Speech-Language Pathologist Salary in San Jose, CA
Speech-Language Pathologists in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area earn a median $132,720 a year — 36% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $92,141 take-home, or $7,678 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median speech-language pathologist salary in San Jose, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$20,587
- Social Security (6.2%)$8,229
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,924
- California income tax$8,113
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$1,725
- Take-home pay$92,141
Marginal rate: 24% federal + 9.30% state
Speech-Language Pathologist pay by experience in San Jose, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $72,080 | $34.65 | $56,047 | $4,671 |
| 25th percentile | $106,250 | $51.08 | $76,544 | $6,379 |
| Median (50th) | $132,720 | $63.81 | $92,141 | $7,678 |
| 75th percentile | $158,200 | $76.06 | $106,856 | $8,905 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $170,500 | $81.97 | $113,959 | $9,497 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $132,720 buys in San Jose, CA
Prices in San Jose, CA are 10.4% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 2.12× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median speech-language pathologist's $92,141 take-home pay has the buying power of $83,444 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 Jose, CA than nationally (location quotient 0.67), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for speech-language pathologists, adjusted for cost of living
San Jose, CA ranks #5 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
- Sacramento, CA — $126,360
- 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 San Jose, CA?
The median speech-language pathologist salary in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area is $132,720 a year, or about $63.81 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $106,250 and $158,200.
What is a speech-language pathologist’s take-home pay in San Jose, CA?
On the median $132,720 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $92,141 a year ($7,678 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $9,839 in California taxes in 2026.
Is San Jose, CA a good place to work as a speech-language pathologist?
Pay here is 36% above the national median of $97,870. Local prices are 10.4% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $83,444 would in a typical U.S. city. San Jose, CA ranks #5 of 71 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a speech-language pathologist afford rent in San Jose, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in San Jose, CA is $2,957 a month ($3,464 for two bedrooms) — 39% of a median speech-language pathologist’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in San Jose, CA
- Family Medicine Physician — $239,200+
- Nurse Practitioner — $231,560
- Physician Assistant — $223,640
- Registered Nurse — $216,740
- Dentists, General — $207,910
- Pharmacist — $199,040
- Diagnostic Medical Sonographer — $173,150
- Radiologic Technologist and Technician — $154,850
- Respiratory Therapist — $149,680
- Dental Hygienist — $139,990
- Physical Therapist — $139,000
- Occupational Therapist — $136,870