SLP Salary

Conway vs Little Rock: Speech-Language Pathologist Salary (2026)

Compare speech-language pathologist salaries between Conway, AR and Little Rock, AR. All figures are 2026 estimates projected from BLS 2025 data.

Conway, AR
$87,918
$42.27/hr
Little Rock, AR
$89,827
$43.19/hr

Side-by-Side Comparison

MetricConway, ARLittle Rock, AR
Median Salary$87,918$89,827
Hourly Rate$42.27$43.19
Entry Level (P10)$57,354$65,389
25th Percentile$69,805$74,457
75th Percentile$102,612$126,025
Top Earner (P90)$118,907$139,409
Total Employed14810
Side-by-side bar chart comparing Conway ($87,918) and Little Rock ($89,827) speech-language pathologist salaries.ConwayLittle RockMedian Salary$87,918$89,827Entry Level (P10)$57,354$65,389Top Earner (P90)$118,907$139,409US Median $101,775

Verdict

Little Rock, AR offers better overall compensation for speech-language pathologists, winning 4 out of 4 metrics compared to Conway.

The salary gap between Conway and Little Rock is $1,909 (2.17%). Little Rock's median is -11.74% compared to the US national median of $101,775.

Salary Range Comparison

The full salary range (10th to 90th percentile) in Conway spans $61,553,Little Rock spans $74,020. Little Rock has a wider pay range, suggesting more variation in pay between entry-level and experienced speech-language pathologists.

Conway
P10 (Entry)$57,354
P25$69,805
Median$87,918
P75$102,612
P90 (Top)$118,907
Little Rock
P10 (Entry)$65,389
P25$74,457
Median$89,827
P75$126,025
P90 (Top)$139,409

Cost-of-Living Adjusted Comparison

After cost-of-living adjustment, Conway ($101,171 effective) pays 0.65% more than Little Rock ($100,518 effective).

Conway
Nominal: $87,918
CoL Index: 86.9
Adjusted: $101,171
Little Rock
Nominal: $89,827
CoL Index: 89.364
Adjusted: $100,518

Cost-of-living adjustment: salary × (100 / CoL index). Index of 100 = national average.

Which City Is Right for You?

Choose Conway if…

  • Better purchasing power (CoL-adjusted: $101,171)
  • You prefer the Arkansas area and lifestyle

Choose Little Rock if…

  • Higher median salary ($89,827/year)
  • Better top-earner potential ($139,409)
  • Larger job market (810 employed)
  • You prefer the Arkansas area and lifestyle

Historical Salary Growth Comparison

Based on BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, speech-language pathologist salaries in Conway grew 28.7% from 2024 to 2025, compared to 23.3% growth in Little Rock over the same period.

Conway, AR

+28.7%

$65,679 (2024) → $84,545 (2025)

Little Rock, AR

+23.3%

$70,070 (2019) → $86,380 (2025)

View Full Salary Data

Frequently Asked Questions

Which city pays speech-language pathologists more: Conway or Little Rock?

Little Rock has a higher median speech-language pathologist salary at $89,827/year, compared to Conway at $87,918/year — a difference of $1,909 (2.17%).

What is the hourly rate difference between Conway and Little Rock?

Conway speech-language pathologists earn $42.27/hr while Little Rock hygienists earn $43.19/hr (2026 est.).

Should I relocate from Conway to Little Rock as a speech-language pathologist?

Consider more than just salary when comparing Conway and Little Rock. Factor in cost of living (CoL-adjusted: Conway = $101,171, Little Rock = $100,518), job availability (14 vs 810 employed), commute, and career growth potential.

What do entry-level speech-language pathologists earn in Conway vs Little Rock?

Entry-level (10th percentile) speech-language pathologists earn $57,354 in Conway and $65,389 in Little Rock. The Little Rock area offers higher starting salaries.
JL

Written by Jordan Lee, CCC-SLP

Career Analyst

Jordan has over 8 years of experience in speech-language pathology. He specializes in pediatric language disorders. He works in a community health clinic.

Clinically reviewed by Fatima Ali, CCC-SLPData verified by Miguel Torres, CCC-SLP

Methodology & Data Source

All salary figures are 2026 projections based on BLS OEWS May 2025 data. A 3.99% CAGR (derived from 6-year national BLS trends) was applied to estimate current compensation. Cost-of-living adjustments use BEA Regional Price Parity data. Actual salaries vary by employer, certifications, and experience.

Data Sources & Methodology

Source: BLS, OEWS , released .

Compiled and verified by Jordan Lee, CCC-SLP, a licensed speech-language pathologist with 10+ years of clinical experience. · View source data at BLS.gov