Salary · CA · SOC 29-1127

Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP) salary in California, per year and per hour

BLS data for May 2025. Median, mean, and percentile pay for speech-language pathologists in California, with every metro area BLS publishes.

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, released May 15, 2026. Publisher page

Quick answer

The median pay for speech-language pathologists in California was $118,970 a year, or $57.20 an hour, in May 2025 (BLS). The middle 80% earned $79,750 to $160,900. About 16,930 were employed.

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Speech-Language Pathologist pay in California vs the US

Speech-Language Pathologist wages in California and the US, May 2025
Measure	CA annual	CA hourly	US annual
Median (50th percentile)	$118,970	$57.20	$97,870
Mean (average)	$118,600	$57.02	$98,170
10th percentile	$79,750	$38.34	$62,900
25th percentile	$98,920	$47.56	$77,730
75th percentile	$135,070	$64.94	$114,570
90th percentile	$160,900	$77.36	$134,160

Employment in California: 16,930. Location quotient: 0.79 (1.0 = the national share of jobs).

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Publisher page

Speech-Language Pathologist salary by metro area in California

Speech-Language Pathologist median wage by metro area, California
Metro area	Median annual	Median hourly	Employed
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA	$109,740	$52.76	4,800
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA	$118,560	$57.00	2,120
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA	$130,850	$62.91	1,760
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA	$119,690	$57.55	1,590
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA	$126,360	$60.75	1,030
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA	$132,720	$63.81	890
Fresno, CA	$110,960	$53.35	820
Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA	$115,060	$55.32	530
Bakersfield-Delano, CA	$117,350	$56.42	310
Stockton-Lodi, CA	$118,660	$57.05	310
Modesto, CA	$116,770	$56.14	220
Visalia, CA	$106,760	$51.33	220
Salinas, CA	$122,770	$59.02	200
Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA	$126,850	$60.99	200
Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA	$127,470	$61.28	160
Chico, CA	$110,720	$53.23	130
Vallejo, CA	$124,440	$59.83	130
Redding, CA	$99,210	$47.70	110
Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA	$118,670	$57.05	110
Merced, CA	$114,220	$54.91	100
San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA	$115,560	$55.56	100
Yuba City, CA	$109,830	$52.81	80
El Centro, CA	$133,760	$64.31	70
Hanford-Corcoran, CA	$120,550	$57.96	50
Napa, CA	$123,870	$59.56	50

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Publisher page

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Speech-Language Pathologist salary in California

Median pay: $118,970 a year ($57.20 an hour)

Middle 80% earn $79,750 to $160,900 a year

Employed: 16,930

BLS OEWS, May 2025. Source: Rivvi

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<div style="font:14px/1.45 system-ui,sans-serif;color:#222;border:1px solid #E6E6EE;border-radius:12px;padding:14px 16px;max-width:360px;background:#fff"><div style="font-weight:600;font-size:15px;margin-bottom:6px">Speech-Language Pathologist salary in California</div><div style="margin:2px 0">Median pay: <strong>$118,970</strong> a year ($57.20 an hour)</div><div style="margin:2px 0">Middle 80% earn $79,750 to $160,900 a year</div><div style="margin:2px 0">Employed: 16,930</div><div style="margin-top:8px;font-size:12px;color:#555">BLS OEWS, May 2025. Source: <a href="https://rivvi.ai/salary/speech-language-pathologist/ca" style="color:#3C38C9">Rivvi</a></div></div>

Questions

How much does an SLP make per hour in California?

The median hourly wage was $57.20 in May 2025, per BLS. The 10th percentile was $38.34 and the 90th was $77.36.

What is the average SLP salary in California?

BLS reports a mean (average) of $118,600 a year and a median of $118,970 for May 2025. The median is the middle wage; the mean is pulled up by the highest earners.

Do speech-language pathologists in California earn more than the US median?

The California median of $118,970 is 22% higher than the US median of $97,870 (BLS, May 2025).

How does California rank for speech-language pathologist pay?

California ranks 1 of 51 states (plus DC) by median annual wage for speech-language pathologists (BLS, May 2025).

Where do these numbers come from?

The BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey, May 2025 estimates, SOC 29-1127. Figures BLS did not publish are left out.