Speech-Language Pathologist Salary in Memphis, TN
Speech-Language Pathologists in the Memphis, TN-MS-AR metro area earn a median $86,120 a year — 12% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $69,415 take-home, or $5,785 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median speech-language pathologist salary in Memphis, TN. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$10,116
- Social Security (6.2%)$5,339
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,249
- Tennessee income tax$0
- Take-home pay$69,415
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 0.00% state
The Memphis, TN-MS-AR metro spans Tennessee, Mississippi, Arkansas. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Speech-Language Pathologist pay by experience in Memphis, TN
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $59,310 | $28.51 | $49,836 | $4,153 |
| 25th percentile | $63,090 | $30.33 | $52,873 | $4,406 |
| Median (50th) | $86,120 | $41.40 | $69,415 | $5,785 |
| 75th percentile | $102,260 | $49.16 | $80,770 | $6,731 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $117,530 | $56.50 | $91,512 | $7,626 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Tennessee resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $86,120 buys in Memphis, TN
Prices in Memphis, TN are 7.8% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 20% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median speech-language pathologist's $69,415 take-home pay has the buying power of $75,305 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 Memphis, TN than nationally (location quotient 0.64), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for speech-language pathologists, adjusted for cost of living
Memphis, TN ranks #28 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 |
| 28 | Memphis, TN | $86,120 | $69,415 | $75,305 |
*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 Tennessee
- Nashville, TN — $83,780
Frequently asked questions
How much does a speech-language pathologist make in Memphis, TN?
The median speech-language pathologist salary in the Memphis, TN-MS-AR metro area is $86,120 a year, or about $41.40 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $63,090 and $102,260.
What is a speech-language pathologist’s take-home pay in Memphis, TN?
On the median $86,120 salary, a single filer living in Tennessee takes home about $69,415 a year ($5,785 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Memphis, TN a good place to work as a speech-language pathologist?
Pay here is 12% below the national median of $97,870. Local prices are 7.8% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $75,305 would in a typical U.S. city. Memphis, TN ranks #28 of 71 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a speech-language pathologist afford rent in Memphis, TN?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Memphis, TN is $1,137 a month ($1,263 for two bedrooms) — 20% of a median speech-language pathologist’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Memphis, TN
- Physicians, All Other — $239,200+
- Pharmacist — $134,220
- Nurse Practitioner — $124,600
- Physical Therapist — $100,000
- Registered Nurse — $81,500
- Dental Hygienist — $78,580
- Paramedic — $66,830
- Respiratory Therapist — $66,460
- Radiologic Technologist and Technician — $66,320
- Clinical Laboratory Technologist and Technician — $64,000
- Surgical Technologist — $61,150
- Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurse — $59,140