As of 2016, the median salary among speech-language pathologists in Washington State was $73,944 ($35.55) according to the Washington State Employment Security Department. Those whose salaries fell within the top 25% earned an average of $87,589 ($42.11 hourly) that year.
- Emerson College offers an online master’s in speech-language pathology with the same curriculum as its top-ranked* on-campus program. Students are prepared to pursue SLP certification in as few as 20 months. GRE Required.
*U.S. News & World Report, 2018 - NYU Steinhardt's online MS in Communicative Sciences and Disorders, Speech@NYU, offers a comprehensive curriculum that combines research and evidence-based clinical practice in a flexible online format. Speech@NYU prepares students across the country to become creative, collaborative, and effective speech-language pathologists. Students of this program will gain the experience needed to provide care to diverse populations across the life span. Request information.
- Baylor’s SLP master’s program online can be completed full time in 20 months or part time in 25 months. 100 percent of on-campus graduates pass the Praxis and become employed. Bachelor’s and GRE required.
In comparing earnings from around the state, the Seattle area emerged as the top paying location for SLPs in 2016 (ranges shown are median-75th percentile):
Bellingham:
- Annual: $73,299 – $85,946
- Hourly: $35.24 – $41.32
Bremerton-Silverdale:
- Annual: $72,530 – $79,664
- Hourly: $34.87 – $38.30
Kennewick-Richland:
- Annual: $65,749 – $81,370
- Hourly: $31.61 – $39.12
Longview:
- Annual: $70,158 – $80,974
- Hourly: $33.73 – $38.93
Mt. Vernon-Anancortes:
- Annual: $65,042 – $74,901
- Hourly: $31.27 – $36.01
Olympia-Tumwater:
- Annual: $71,281 – $79,664
- Hourly: $34.27 – $38.30
Seattle-Bellevue-Everett:
- Annual: $77,771 – $94,307
- Hourly: $37.39 – $45.34
Spokane-Spokane Valley:
- Annual: $66,061 – $76,024
- Hourly: $31.76 – $36.55
Tacoma-Lakewood:
- Annual: $72,134 – $80,101
- Hourly: $34.68 – $38.51
Walla Walla:
- Annual: $78,354 – $89,835
- Hourly: $37.67 – $43.19
Yakima:
- Annual: $74,256 – $82,139
- Hourly: $35.70 – $39.49
A Growing Field in Which More Than 8,500 Businesses Employ SLPs
The number of jobs for speech-language pathologists in Washington should increase by 12.2% between 2014 and 2019 according to the state’s Employment Security Department. This level of growth should result in an average of 144 jobs a year becoming available during this time.
The US Department of Labor in partnership with Infogroup® provides detailed information on the organizations that employ speech-language pathologists in Washington State. They identified a total of 8,514 facilities that employ SLPs in a variety of industries. The major types of employers are shown below:
Schools:
- Schools: 3,370
- Religious Schools: 194
- School Districts: 192
- Schools with Special Academic Education: 35
- Montessori Schools: 11
- Kindergartens: 6
Healthcare Organizations:
- Physical Therapists: 2,437
- Home Health Services: 802
- Speech Pathologists: 309
- Hospitals: 286
- Nursing and Convalescent Homes: 235
- Audiologists: 88
- Health Care Facilities: 73
- Medical Centers: 69
- Adult Care Facilities: 67
- Occupational Therapists: 64
- Cancer Treatment Centers: 45
- Hospices: 43
Salaries for SLPs Throughout Washington as Reported by the US Department of Labor
The US Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics provides a full analysis of annual salaries and hourly wages for speech-language pathologists in the major cities and rural areas of Washington as of 2015:
