Speech-Language Pathologist Salary in Burlington, IA: $81,353 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time speech-language pathologist in Burlington, IA earns a median $81,353/year (≈ $39.11/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-1127). Once you factor in Burlington's price level (10% below national, BEA RPP 90.4), that paycheck buys what $89,992 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 4.0% below the Iowa state average.
Based on BLS state-level estimates · View source
In 2026, a speech-language pathologist in Burlington, IA, can expect a median annual salary of $81,353. This figure reflects local market conditions and cost of living adjustments, with salaries ranging from $55,096 at the 10th percentile to $105,299 at the 90th percentile. The pay gap here is indicative of the structural divide between positions in educational settings versus medical environments. With school districts employing a significant percentage of SLPs, many professionals find themselves on school-year contracts, which often result in less annual income compared to their counterparts in hospital settings who work year-round. This context is essential for understanding how salaries are shaped in Burlington.
About the Burlington Market
Salary estimated from Iowa average ($80,000) adjusted for local cost of living.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $55,096 | $26.49 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $65,889 | $31.68 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $81,353 | $39.11 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $92,973 | $44.69 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $105,299 | $50.62 |
Median Salary Position
20.07% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Burlington
In Burlington, IA, the speech-language pathologist salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $50,203 (2026 est.). At $81,353, the local median is 20.07% below the national median of $101,775.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Burlington: You'd be above the median
How Burlington Speech-Language Pathologist Pay Compares
Burlington median: $81,353/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Burlington Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Iowa Average | $84,743 | -4.00% less |
| National Average | $101,775 | -20.07% less |
Speech-Language Pathologists in Burlington, IA earn a median of $81,353 per year (2026 est.), which is 20.07% lower than the national median of $101,775 and 4.00% below the Iowa state average of $84,743.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Burlington has a cost of living 9.60% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Burlington, IA has a cost-of-living index of 90.4 (below the national average of 100). A speech-language pathologist earning $81,353 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $89,992 in an average-cost city — an effective 10.62% boost.
Compare Purchasing Power
Select a city to see how your salary compares after cost of living
Select a city above to compare purchasing power
2019 BLS Actual
$63,244
2025 BLS Actual
$78,232
2026 Current Est.
$81,353
2019–2027 Growth
+33.8%
Salary Trajectory for Speech-Language Pathologists in Burlington (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.99% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $63,244 | Actual |
| 2020 | $64,331 | Actual |
| 2021 | $63,196 | Actual |
| 2022 | $67,257 | Actual |
| 2023 | $71,374 | Actual |
| 2024 | $69,441 | Actual |
| 2025 | $78,232 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $81,353 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $84,599 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Burlington metropolitan area, the median speech-language pathologist salary grew 23.7% from $63,244 (2019) to $78,232 (2025). At a 3.99% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $84,599 by 2027 — a total increase of $21,355 (33.77%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Burlington metropolitan area, sourced from annual Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys. 2026–2026 figures are current estimates, and 2027 values are projections, calculated using a 3.99% CAGR derived from 7-year BLS historical data. Actual salaries may vary based on employer, experience, certifications, and local market conditions.
Salary by Experience Level
| Experience | Estimated Salary Range |
|---|---|
| 0-2 years (New Graduate) | $55,096 – $65,889 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $65,889 – $81,353 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $81,353 – $92,973 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $92,973 – $105,299 |
SLP salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual speech-language pathologist compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Speech-Language Pathologist Job Market in Burlington
In Burlington, the job market supports only four speech-language pathologists, suggesting limited competitive pressure among employers. The area's cost of living index stands at 90.4, meaning that while the salaries may be lower than the national average, they can still afford a reasonable lifestyle. Generally, school district positions offer lower salary scales compared to hospital inpatient rehabilitation or skilled nursing facilities, where pay tends to be better due to the demanding nature of medical SLP work. Moreover, telepractice has gained traction, especially as it often pays higher hourly rates for specialized services and flexibility. To maximize earning potential in Burlington, speech-language pathologists should consider pursuing specialties recognized by ASHA, such as bilingual services, or target settings that provide year-round contracts. Understanding the dynamics between different employment sectors is key in determining how much do speech-language pathologists make in Burlington.
More salary data for Burlington, IA:
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do speech-language pathologists make in Burlington, IA in 2026?
Is Burlington, IA a good place to work as a speech-language pathologist?
Can speech-language pathologists make $100K in Burlington?
What is the cost-of-living adjusted speech-language pathologist salary in Burlington?
How much does a speech-language pathologist make per hour in Burlington?
Related Pages
Compare Salaries
Career Resources
Nearby Cities in Iowa
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.
Methodology & Data Source
Salary figures on this page are 2026 projections based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2026 release. The BLS reported a median annual salary of $78,232 for speech-language pathologistsin the Burlington metropolitan area. A 3.99% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), calculated from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to project current 2026 compensation. Percentile ranges (P10–P90) represent the full salary distribution across experience levels and practice settings in this market.
Data Sources & Methodology
Salary data for Burlington is estimated from official BLS state-level occupational wage data (2025), adjusted for regional cost-of-living differences using BEA RPP (Regional Price Parities).
2026 figures are projected from 2025 BLS data using a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.99%, derived from historical BLS wage trends for speech-language pathologists (SOC 29-1127).
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