SLP Salary

Speech-Language Pathologist Salary in Lexington, MA: $98,054 (2026)

Quick Answer:A full-time speech-language pathologist in Lexington, MA earns a median $98,054/year (≈ $47.14/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-1127). Once you factor in Lexington's price level (9% above national, BEA RPP 108.5), that paycheck buys what $90,372 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 4.3% below the Massachusetts state average.

$98,054
Median Annual Salary
$47.14/hr
Median Hourly Rate
$66,837
Entry Level (P10)
$130,418
Top Earners (P90)

Based on BLS state-level estimates · View source

Speech-Language Pathologist Salary in Lexington, MA — 2026 est., based on 2025 BLS
Lexington, MA speech-language pathologist salary overview (2026 est., based on 2025 BLS)

In 2026, the projected median annual salary for speech-language pathologists in Lexington, Massachusetts, stands at $98,054. When examining the income range for this profession, salaries stretch from $66,837 at the 10th percentile to $130,418 at the 90th percentile, reflecting a significant diversity in compensation potential. These figures are based on estimates derived from 2025 BLS data, adjusted for regional economic factors. Given the competitive nature of the field, particularly with the rise of telepractice income opportunities, Lexinton's market offers promising prospects for SLPs looking to expand their earnings. Effective hourly compensation reflects this opportunity, with many professionals benefiting from flexibility in their work arrangements.

About the Lexington Market

Salary estimated from Massachusetts average ($92,000) adjusted for local cost of living.

Salary Breakdown

PercentileAnnualHourly
Entry Level (P10)$66,837$32.13
Lower Range (P25)$80,013$38.47
Median (P50)(typical)$98,054$47.14
Upper Range (P75)$113,501$54.56
Top Earners (P90)$130,418$62.71

Median Salary Position

$66,837$130,418
City Median: $98,054
National: $101,775
P10–P90 Range

3.66% below the national average

2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Lexington

Vertical bar chart of 10th through 90th percentile salaries for speech-language pathologists in Lexington. The median salary is $98,054, compared to the national median of $101,775.$60.2K$79.3K$98.5K$117.7K$136.9K$66.8K10th Pctl$80.0K25th Pctl$98.1KMedian$113.5K75th Pctl$130.4K90th PctlUS Median$101.8K

In Lexington, MA, the speech-language pathologist salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $63,581 (2026 est.). At $98,054, the local median is 3.66% below the national median of $101,775.

Source: BLS OEWS projected to 2026. Percentiles reflect the distribution of speech-language pathologist pay in the Lexington metro area.

Salary Calculator

8 hrs (1 day)24 hrs (3 days)40 hrs (full-time)
$1,886
per week
$8,171
per month
$98,048
per year

At 40 hours/week in Lexington: You'd be in the lower-middle range

How Lexington Speech-Language Pathologist Pay Compares

Lexington median: $98,054/year (2026)

Compared ToMedian SalaryLexington Pays
Massachusetts Average$102,460-4.30% less
National Average$101,775-3.66% less
Horizontal bar chart comparing speech-language pathologist median salary in Lexington ($98,054) with Massachusetts average ($102,460) and the US national median ($101,775).Lexington$98,054Massachusetts Avg$102,460-4.30%US National$101,775-3.66%

Speech-Language Pathologists in Lexington, MA earn a median of $98,054 per year (2026 est.), which is 3.66% lower than the national median of $101,775 and 4.30% below the Massachusetts state average of $102,460.

Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary

$98,054
Nominal Salary
108.5
CoL Index
$90,372
Adjusted Salary

Lexington has a cost of living 8.50% above the national average.

Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.

The nominal salary is $98,054. After adjusting for a cost-of-living index of 108.5, the purchasing-power equivalent is $90,372, a loss of $7,682.$76.8K$86.9K$96.9K$107.0K$117.0K$98,054NominalSalary$90,372CoL Adjusted(CoL: 108.5) -7.83%US Median $101.8K

Lexington, MA has a cost-of-living index of 108.5 (above the national average of 100). While the nominal salary of $98,054 is competitive, the higher cost of living reduces purchasing power to an effective $90,372 — a 7.83% reduction.

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2019 BLS Actual

$76,227

2025 BLS Actual

$94,292

2026 Current Est.

$98,054

2019–2027 Growth

+33.8%

Salary Trajectory for Speech-Language Pathologists in Lexington (20192027)

2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.99% projection.

BLS Actual Estimated Projected
Salary trajectory chart for speech-language pathologists in Lexington. Baseline $76,227 in 2025, projected to $101,967 by 2027.$71.0K$80.0K$89.1K$98.1K$107.1K2019202020212022202320242025202620272025 BLS$76.2K$77.5K$76.2K$81.1K$86.0K$95.6K$94.3K$98.1K$102.0K
YearAnnual SalaryStatus
2019$76,227Actual
2020$77,538Actual
2021$76,170Actual
2022$81,064Actual
2023$86,026Actual
2024$95,551Actual
2025$94,292Actual
2026(current)$98,054Estimated
2027$101,967Projected

Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Lexington metropolitan area, the median speech-language pathologist salary grew 23.7% from $76,227 (2019) to $94,292 (2025). At a 3.99% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $101,967 by 2027 — a total increase of $25,740 (33.77%) from 2019.

Note: Historical values (20192025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Lexington metropolitan area, sourced from annual Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys. 20262026 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

ExperienceEstimated Salary Range
0-2 years (New Graduate)$66,837$80,013
3-5 years (Mid Career)$80,013$98,054
5+ years (Experienced)$98,054$113,501
10+ years (Top Earner)$113,501$130,418

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 Lexington

While only six speech-language pathologists are currently employed in Lexington, the cost-of-living index of 108.5 signifies that living expenses are higher than the national average, impacting overall take-home pay. Schools remain the predominant employers, often offering solid pay structures, yet it is hospitals and skilled nursing facilities where salaries tend to be more competitive. Factors that influence salary variation include work settings—medical roles typically provide higher pay than school positions—contract types, and the potential for bonuses based on board specialty certifications. Pursuing contracts with telepractice agencies or engaging in bilingual services also presents avenues for maximizing earnings. For those navigating salaries in Lexington, it's essential to consider how contract options and settings can impact overall income, especially as the demand for bilingual services continues to rise in many markets.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do speech-language pathologists make in Lexington, MA in 2026?

The estimated 2026 median speech-language pathologist salary in Lexington is $98,054/year ($47.14/hour), based on estimated 2026 salary (projected from 2025 BLS data at 3.99% annual growth). Salaries range from $66,837 at entry level (10th percentile) to $130,418 for experienced top earners (90th percentile). This puts Lexington at 3.7% below the national median. Full-time speech-language pathologists typically work 2,080 hours per year, though many positions offer part-time schedules with flexible hours across multiple practices.

Is Lexington, MA a good place to work as a speech-language pathologist?

Lexington speech-language pathologist salaries are 3.7% below the national average and 4.3% below the Massachusetts state average. The metro area employs approximately 6 speech-language pathologists. With a cost-of-living index of 108.5, you should factor in higher living costs when evaluating compensation. Job availability depends on population density, the number of practices, and retirement turnover in the area.

Can speech-language pathologists make $100K in Lexington?

Top-earning speech-language pathologists in Lexington (90th percentile) make $130,418/year, which exceeds $100K. The median is $98,054. To reach six figures, speech-language pathologists typically need 5–10+ years of experience combined with specialty certifications and expanded-function credentials.

What is the cost-of-living adjusted speech-language pathologist salary in Lexington?

After adjusting for Lexington's cost-of-living index of 108.5 (where 100 equals the national average), the $98,054 nominal salary has purchasing power equivalent to $90,372 in an average-cost city. This means living costs in Lexington reduce the effective value of your salary by 7.8% compared to the national average — consider negotiating higher base pay or exploring nearby lower-cost metros.

How much does a speech-language pathologist make per hour in Lexington?

Speech-Language Pathologists in Lexington earn a median hourly rate of $47.14, which translates to approximately $98,054/year for full-time work (40 hours/week, 2,080 hours/year). Hourly rates range from $32.13 for entry-level positions to $62.71 for the most experienced practitioners. Part-time and per diem speech-language pathologists sometimes command premium hourly rates because practices need flexible scheduling coverage.

Related Pages

Nearby Cities in Massachusetts

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

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 $94,292 for speech-language pathologistsin the Lexington 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 Lexington is estimated from official BLS state-level occupational wage data (2025), adjusted for regional cost-of-living differences using BEA RPP (Regional Price Parities).

View estimation methodology

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

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