Speech-Language Pathologist Salary in Sacramento, CA
Speech-Language Pathologists in the Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA metro area earn a median $126,360 a year — 29% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $88,468 take-home, or $7,372 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median speech-language pathologist salary in Sacramento, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$19,060
- Social Security (6.2%)$7,834
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,832
- California income tax$7,522
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$1,643
- Take-home pay$88,468
Marginal rate: 24% federal + 9.30% state
Speech-Language Pathologist pay by experience in Sacramento, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $85,030 | $40.88 | $63,865 | $5,322 |
| 25th percentile | $102,610 | $49.33 | $74,369 | $6,197 |
| Median (50th) | $126,360 | $60.75 | $88,468 | $7,372 |
| 75th percentile | $137,300 | $66.01 | $94,786 | $7,899 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $148,300 | $71.30 | $101,139 | $8,428 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $126,360 buys in Sacramento, CA
Prices in Sacramento, CA are 6.7% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.30× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median speech-language pathologist's $88,468 take-home pay has the buying power of $82,937 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 Sacramento, CA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.81).
Best-paying cities for speech-language pathologists, adjusted for cost of living
Sacramento, CA ranks #6 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 →
Speech-Language Pathologist salaries elsewhere in California
- San Jose, CA — $132,720
- Riverside, CA — $118,560
- 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 Sacramento, CA?
The median speech-language pathologist salary in the Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA metro area is $126,360 a year, or about $60.75 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $102,610 and $137,300.
What is a speech-language pathologist’s take-home pay in Sacramento, CA?
On the median $126,360 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $88,468 a year ($7,372 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $9,165 in California taxes in 2026.
Is Sacramento, CA a good place to work as a speech-language pathologist?
Pay here is 29% above the national median of $97,870. Local prices are 6.7% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $82,937 would in a typical U.S. city. Sacramento, CA ranks #6 of 71 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a speech-language pathologist afford rent in Sacramento, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Sacramento, CA is $1,812 a month ($2,241 for two bedrooms) — 25% of a median speech-language pathologist’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
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