SOC 29-1127 · Salinas, CA metro

Speech-Language Pathologists Salary in Salinas, CA

The average salary for speech-language pathologists in Salinas, California is $123,560 a year ($59.41 an hour), according to BLS estimates for May 2025. The median is $122,770: half of the 200 people in this job in the Salinas, CA metro area earn more than that, half earn less. That average is 26% more than the U.S. average for this job ($98,170).

$123,560average per year

$59.41 / hourMedian $122,770Take-home ≈ $88,320

  • $86K10th
  • $100K25th
  • $123KMedian
  • $142K75th
  • $175K90th

median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it

200people in this job
+26%vs U.S. average
#8 of 25California metros
109cost of living (U.S. = 100)
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Speech-Language Pathologists pay range in Salinas

New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $85,520 a year or less, while the top 10% make $174,590 or more. The middle half of speech-language pathologists in Salinas earn between $99,690 and $141,940.

  • $86K10th
  • $100K25th
  • $123KMedian
  • $142K75th
  • $175K90th

median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it

Pay levelPer yearPer monthPer hour*
Average$123,560$10,297$59.40
Median$122,770$10,231$59.02
Entry level (25th percentile)$99,690$8,308$47.93
Experienced (75th percentile)$141,940$11,828$68.24

*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.

Speech-Language Pathologists pay in Salinas vs. California and the U.S.

Speech-language pathologists in Salinas earn 4% more than the California average ($118,600) and 26% more than the U.S. average ($98,170). At the median the gap is +25% against the U.S. median of $97,870.

AreaAverageMedian10th pct.90th pct.Jobs
Salinas$123,560$122,770$85,520$174,590200
California$118,600$118,970$79,750$160,90016,930
United States$98,170$97,870$62,900$134,160183,390

State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.

Speech-Language Pathologists salary after taxes in Salinas

On the average salary of $123,560, a single filer in Salinas takes home about $88,320 a year, or $7,360 a month and $3,397 every two weeks. Taxes take 29% of gross pay.

Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.

California paycheck calculator: try your own salary

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Is Salinas a good place for speech-language pathologists? Pay vs. cost of living

Prices in the Salinas area are 9% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 109.0), so the average $123,560 buys what about $113,314 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.6 times the median wage of all jobs in Salinas ($47,380). A typical home costs $850,461, or 6.9 years of this average salary before tax.

See what $123,560 is worth in another city

Speech-Language Pathologists salary in other California cities

Salinas ranks 8th of 25 California metro areas for this job; El Centro pays the most ($139,700).

All Speech-Language Pathologists salaries in California

Highest-paying cities for speech-language pathologists

El Centro, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($139,700).

Speech-Language Pathologists salary by city

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Reviewed before it counts. Speech-Language Pathologists in Salinas, CA.

Speech-Language Pathologists salary in Salinas: questions

How much do speech-language pathologists make an hour in Salinas?

$59.41 an hour on average, and $59.02 at the median (BLS, May 2025).

What is the entry-level speech-language pathologists salary in Salinas?

The lowest-paid 10% earn about $85,520 a year and the 25th percentile is $99,690, a fair guide to starting pay.

What is the speech-language pathologists take-home pay in Salinas?

About $88,320 a year ($7,360 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $123,560. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.

Do speech-language pathologists earn more in Salinas than elsewhere?

The average here is 26% more than the U.S. average for this job ($98,170).

Sources and how to read this page

  • Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 29-1127; area Salinas, CA (41500). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.6%.
  • U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
  • Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
  • Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
  • Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
  • Job concentration: location quotient 0.92, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.

Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.