Speech-Language Pathologist Salary in Nashville, TN
Speech-Language Pathologists in the Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN metro area earn a median $83,780 a year — 14% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $67,769 take-home, or $5,647 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median speech-language pathologist salary in Nashville, TN. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$9,602
- Social Security (6.2%)$5,194
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,215
- Tennessee income tax$0
- Take-home pay$67,769
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 0.00% state
Speech-Language Pathologist pay by experience in Nashville, TN
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $61,190 | $29.42 | $51,346 | $4,279 |
| 25th percentile | $65,550 | $31.51 | $54,849 | $4,571 |
| Median (50th) | $83,780 | $40.28 | $67,769 | $5,647 |
| 75th percentile | $103,780 | $49.89 | $81,839 | $6,820 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $112,020 | $53.86 | $87,636 | $7,303 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Tennessee resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $83,780 buys in Nashville, TN
Prices in Nashville, TN are 3.7% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.05× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median speech-language pathologist's $67,769 take-home pay has the buying power of $70,345 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 Nashville, TN than nationally (location quotient 0.75), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for speech-language pathologists, adjusted for cost of living
Nashville, TN ranks #51 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 |
| 51 | Nashville, TN | $83,780 | $67,769 | $70,345 |
*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
- Memphis, TN — $86,120
Frequently asked questions
How much does a speech-language pathologist make in Nashville, TN?
The median speech-language pathologist salary in the Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN metro area is $83,780 a year, or about $40.28 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $65,550 and $103,780.
What is a speech-language pathologist’s take-home pay in Nashville, TN?
On the median $83,780 salary, a single filer living in Tennessee takes home about $67,769 a year ($5,647 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Nashville, TN a good place to work as a speech-language pathologist?
Pay here is 14% below the national median of $97,870. Local prices are 3.7% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $70,345 would in a typical U.S. city. Nashville, TN ranks #51 of 71 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a speech-language pathologist afford rent in Nashville, TN?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Nashville, TN is $1,530 a month ($1,685 for two bedrooms) — 27% of a median speech-language pathologist’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
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