Speech-Language Pathologist Salary in San Francisco, CA
Speech-Language Pathologists in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area earn a median $130,850 a year — 34% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $91,061 take-home, or $7,588 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median speech-language pathologist salary in San Francisco, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$20,138
- Social Security (6.2%)$8,113
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,897
- California income tax$7,939
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$1,701
- Take-home pay$91,061
Marginal rate: 24% federal + 9.30% state
Speech-Language Pathologist pay by experience in San Francisco, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $97,980 | $47.11 | $71,603 | $5,967 |
| 25th percentile | $112,670 | $54.17 | $80,380 | $6,698 |
| Median (50th) | $130,850 | $62.91 | $91,061 | $7,588 |
| 75th percentile | $143,720 | $69.10 | $98,494 | $8,208 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $163,610 | $78.66 | $109,980 | $9,165 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $130,850 buys in San Francisco, CA
Prices in San Francisco, CA are 15.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.95× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median speech-language pathologist's $91,061 take-home pay has the buying power of $78,764 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 San Francisco, CA than nationally (location quotient 0.63), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for speech-language pathologists, adjusted for cost of living
San Francisco, CA ranks #15 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 |
| 15 | San Francisco, CA | $130,850 | $91,061 | $78,764 |
*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
- Riverside, CA — $118,560
- 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 San Francisco, CA?
The median speech-language pathologist salary in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area is $130,850 a year, or about $62.91 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $112,670 and $143,720.
What is a speech-language pathologist’s take-home pay in San Francisco, CA?
On the median $130,850 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $91,061 a year ($7,588 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $9,641 in California taxes in 2026.
Is San Francisco, CA a good place to work as a speech-language pathologist?
Pay here is 34% above the national median of $97,870. Local prices are 15.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $78,764 would in a typical U.S. city. San Francisco, CA ranks #15 of 71 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a speech-language pathologist afford rent in San Francisco, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in San Francisco, CA is $2,620 a month ($3,187 for two bedrooms) — 35% of a median speech-language pathologist’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
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