Speech-Language Pathologist Salary in Jackson, TN: $85,272 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time speech-language pathologist in Jackson, TN earns a median $85,272/year (≈ $40.99/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-1127). Once you factor in Jackson's price level (14% below national, BEA RPP 85.5), that paycheck buys what $99,708 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 1.1% below the Tennessee state average.
Official BLS data · View source
In 2026, the expected median annual salary for speech-language pathologists in Jackson, Tennessee, reaches $85,272, reflecting a noticeable difference from the national median of $101,775. This salary is part of a broad range that spans from $59,753 at the 10th percentile to $120,722 at the 90th percentile, based on estimates from 2025 BLS data projected to 2026. The local job market benefits significantly from the need for specialized therapists, particularly those focusing on dysphagia—a subspecialty within medical speech-language pathology that typically commands higher compensation. Such expertise is vital as the demand for SLPs with medical training becomes increasingly pronounced in Jackson’s healthcare landscape.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $59,753 | $28.73 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $67,729 | $32.56 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $85,272 | $40.99 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $97,376 | $46.82 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $120,722 | $58.04 |
Median Salary Position
16.22% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Jackson
In Jackson, TN, the speech-language pathologist salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $60,969 (2026 est.). At $85,272, the local median is 16.22% below the national median of $101,775.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Jackson: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Jackson Speech-Language Pathologist Pay Compares
Jackson median: $85,272/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Jackson Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Tennessee Average | $86,220 | -1.10% less |
| National Average | $101,775 | -16.22% less |
Speech-Language Pathologists in Jackson, TN earn a median of $85,272 per year (2026 est.), which is 16.22% lower than the national median of $101,775 and 1.10% below the Tennessee state average of $86,220.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Jackson has a cost of living 14.48% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Jackson, TN has a cost-of-living index of 85.522 (below the national average of 100). A speech-language pathologist earning $85,272 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $99,708 in an average-cost city — an effective 16.93% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$67,920
2025 BLS Actual
$82,000
2026 Current Est.
$85,272
2019–2027 Growth
+30.6%
Salary Trajectory for Speech-Language Pathologists in Jackson (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.99% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $67,920 | Actual |
| 2020 | $68,440 | Actual |
| 2021 | $60,790 | Actual |
| 2022 | $65,280 | Actual |
| 2023 | $76,130 | Actual |
| 2024 | $79,190 | Actual |
| 2025 | $82,000 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $85,272 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $88,674 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Jackson metropolitan area, the median speech-language pathologist salary grew 20.7% from $67,920 (2019) to $82,000 (2025). At a 3.99% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $88,674 by 2027 — a total increase of $20,754 (30.56%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Jackson 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) | $59,753 – $67,729 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $67,729 – $85,272 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $85,272 – $97,376 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $97,376 – $120,722 |
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 Jackson
With 100 speech-language pathologists employed in the area, the local market presents a blend of opportunities and challenges. The cost-of-living index in Jackson, positioned at 85.522, indicates that clinicians can enjoy greater purchasing power compared to national averages, potentially making salaries stretch further in this market. Employers across various settings, including school districts, hospitals, and outpatient clinics, influence pay significantly. Hospital settings, particularly those focusing on inpatient rehab, tend to offer the highest salaries for SLPs, reflecting the complexities of patient care involved. Factors affecting salary variance also include employment settings and contract types; medical settings often provide higher pay than educational institutions. To maximize earnings, prospective SLPs should consider roles in medically-focused environments or explore telepractice opportunities, which have seen exponential growth since the pandemic, offering flexible hours and competitive compensation.
More salary data for Jackson, TN:
Frequently Asked Questions
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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 $82,000 for speech-language pathologistsin the Jackson 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
Source: BLS, OEWS, 7-year dataset (–). Per-city data from annual BLS metropolitan area surveys.
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