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Occupation · SOC 29-1127

Speech-Language Pathologists

There are 183,390 jobs in the U.S. Median pay is $97,870 a year. The most jobs are in New York–Newark–Jersey City, NY–NJ.

HealthcareTypical education: Master's degree
183,390
Jobs in the U.S.
People employed, May 2025
$97,870
Median pay a year
Middle half: $77,730–$114,570
12,500
Annual openings
10-year change: +16.6%
290
LCA filings, last 4 quarters
+25.5% from the prior 4 quarters

Metro areas with the highest employment

10 of 369 metro areas with BLS data for this occupation. LCA filings: Apr 2025–Mar 2026.

Metro areaEmploymentMedian payLCA filings
New York–Newark–Jersey City, NY–NJMedian pay $107,860 · LCA filings 3215,260$107,86032
Chicago–Naperville–Elgin, IL–INMedian pay $98,490 · LCA filings 107,150$98,49010
Dallas–Fort Worth–Arlington, TXMedian pay $99,540 · LCA filings 64,800$99,5406
Los Angeles–Long Beach–Anaheim, CAMedian pay $109,740 · LCA filings 174,800$109,74017
Houston–Pasadena–The Woodlands, TXMedian pay $100,400 · LCA filings 83,780$100,4008
Boston–Cambridge–Newton, MA–NHMedian pay $102,810 · LCA filings 83,720$102,8108
Philadelphia–Camden–Wilmington, PA–NJ–DE–MDMedian pay $100,080 · LCA filings 53,330$100,0805
Washington–Arlington–Alexandria, DC–VA–MD–WVMedian pay $99,960 · LCA filings 63,140$99,9606
Miami–Fort Lauderdale–West Palm Beach, FLMedian pay $101,590 · LCA filings 12,930$101,5901
Austin–Round Rock–San Marcos, TXMedian pay $106,290 · LCA filings 32,860$106,2903

Metro areas with the highest median pay

Median pay for this occupation in each metro area, May 2025.

Metro areaMedian payEmploymentLCA filings
El Centro, CAEmployment 70 · LCA filings 1$133,760701
San Jose–Sunnyvale–Santa Clara, CAEmployment 890 · LCA filings 33$132,72089033
Boulder, COEmployment 320 · LCA filings 0$131,6203200
San Francisco–Oakland–Fremont, CAEmployment 1,760 · LCA filings 32$130,8501,76032
Santa Rosa–Petaluma, CAEmployment 160 · LCA filings 1$127,4701601

Metro areas with the most LCA filings

Labor Condition Applications filed by employers with the U.S. Department of Labor, Apr 2025–Mar 2026. They’re used in the H-1B process and show filing history, not hires or current job openings.

Metro areaLCA filingsEmployers with LCA filingsEmployment
San Jose–Sunnyvale–Santa Clara, CAEmployers with LCA filings 13 · Employment 8903313890
New York–Newark–Jersey City, NY–NJEmployers with LCA filings 13 · Employment 15,260321315,260
San Francisco–Oakland–Fremont, CAEmployers with LCA filings 18 · Employment 1,76032181,760
Riverside–San Bernardino–Ontario, CAEmployers with LCA filings 11 · Employment 2,12020112,120
Los Angeles–Long Beach–Anaheim, CAEmployers with LCA filings 10 · Employment 4,80017104,800

Prevailing wage levels (H-1B and PERM)

The minimum yearly wage by level. Level I is entry level and Level IV is fully competent; an H-1B employer must pay at least the level that fits the job.

Metro areaLevel ILevel IILevel IIILevel IV
New York–Newark–Jersey City, NY–NJLevel II $95,576 · Level III $115,107 · Level IV $134,638$76,045$95,576$115,107$134,638
Chicago–Naperville–Elgin, IL–INLevel II $81,765 · Level III $95,056 · Level IV $108,368$68,453$81,765$95,056$108,368
Dallas–Fort Worth–Arlington, TXLevel II $86,694 · Level III $99,965 · Level IV $113,214$73,445$86,694$99,965$113,214
Los Angeles–Long Beach–Anaheim, CALevel II $99,382 · Level III $115,482 · Level IV $131,602$83,262$99,382$115,482$131,602
Houston–Pasadena–The Woodlands, TXLevel II $85,779 · Level III $100,027 · Level IV $114,254$71,552$85,779$100,027$114,254
Boston–Cambridge–Newton, MA–NHLevel II $89,357 · Level III $102,981 · Level IV $116,626$75,712$89,357$102,981$116,626
Philadelphia–Camden–Wilmington, PA–NJ–DE–MDLevel II $85,363 · Level III $99,382 · Level IV $113,402$71,344$85,363$99,382$113,402
Washington–Arlington–Alexandria, DC–VA–MD–WVLevel II $88,400 · Level III $104,229 · Level IV $120,037$72,592$88,400$104,229$120,037
Miami–Fort Lauderdale–West Palm Beach, FLLevel II $92,477 · Level III $101,150 · Level IV $109,824$83,803$92,477$101,150$109,824
Austin–Round Rock–San Marcos, TXLevel II $94,723 · Level III $106,184 · Level IV $117,666$83,242$94,723$106,184$117,666
San Jose–Sunnyvale–Santa Clara, CALevel II $113,090 · Level III $134,056 · Level IV $155,043$92,102$113,090$134,056$155,043
San Francisco–Oakland–Fremont, CALevel II $114,899 · Level III $130,083 · Level IV $145,288$99,694$114,899$130,083$145,288
Riverside–San Bernardino–Ontario, CALevel II $93,704 · Level III $112,133 · Level IV $130,541$75,296$93,704$112,133$130,541

Source: U.S. Department of Labor, OFLC Online Wage Library, July 2026–June 2027.

Related majors

Majors most closely related to this occupation. International graduates: 2024–25 academic year.

MajorInternational graduatesSTEM OPT
Communication Disorders Sciences and ServicesCIP 51.02OPT · up to 12 months322OPT · up to 12 months

See Speech-Language Pathologists in every metro area

All 369 metro areas, pay in each, related majors, schools in each job market, and employers with LCA filing history.

Employers with LCA filings for this occupation

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Sources: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 · BLS Employment Projections 2025-35 · U.S. Department of Labor LCA disclosure data, Apr 2025–Mar 2026 · IPEDS 2024–25. Prevailing wages: U.S. Department of Labor, OFLC Online Wage Library, July 2026–June 2027. Methodology