Sacramento, CA — $126,360
- Riverside, CA — $118,560
- San Francisco, CA — $130,850
- Fresno, CA — $110,960
- San Diego, CA — $119,690
- Oxnard, CA — $115,060
Frequently asked questions
How much does a speech-language pathologist make in Los Angeles, CA?
The median speech-language pathologist salary in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area is $109,740 a year, or about $52.76 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $91,570 and $133,360.
What is a speech-language pathologist’s take-home pay in Los Angeles, CA?
On the median $109,740 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $78,629 a year ($6,552 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $7,403 in California taxes in 2026.
Is Los Angeles, CA a good place to work as a speech-language pathologist?
Pay here is 12% above the national median of $97,870. Local prices are 13.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $69,237 would in a typical U.S. city. Los Angeles, CA ranks #56 of 71 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a speech-language pathologist afford rent in Los Angeles, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Los Angeles, CA is $2,245 a month ($2,755 for two bedrooms) — 34% of a median speech-language pathologist’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
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