SLP Salary

Covington vs Seattle: Speech-Language Pathologist Salary (2026)

Compare speech-language pathologist salaries between Covington, WA and Seattle, WA. All figures are 2026 estimates projected from BLS 2025 data.

Covington, WA
$99,970
$48.06/hr
Seattle, WA
$113,027
$54.33/hr

Side-by-Side Comparison

MetricCovington, WASeattle, WA
Median Salary$99,970$113,027
Hourly Rate$48.06$54.33
Entry Level (P10)$64,260$88,589
25th Percentile$82,075$102,950
75th Percentile$115,440$133,014
Top Earner (P90)$130,838$140,303
Total Employed51,910
Side-by-side bar chart comparing Covington ($99,970) and Seattle ($113,027) speech-language pathologist salaries.CovingtonSeattleMedian Salary$99,970$113,027Entry Level (P10)$64,260$88,589Top Earner (P90)$130,838$140,303US Median $101,775

Verdict

Seattle, WA offers better overall compensation for speech-language pathologists, winning 4 out of 4 metrics compared to Covington.

The salary gap between Covington and Seattle is $13,057 (13.06%). Seattle's median is +11.06% compared to the US national median of $101,775.

Salary Range Comparison

The full salary range (10th to 90th percentile) in Covington spans $66,578,Seattle spans $51,714. Covington has a wider pay range, meaning more potential for high earners but also more variation.

Covington
P10 (Entry)$64,260
P25$82,075
Median$99,970
P75$115,440
P90 (Top)$130,838
Seattle
P10 (Entry)$88,589
P25$102,950
Median$113,027
P75$133,014
P90 (Top)$140,303

Cost-of-Living Adjusted Comparison

After cost-of-living adjustment, Seattle ($101,704 effective) pays 9.26% more than Covington ($93,082 effective).

Covington
Nominal: $99,970
CoL Index: 107.4
Adjusted: $93,082
Seattle
Nominal: $113,027
CoL Index: 111.133
Adjusted: $101,704

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

Which City Is Right for You?

Choose Covington if…

  • You prefer the Washington area and lifestyle

Choose Seattle if…

  • Higher median salary ($113,027/year)
  • Better top-earner potential ($140,303)
  • Larger job market (1,910 employed)
  • Better purchasing power (CoL-adjusted: $101,704)
  • You prefer the Washington area and lifestyle

Historical Salary Growth Comparison

Based on BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, speech-language pathologist salaries in Covington grew -0.7% from 2024 to 2025, compared to 39.0% growth in Seattle over the same period.

Covington, WA

+-0.7%

$96,790 (2024) → $96,134 (2025)

Seattle, WA

+39.0%

$78,210 (2019) → $108,690 (2025)

View Full Salary Data

Frequently Asked Questions

Which city pays speech-language pathologists more: Covington or Seattle?

Seattle has a higher median speech-language pathologist salary at $113,027/year, compared to Covington at $99,970/year — a difference of $13,057 (13.06%).

What is the hourly rate difference between Covington and Seattle?

Covington speech-language pathologists earn $48.06/hr while Seattle hygienists earn $54.33/hr (2026 est.).

Should I relocate from Covington to Seattle as a speech-language pathologist?

Consider more than just salary when comparing Covington and Seattle. Factor in cost of living (CoL-adjusted: Covington = $93,082, Seattle = $101,704), job availability (5 vs 1,910 employed), commute, and career growth potential.

What do entry-level speech-language pathologists earn in Covington vs Seattle?

Entry-level (10th percentile) speech-language pathologists earn $64,260 in Covington and $88,589 in Seattle. The Seattle area offers higher starting salaries.

Related Comparisons

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