Speech-Language Pathologist Salary in New Orleans, LA
Speech-Language Pathologists in the New Orleans-Metairie, LA metro area earn a median $77,420 a year — 21% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $61,359 take-home, or $5,113 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median speech-language pathologist salary in New Orleans, LA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$8,202
- Social Security (6.2%)$4,800
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,123
- Louisiana income tax$1,936
- Take-home pay$61,359
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 3.00% state
Speech-Language Pathologist pay by experience in New Orleans, LA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $63,410 | $30.49 | $51,614 | $4,301 |
| 25th percentile | $66,200 | $31.83 | $53,772 | $4,481 |
| Median (50th) | $77,420 | $37.22 | $61,359 | $5,113 |
| 75th percentile | $95,970 | $46.14 | $73,852 | $6,154 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $102,380 | $49.22 | $78,169 | $6,514 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Louisiana resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $77,420 buys in New Orleans, LA
Prices in New Orleans, LA are 7.4% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 14% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median speech-language pathologist's $61,359 take-home pay has the buying power of $66,264 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 New Orleans, LA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.04).
Best-paying cities for speech-language pathologists, adjusted for cost of living
New Orleans, LA ranks #64 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 |
| 64 | New Orleans, LA | $77,420 | $61,359 | $66,264 |
*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 Louisiana
- Baton Rouge, LA — $65,020
Frequently asked questions
How much does a speech-language pathologist make in New Orleans, LA?
The median speech-language pathologist salary in the New Orleans-Metairie, LA metro area is $77,420 a year, or about $37.22 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $66,200 and $95,970.
What is a speech-language pathologist’s take-home pay in New Orleans, LA?
On the median $77,420 salary, a single filer living in Louisiana takes home about $61,359 a year ($5,113 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,936 in Louisiana taxes in 2026.
Is New Orleans, LA a good place to work as a speech-language pathologist?
Pay here is 21% below the national median of $97,870. Local prices are 7.4% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $66,264 would in a typical U.S. city. New Orleans, LA ranks #64 of 71 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a speech-language pathologist afford rent in New Orleans, LA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in New Orleans, LA is $1,105 a month ($1,323 for two bedrooms) — 22% of a median speech-language pathologist’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in New Orleans, LA
- Physicians, All Other — $239,200+
- Pharmacist — $128,100
- Nurse Practitioner — $124,800
- Physical Therapist — $100,530
- Dental Hygienist — $93,650
- Registered Nurse — $81,850
- Respiratory Therapist — $76,590
- Radiologic Technologist and Technician — $70,740
- Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Workers, All Other — $63,240
- Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurse — $60,640
- Surgical Technologist — $58,660
- Clinical Laboratory Technologist and Technician — $55,540