Salary distribution
Where California speech-language pathologists fall on the wage curve.
Shaded band = interquartile range (where most full-time workers fall)
The middle 50% of workers earn between $95,830 and $132,390, with a median of $116,000.
Speech-Language Pathologists in California: actual employer-disclosed pay
Public records from 327 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. Median offered wage: $96,782. Every figure below is an actual offered salary an employer attested to under federal law.
By DOL wage level
DOL classifies every offer into one of four wage levels based on the role's experience and skill requirements.
| Level | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|
| Level I — entry | 190 | $91,666 |
| Level II — qualified | 50 | $107,515 |
| Level III — experienced | 16 | $125,892 |
| Level IV — fully competent | 13 | $135,200 |
Top employers filing for this role
Companies with the most certified filings for Speech-Language Pathologists in California. Median offer is across all of that employer's filings.
| Employer | Most-filed title | Filings | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| PRISTINE REHAB CARE, LLC | Speech Language Pathologist | 79 | $82,410 |
| SpEd Therapy Services, Inc. | Speech Language Pathologist | 49 | $96,782 |
| EdTheory LLC | SPEECH LANGUAGE PATHOLOGIST | 41 | $109,434 |
| The Stepping Stones Group LLC | SPEECH LANGUAGE PATHOLOGIST | 35 | $91,666 |
| BMR Health Services, Inc. | Speech Language Pathologist | 15 | $96,782 |
| EDTHEORY LLC | SPEECH LANGUAGE PATHOLOGIST | 13 | $106,891 |
| THE STEPPING STONES GROUP LLC | SPEECH LANGUAGE PATHOLOGIST | 10 | $97,937 |
| San Jose Unified School District | Speech and Language Pathologist | 10 | $80,500 |
| Ascend Rehab Services, Inc | Speech Language Pathologist | 6 | $91,666 |
| EDTHEORY, LLC | SPEECH LANGUAGE PATHOLOGIST | 4 | $100,714 |
Recent sample filings
A snapshot of recent certified offers. Each line is a real, public, verifiable record.
- Language, Speech and Hearing Specialist at Monterey County Office of Education$83,093King CityDecided Dec 29, 2025I-200-25354-499705
- SPEECH LANGUAGE PATHOLOGIST at The Stepping Stones Group LLC$115,606San JoseDecided Dec 24, 2025I-200-25351-490967
- Speech Language Pathologist at PRISTINE REHAB CARE, LLC$74,589Los AngelesDecided Dec 22, 2025I-201-25349-484421
- SPEECH LANGUAGE PATHOLOGIST at EdTheory LLC$113,568FAIRFIELDDecided Dec 19, 2025I-201-25346-479423
- SPEECH LANGUAGE PATHOLOGIST at JSN HEALTHCARE, INC$83,200FAIRFIELDDecided Dec 19, 2025I-200-25347-480504
- SPEECH LANGUAGE PATHOLOGIST at INTERFACE REHAB, INC.$128,960HEMETDecided Dec 17, 2025I-200-25344-473271
- Speech-Language Pathologist at REM STAFFING LLC$95,846GreenfieldDecided Dec 17, 2025I-201-25344-473043
- SPEECH LANGUAGE PATHOLOGIST at The Stepping Stones Group LLC$88,046AtwaterDecided Dec 16, 2025I-201-25344-470332
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Foreign Labor Certification. Disclosed wages reflect what employers attested to pay; actual paid wages may differ. Only certified filings are shown — denied and withdrawn cases are excluded.
Speech-Language Pathologists pay by experience level in California
Each band reflects DOL Wage Levels I-IV mapped onto a four-step ladder. Click a level to see the disclosed-wage range for that segment.
Speech-Language Pathologists specialties in California
Real specialty titles employers file for, clustered from 316 certified offers. The most common variant is Speech Language Pathologist at a median of $96,782.
| Specialty | Top employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Speech Language Pathologist | PRISTINE REHAB CARE, LLC | 269 | $96,782 |
| RPE/CFY - SPEECH LANGUAGE PATHOLOGIST | PRISTINE REHAB CARE, LLC | 25 | $78,083 |
| Speech and Language Pathologist | San Jose Unified School District | 13 | $80,500 |
| Speech Language Pathologists | SpEd Therapy Services, Inc. | 5 | $96,782 |
| Speech Therapist | Powerback Rehabilitation, LLC | 4 | $110,240 |
Specialties with 10 or more filings link to a dedicated breakdown.
Speech-Language Pathologists in California, by industry
Median offered wage across 327 certified filings, grouped by NAICS industry sector. Healthcare leads with a median of $96,782.
| Industry | Largest employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Healthcare | PRISTINE REHAB CARE, LLC | 302 | $96,782 |
| Education | San Jose Unified School District | 24 | $81,797 |
| Retail and wholesale | Amazon.com Services LLC | 1 | $129,400 |
Sectors with at least 25 filings link to a dedicated page with full distribution and sample employer breakdown.
Wage trend
Median annual wage in California over the past 2 BLS OES releases. Real values are CPI-adjusted to 2024 dollars.
Typical entry
Education
Master's degree
Experience
Internship/residency
On-the-job training
None
Top skills (O*NET)
- 4.9 / 5
English Language
Knowledge
- 4.5 / 5
Oral Comprehension
Ability
- 4.3 / 5
Oral Expression
Ability
- 4.3 / 5
Written Expression
Ability
- 4.3 / 5
Speech Recognition
Ability
- 4.2 / 5
Education and Training
Knowledge
- 4.1 / 5
Critical Thinking
Cross-functional
- 4.1 / 5
Reading Comprehension
Basic skill
Common tasks (O*NET)
- 01
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.
- 02
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.
- 03
Monitor patients' progress and adjust treatments accordingly.
- 04
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.
- 05
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.
- 06
Educate patients and family members about various topics, such as communication techniques or strategies to cope with or to avoid personal misunderstandings.
- 07
Supervise or collaborate with therapy team.
- 08
Participate in and write reports for meetings regarding patients' progress, such as individualized educational planning (IEP) meetings, in-service meetings, or intervention assistance team meetings.
10-year outlook
Growth 2024 → 2034
+15.0%
Projected annual openings
—
BLS outlook
Growing much faster than average
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034 cycle.
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Explore coursesTop metros in California
Metro-level salary data for speech-language pathologists in major California metropolitan areas.
- San Jose$135,860
- San Francisco$130,270
- Sacramento$122,490
- Riverside$115,390
- Los Angeles$109,170
- San Diego$107,180
Compare Speech-Language Pathologists pay across nearby states
Frequently asked questions
- What is the median salary for Speech-Language Pathologists in California?
- According to BLS Occupational Employment Statistics, the median annual wage for Speech-Language Pathologists in California is $116,000.
- How does California compare to the national median for Speech-Language Pathologists?
- The California median is +23.5% versus the BLS national figure of $93,891.
- What is the salary range for Speech-Language Pathologists in California?
- BLS reports the 10th-percentile annual wage at $67,150 and the 90th-percentile at $153,930, which captures most full-time workers in the role.
- Is Speech-Language Pathologists a growing field?
- BLS Employment Projections show employment growing by 15.0% over the projection cycle. See the 10-year outlook section above for details.
- What education is required for Speech-Language Pathologists?
- BLS lists the typical entry-level education as Master's degree. Many employers also weigh prior experience and credentials.
Information on this page is for general educational purposes only. It is not career, financial, or tax advice. Wage data reflects BLS estimates for the reference year shown and may not match individual offers, employer-specific ranges, or current market conditions. Confirm with a licensed professional before making career or compensation decisions.