Speech-Language Pathologist Salary in Los Angeles, CA
Speech-Language Pathologists in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area earn a median $109,740 a year — 12% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $78,629 take-home, or $6,552 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median speech-language pathologist salary in Los Angeles, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$15,313
- Social Security (6.2%)$6,804
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,591
- California income tax$5,976
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$1,427
- Take-home pay$78,629
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 9.30% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Speech-Language Pathologist pay by experience in Los Angeles, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $79,490 | $38.22 | $60,555 | $5,046 |
| 25th percentile | $91,570 | $44.02 | $67,773 | $5,648 |
| Median (50th) | $109,740 | $52.76 | $78,629 | $6,552 |
| 75th percentile | $133,360 | $64.12 | $92,511 | $7,709 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $160,430 | $77.13 | $108,144 | $9,012 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $109,740 buys in Los Angeles, CA
Prices in Los Angeles, CA are 13.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.70× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median speech-language pathologist's $78,629 take-home pay has the buying power of $69,237 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 Los Angeles, CA than nationally (location quotient 0.65), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for speech-language pathologists, adjusted for cost of living
Los Angeles, CA ranks #12 of 14 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Austin, TX | $106,290 | $83,605 | $85,254 |
| 2 | Houston, TX | $100,400 | $79,461 | $80,566 |
| 3 | Denver, CO | $112,090 | $83,462 | $78,900 |
| 4 | Dallas, TX | $99,540 | $78,856 | $76,493 |
| 5 | Atlanta, GA | $102,860 | $76,476 | $76,432 |
| 6 | Philadelphia, PA | $100,080 | $76,164 | $74,267 |
| 7 | Phoenix, AZ | $98,040 | $75,559 | $73,134 |
| 8 | Chicago, IL | $98,490 | $73,387 | $70,841 |
| 12 | Los Angeles, CA | $109,740 | $78,629 | $69,237 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 14 metros →
About the job: speech-language pathologists
Assess and treat persons with speech, language, voice, and fluency disorders. May select alternative communication systems and teach their use. May perform research related to speech and language problems.
- Typical education
- Master's degree
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- Internship/residency
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +16.6% (much faster than average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a speech-language pathologist make in Los Angeles, CA?
The median speech-language pathologist salary in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area is $109,740 a year, or about $52.76 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $91,570 and $133,360.
What is a speech-language pathologist’s take-home pay in Los Angeles, CA?
On the median $109,740 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $78,629 a year ($6,552 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $7,403 in California taxes in 2026.
Is Los Angeles, CA a good place to work as a speech-language pathologist?
Pay here is 12% above the national median of $97,870. Local prices are 13.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $69,237 would in a typical U.S. city. Los Angeles, CA ranks #12 of 14 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a speech-language pathologist afford rent in Los Angeles, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Los Angeles, CA is $2,245 a month ($2,755 for two bedrooms) — 34% of a median speech-language pathologist’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Los Angeles, CA
- Physicians, All Other — $196,760
- Pediatricians, General — $176,900
- Physician Assistant — $161,890
- Nurse Practitioner — $161,470
- Veterinarian — $160,080
- Pharmacist — $157,440
- Dentists, General — $139,990
- Optometrist — $138,940
- Registered Nurse — $135,560
- Dental Hygienist — $122,980
- Occupational Therapist — $122,040
- Diagnostic Medical Sonographer — $119,430