Speech Language Pathologist salary
From 460 certified H-1B filings (FY2025–FY2026). Base salary only.
- Occupation code 29-1127: Speech-Language Pathologists
- Also filed as: Rpe Cfy Speech Language Pathologist
At a glance
- Mostly Level I (entry-level). 58% of Speech Language Pathologist filings are Level I, compared with 19% across all H-1B filings.
- Top filer: The Stepping Stones Group. 85 filings (18% of the total), median $80,974.
- Median up 15% since FY2020. From $79,040 in FY2020 to $90,958 in FY2026 (Q1–Q3). Nominal, not adjusted for inflation.
Speech Language Pathologist H-1B salary overview
Employers filed 460 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications for Speech Language Pathologist jobs in FY2025–FY2026 (occupation code 29-1127, Speech-Language Pathologists). The median base salary is $86,778, 29% below the median for all H-1B filings ($122,699), and half of the filings fall between $76,690 and $101,160. The most common wage level is Level I (entry-level), at 58% of filings. New York, NY has the most filings (53), and The Stepping Stones Group is the employer that files the most (85).
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Percentiles from certified H-1B filings, base salary only. Metro areas with at least 10 filings.
Top employers for Speech Language Pathologist
Employers with the most Speech Language Pathologist filings. Bar: share of all Speech Language Pathologist filings. Figure: median base salary.
Pay by level
Entry-level · 58% of filings
Mid-level · 31% of filings
Senior · 7% of filings
Expert · 4% of filings
Show the table
By experience level
| Wage level | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Level I · Entry | $80,454 | 245 |
| Level II · Qualified | $94,349 | 131 |
| Level III · Experienced | $109,928 | 31 |
| Level IV · Fully competent | $135,200 | 16 |
Median shown when a level has at least 10 filings.
Speech Language Pathologist pay by city
Median base salary in each metro area. Rent: HUD Fair Market Rent, FY2027.
Show all 13 metro areas
| Metro area | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| New York, NY | $80,974 | 53 |
| San Francisco, CA | $107,349 | 53 |
| San Jose, CA | $96,782 | 47 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $90,720 | 35 |
| Riverside, CA | $94,474 | 29 |
| Bakersfield, CA | $76,690 | 15 |
| Houston, TX | $80,382 | 14 |
| Stockton, CA | $88,119 | 14 |
| Vallejo, CA | $83,200 | 14 |
| Modesto, CA | $90,958 | 13 |
| Chicago, IL | $74,463 | 12 |
| Detroit, MI | $72,634 | 10 |
| Seattle, WA | $88,400 | 10 |
Metro areas with at least 10 filings for this occupation.
What a Speech Language Pathologist does
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 tasks
- Evaluate hearing or speech and language test results, barium swallow results, or medical or background information to diagnose and plan treatment for speech, language, fluency, voice, or swallowing disorders.
- Write reports and maintain proper documentation of information, such as client Medicaid or billing records or caseload activities, including the initial evaluation, treatment, progress, and discharge of clients.
- Monitor patients' progress and adjust treatments accordingly.
- Develop or implement treatment plans for problems such as stuttering, delayed language, swallowing disorders, or inappropriate pitch or harsh voice problems, based on own assessments and recommendations of physicians, psychologists, or social workers.
- Administer hearing or speech and language evaluations, tests, or examinations to patients to collect information on type and degree of impairments, using written or oral tests or special instruments.
- Educate patients and family members about various topics, such as communication techniques or strategies to cope with or to avoid personal misunderstandings.
Preparation
Job Zone Five: Extensive Preparation Needed. Most of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree).
O*NET occupation: Speech-Language Pathologists (29-1127.00). This section includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.
H-1B pay vs. all U.S. workers
Across all U.S. workers in this occupation (Speech-Language Pathologists), the median annual wage was $97,870 in May 2025, with 183,390 people employed. The median H-1B base salary in FY2025–FY2026 is $86,778, 11% lower.
| H-1B filings | All U.S. workers (BLS, May 2025) | |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $69,085 | $62,900 |
| 25th percentile | $76,690 | $77,730 |
| Median | $86,778 | $97,870 |
| 75th percentile | $101,160 | $114,570 |
| 90th percentile | $120,062 | $134,160 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS). BLS wages cover all wage and salary workers and include some incentive pay; H-1B figures are the base salary offered on certified LCAs. The two sources cover different periods. BLS reports wages of $239,200 or more as a single top value.
Salary details
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $69,085 |
| 25th | $76,690 |
| 50th (median) | $86,778 |
| 75th | $101,160 |
| 90th | $120,062 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $79,040 | $63,814 | $96,762 | 345 |
| FY2021 | $83,200 | $64,930 | $96,691 | 323 |
| FY2022 | $78,000 | $67,350 | $95,680 | 280 |
| FY2023 | $81,747 | $72,039 | $96,782 | 230 |
| FY2024 | $81,120 | $73,868 | $94,494 | 237 |
| FY2025 | $82,410 | $75,463 | $98,494 | 267 |
| FY2026 | $90,958 | $77,605 | $104,000 | 193 |
Questions
How much does an H-1B Speech Language Pathologist make?
The median base salary in certified H-1B filings for Speech Language Pathologist jobs is $86,778 (460 filings, FY2025–FY2026). Half of the filings are between $76,690 and $101,160.
What does an entry-level Speech Language Pathologist earn on an H-1B?
Level I (entry-level) filings have a median of $80,454. Level I accounts for 58% of Speech Language Pathologist filings.
Which employers file the most H-1B applications for Speech Language Pathologists?
The Stepping Stones Group (85), Pristine Rehab Care (60) and Edtheory (29) filed the most Speech Language Pathologist LCAs in FY2025–FY2026.
Do H-1B Speech Language Pathologists earn more than other U.S. workers in the same job?
The H-1B median base salary ($86,778) is 11% lower than the median wage of all U.S. workers in this occupation ($97,870, BLS May 2025). The sources measure pay differently, so treat this as a rough comparison.