Speech-Language Pathologist Salary in Oak Ridge, TN: $84,597 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time speech-language pathologist in Oak Ridge, TN earns a median $84,597/year (≈ $40.67/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-1127). Once you factor in Oak Ridge's price level (8% below national, BEA RPP 91.8), that paycheck buys what $92,154 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 1.9% below the Tennessee state average.
Based on BLS state-level estimates · View source
In 2026, the salary for speech-language pathologists in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, is projected to be $84,597 annually, reflecting a local compensation landscape that lags behind the national median of $101,775 by nearly $17,000. The salary range for professionals in this field varies significantly, from $54,126 at the 10th percentile to $116,563 at the 90th percentile. These figures are derived from BLS state-level data and adjusted for the regional cost of living, which impacts residents considering both school and medical settings. With the majority of speech-language pathologists working in schools, the contract structures often lead to stark contrasts in pay depending on whether clinicians are employed year-round or on a school-year contract, informing the dynamics of the local job market effectively.
About the Oak Ridge Market
Salary estimated from Tennessee average ($82,000) adjusted for local cost of living.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $54,126 | $26.02 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $66,417 | $31.94 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $84,597 | $40.67 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $97,211 | $46.73 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $116,563 | $56.04 |
Median Salary Position
16.88% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Oak Ridge
In Oak Ridge, TN, the speech-language pathologist salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $62,437 (2026 est.). At $84,597, the local median is 16.88% below the national median of $101,775.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Oak Ridge: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Oak Ridge Speech-Language Pathologist Pay Compares
Oak Ridge median: $84,597/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Oak Ridge Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Tennessee Average | $86,235 | -1.90% less |
| National Average | $101,775 | -16.88% less |
Speech-Language Pathologists in Oak Ridge, TN earn a median of $84,597 per year (2026 est.), which is 16.88% lower than the national median of $101,775 and 1.90% below the Tennessee state average of $86,235.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Oak Ridge has a cost of living 8.20% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Oak Ridge, TN has a cost-of-living index of 91.8 (below the national average of 100). A speech-language pathologist earning $84,597 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $92,154 in an average-cost city — an effective 8.93% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$65,766
2025 BLS Actual
$81,351
2026 Current Est.
$84,597
2019–2027 Growth
+33.8%
Salary Trajectory for Speech-Language Pathologists in Oak Ridge (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.99% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $65,766 | Actual |
| 2020 | $66,896 | Actual |
| 2021 | $65,716 | Actual |
| 2022 | $69,938 | Actual |
| 2023 | $74,219 | Actual |
| 2024 | $73,856 | Actual |
| 2025 | $81,351 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $84,597 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $87,972 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Oak Ridge metropolitan area, the median speech-language pathologist salary grew 23.7% from $65,766 (2019) to $81,351 (2025). At a 3.99% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $87,972 by 2027 — a total increase of $22,206 (33.77%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Oak Ridge 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) | $54,126 – $66,417 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $66,417 – $84,597 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $84,597 – $97,211 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $97,211 – $116,563 |
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 Oak Ridge
Considering the local employment landscape, Oak Ridge hosts only six speech-language pathologists, limiting competition but also indicating a smaller community for networking and job opportunities. The cost-of-living index in Oak Ridge stands at 91.8, which is favorable compared to the national average. This lower cost may enhance purchasing power for SLPs despite the overall salaries being lower than the national benchmarks. Among local employers, hospital inpatient rehab facilities and skilled nursing facilities tend to offer the highest pay scales, with additional compensation available through board specialty certifications or bilingual capabilities. Given the variations in pay, SLPs looking to maximize their income in Oak Ridge should consider opportunities in specialized medical settings, pursue continuing education for specialized skills, or explore private practice and teletherapy roles, which can command higher hourly rates, particularly in a post-2020 market that values flexible service delivery.
More salary data for Oak Ridge, 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 $81,351 for speech-language pathologistsin the Oak Ridge 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 Oak Ridge 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