Speech-Language Pathologist Salary in Louisville, KY
Speech-Language Pathologists in the Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN metro area earn a median $103,420 a year — 6% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $78,084 take-home, or $6,507 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median speech-language pathologist salary in Louisville, KY. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$13,922
- Social Security (6.2%)$6,412
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,500
- Kentucky income tax$3,502
- Take-home pay$78,084
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 3.50% state
The Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN metro spans Kentucky, Indiana. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Speech-Language Pathologist pay by experience in Louisville, KY
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $66,650 | $32.04 | $53,503 | $4,459 |
| 25th percentile | $79,900 | $38.41 | $62,361 | $5,197 |
| Median (50th) | $103,420 | $49.72 | $78,084 | $6,507 |
| 75th percentile | $121,180 | $58.26 | $89,956 | $7,496 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $142,030 | $68.28 | $103,490 | $8,624 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Kentucky resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $103,420 buys in Louisville, KY
Prices in Louisville, KY are 6.9% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 21% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median speech-language pathologist's $78,084 take-home pay has the buying power of $83,894 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 about as common in Louisville, KY as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.88).
Best-paying cities for speech-language pathologists, adjusted for cost of living
Louisville, KY ranks #3 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 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 71 metros →
Frequently asked questions
How much does a speech-language pathologist make in Louisville, KY?
The median speech-language pathologist salary in the Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN metro area is $103,420 a year, or about $49.72 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $79,900 and $121,180.
What is a speech-language pathologist’s take-home pay in Louisville, KY?
On the median $103,420 salary, a single filer living in Kentucky takes home about $78,084 a year ($6,507 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $3,502 in Kentucky taxes in 2026.
Is Louisville, KY a good place to work as a speech-language pathologist?
Pay here is 6% above the national median of $97,870. Local prices are 6.9% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $83,894 would in a typical U.S. city. Louisville, KY ranks #3 of 71 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a speech-language pathologist afford rent in Louisville, KY?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Louisville, KY is $1,026 a month ($1,248 for two bedrooms) — 16% of a median speech-language pathologist’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
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