SLP Salary

Florence vs Louisville: Speech-Language Pathologist Salary (2026)

Compare speech-language pathologist salaries between Florence, KY and Louisville, KY. All figures are 2026 estimates projected from BLS 2025 data.

Florence, KY
$84,569
$40.66/hr
Louisville, KY
$93,046
$44.74/hr

Side-by-Side Comparison

MetricFlorence, KYLouisville, KY
Median Salary$84,569$93,046
Hourly Rate$40.66$44.74
Entry Level (P10)$55,871$54,984
25th Percentile$67,434$69,996
75th Percentile$96,363$111,086
Top Earner (P90)$109,975$131,932
Total Employed7132
Side-by-side bar chart comparing Florence ($84,569) and Louisville ($93,046) speech-language pathologist salaries.FlorenceLouisvilleMedian Salary$84,569$93,046Entry Level (P10)$55,871$54,984Top Earner (P90)$109,975$131,932US Median $101,775

Verdict

Louisville, KY offers better overall compensation for speech-language pathologists, winning 4 out of 4 metrics compared to Florence.

The salary gap between Florence and Louisville is $8,477 (10.02%). Louisville's median is -8.58% compared to the US national median of $101,775.

Salary Range Comparison

The full salary range (10th to 90th percentile) in Florence spans $54,104,Louisville spans $76,948. Louisville has a wider pay range, suggesting more variation in pay between entry-level and experienced speech-language pathologists.

Florence
P10 (Entry)$55,871
P25$67,434
Median$84,569
P75$96,363
P90 (Top)$109,975
Louisville
P10 (Entry)$54,984
P25$69,996
Median$93,046
P75$111,086
P90 (Top)$131,932

Cost-of-Living Adjusted Comparison

After cost-of-living adjustment, Louisville ($104,195 effective) pays 10.02% more than Florence ($94,702 effective).

Florence
Nominal: $84,569
CoL Index: 89.3
Adjusted: $94,702
Louisville
Nominal: $93,046
CoL Index: 89.3
Adjusted: $104,195

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

Which City Is Right for You?

Choose Florence if…

  • You prefer the Kentucky area and lifestyle

Choose Louisville if…

  • Higher median salary ($93,046/year)
  • Better top-earner potential ($131,932)
  • Larger job market (132 employed)
  • Better purchasing power (CoL-adjusted: $104,195)
  • You prefer the Kentucky area and lifestyle

Historical Salary Growth Comparison

Based on BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, speech-language pathologist salaries in Florence grew 12.1% from 2024 to 2025, compared to 12.1% growth in Louisville over the same period.

Florence, KY

+12.1%

$72,561 (2024) → $81,324 (2025)

Louisville, KY

+12.1%

$79,834 (2024) → $89,476 (2025)

View Full Salary Data

Frequently Asked Questions

Which city pays speech-language pathologists more: Florence or Louisville?

Louisville has a higher median speech-language pathologist salary at $93,046/year, compared to Florence at $84,569/year — a difference of $8,477 (10.02%).

What is the hourly rate difference between Florence and Louisville?

Florence speech-language pathologists earn $40.66/hr while Louisville hygienists earn $44.74/hr (2026 est.).

Should I relocate from Florence to Louisville as a speech-language pathologist?

Consider more than just salary when comparing Florence and Louisville. Factor in cost of living (CoL-adjusted: Florence = $94,702, Louisville = $104,195), job availability (7 vs 132 employed), commute, and career growth potential.

What do entry-level speech-language pathologists earn in Florence vs Louisville?

Entry-level (10th percentile) speech-language pathologists earn $55,871 in Florence and $54,984 in Louisville. The Florence 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