Speech-Language Pathologist Salary in Nashville, TN: $87,123 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time speech-language pathologist in Nashville, TN earns a median $87,123/year (≈ $41.89/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-1127). Once you factor in Nashville's price level (4% below national, BEA RPP 96.3), that paycheck buys what $90,435 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 1.0% above the Tennessee state average.
Official BLS data · View source
In 2026, the projected median speech-language pathologist salary in Nashville, TN, is $87,123, which represents a decrease of about 14.40% compared to the national median of $101,775. Salaries in the area will vary significantly, with the lowest 10% earning approximately $63,631 and the highest 90% reaching around $116,490, as derived from 2025 BLS OEWS surveys. With the rise of telepractice, many SLPs are finding additional income through 1099 contracting, which allows them to effectively boost their hourly compensation rates. This shift also indicates that the local job market remains relatively strong, drawing professionals interested in both traditional and teletherapy roles.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $63,631 | $30.59 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $68,165 | $32.78 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $87,123 | $41.89 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $107,921 | $51.89 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $116,490 | $56.01 |
Median Salary Position
14.4% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Nashville
In Nashville, TN, the speech-language pathologist salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $52,859 (2026 est.). At $87,123, the local median is 14.4% below the national median of $101,775.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Nashville: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Nashville Speech-Language Pathologist Pay Compares
Nashville median: $87,123/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Nashville Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Tennessee Average | $86,260 | +1.00% more |
| National Average | $101,775 | -14.40% less |
Speech-Language Pathologists in Nashville, TN earn a median of $87,123 per year (2026 est.), which is 14.40% lower than the national median of $101,775 and 1.00% above the Tennessee state average of $86,260.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Nashville has a cost of living 3.66% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Nashville, TN has a cost-of-living index of 96.338 (below the national average of 100). A speech-language pathologist earning $87,123 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $90,435 in an average-cost city — an effective 3.8% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$72,240
2025 BLS Actual
$83,780
2026 Current Est.
$87,123
2019–2027 Growth
+25.4%
Salary Trajectory for Speech-Language Pathologists in Nashville (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.99% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $72,240 | Actual |
| 2020 | $70,610 | Actual |
| 2021 | $77,630 | Actual |
| 2022 | $73,090 | Actual |
| 2023 | $77,960 | Actual |
| 2024 | $83,970 | Actual |
| 2025 | $83,780 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $87,123 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $90,599 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Nashville metropolitan area, the median speech-language pathologist salary grew 16.0% from $72,240 (2019) to $83,780 (2025). At a 3.99% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $90,599 by 2027 — a total increase of $18,359 (25.41%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Nashville 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) | $63,631 – $68,165 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $68,165 – $87,123 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $87,123 – $107,921 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $107,921 – $116,490 |
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 Nashville
In Nashville, approximately 980 speech-language pathologists are currently employed, which provides a robust local job market amid a cost of living index of 96.338, indicating that living expenses are slightly below the national average. This affordability translates to greater purchasing power for SLPs in the city. Within this competitive environment, different settings yield varied salary potential; for instance, positions in hospital inpatient rehabilitation typically offer more substantial compensation than those in education. The variation in pay can also stem from factors such as contract types, with year-round positions generally commanding higher salaries, along with potential stipends for specialization and bilingual qualifications. For professionals in the Nashville market, strategies like pursuing certifications, engaging in telepractice, and negotiating pay in line with experience can significantly maximize overall compensation.
More salary data for Nashville, 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 $83,780 for speech-language pathologistsin the Nashville 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