Speech-Language Pathologist Salary in Riverside, CA
Speech-Language Pathologists in the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA metro area earn a median $118,560 a year — 21% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $83,899 take-home, or $6,992 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median speech-language pathologist salary in Riverside, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$17,253
- Social Security (6.2%)$7,351
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,719
- California income tax$6,796
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$1,541
- Take-home pay$83,899
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 9.30% state
Speech-Language Pathologist pay by experience in Riverside, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $59,590 | $28.65 | $47,661 | $3,972 |
| 25th percentile | $90,170 | $43.35 | $66,936 | $5,578 |
| Median (50th) | $118,560 | $57.00 | $83,899 | $6,992 |
| 75th percentile | $131,890 | $63.41 | $91,662 | $7,639 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $146,240 | $70.31 | $99,949 | $8,329 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $118,560 buys in Riverside, CA
Prices in Riverside, CA are 6.4% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.29× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median speech-language pathologist's $83,899 take-home pay has the buying power of $78,822 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 Riverside, CA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.05).
Best-paying cities for speech-language pathologists, adjusted for cost of living
Riverside, CA ranks #14 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 |
| 14 | Riverside, CA | $118,560 | $83,899 | $78,822 |
*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
- San Francisco, CA — $130,850
- Fresno, CA — $110,960
- San Diego, CA — $119,690
- Oxnard, CA — $115,060
- Los Angeles, CA — $109,740
Frequently asked questions
How much does a speech-language pathologist make in Riverside, CA?
The median speech-language pathologist salary in the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA metro area is $118,560 a year, or about $57.00 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $90,170 and $131,890.
What is a speech-language pathologist’s take-home pay in Riverside, CA?
On the median $118,560 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $83,899 a year ($6,992 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $8,338 in California taxes in 2026.
Is Riverside, CA a good place to work as a speech-language pathologist?
Pay here is 21% above the national median of $97,870. Local prices are 6.4% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $78,822 would in a typical U.S. city. Riverside, CA ranks #14 of 71 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a speech-language pathologist afford rent in Riverside, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Riverside, CA is $1,777 a month ($2,201 for two bedrooms) — 25% of a median speech-language pathologist’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Riverside, CA
- Psychiatrist — $239,200+
- Physicians, All Other — $239,200+
- Nurse Practitioner — $169,920
- Physician Assistant — $165,490
- Pharmacist — $161,870
- Veterinarian — $160,860
- Registered Nurse — $133,940
- Optometrist — $129,990
- Dentists, General — $125,230
- Physical Therapist — $120,110
- Occupational Therapist — $119,530
- Diagnostic Medical Sonographer — $105,860