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 a Master's in Speech-Language Pathology online - Prepare to become an SLP in as few as 20 months. No GRE required. Scholarships available.
- Baylor’s Master of Communication Sciences and Disorders online - Bachelor's required. GRE scores not required. Complete full time in 20 months or part time in 28 months.
- NYU Steinhardt's Master of Science in Communicative Sciences and Disorders online - ASHA-accredited. GRE and bachelor's degree required. Graduate prepared to pursue licensure.
- Calvin University’s online Master of Speech-Language Pathology degree program - Prepares you to become a certified speech-language pathologist.
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: