Speech-Language Pathologist Salary in Winchester, VA: $99,872 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time speech-language pathologist in Winchester, VA earns a median $99,872/year (≈ $48.02/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-1127). Once you factor in Winchester's price level (4% below national, BEA RPP 96.5), that paycheck buys what $103,548 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 2.8% above the Virginia state average.
Official BLS data · View source
In Winchester, VA, speech-language pathologists command a median annual salary of $99,872, reflecting a competitive compensation structure that meets the needs of this region. The projected salary range for 2026 spans from $76,849 at the tenth percentile to $141,083 at the ninetieth percentile, offering significant earning potential for experienced professionals, particularly those specializing in dysphagia and medical settings. These figures are based on 2025 BLS OEWS data, projected to 2026, and indicate a slight variance of approximately 1.87% below the national median of $101,775. With growth expected at a rate of 3.99% annually over the next five years, the job market in Winchester shows promise for both emerging and established practitioners.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $76,849 | $36.95 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $85,833 | $41.26 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $99,872 | $48.02 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $138,951 | $66.80 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $141,083 | $67.83 |
Median Salary Position
1.87% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Winchester
In Winchester, VA, the speech-language pathologist salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $64,234 (2026 est.). At $99,872, the local median is 1.87% below the national median of $101,775.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Winchester: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Winchester Speech-Language Pathologist Pay Compares
Winchester median: $99,872/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Winchester Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Virginia Average | $97,152 | +2.80% more |
| National Average | $101,775 | -1.87% less |
Speech-Language Pathologists in Winchester, VA earn a median of $99,872 per year (2026 est.), which is 1.87% lower than the national median of $101,775 and 2.80% above the Virginia state average of $97,152.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Winchester has a cost of living 3.55% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Winchester, VA has a cost-of-living index of 96.45 (below the national average of 100). A speech-language pathologist earning $99,872 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $103,548 in an average-cost city — an effective 3.68% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$82,430
2025 BLS Actual
$96,040
2026 Current Est.
$99,872
2019–2027 Growth
+26.0%
Salary Trajectory for Speech-Language Pathologists in Winchester (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.99% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $82,430 | Actual |
| 2020 | $89,730 | Actual |
| 2021 | $79,870 | Actual |
| 2022 | $82,567 | Actual |
| 2023 | $82,180 | Actual |
| 2024 | $91,750 | Actual |
| 2025 | $96,040 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $99,872 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $103,857 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Winchester metropolitan area, the median speech-language pathologist salary grew 16.5% from $82,430 (2019) to $96,040 (2025). At a 3.99% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $103,857 by 2027 — a total increase of $21,427 (25.99%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Winchester 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) | $76,849 – $85,833 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $85,833 – $99,872 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $99,872 – $138,951 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $138,951 – $141,083 |
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 Winchester
The local job market for speech-language pathologists in Winchester is supported by a stable workforce of 80 employed professionals. Given the area's cost of living index of 96.45, which is below the national average, salaries can offer a reasonable take-home income, especially for those engaged in full-time work throughout the year. Employers such as hospital inpatient rehabilitation facilities and skilled nursing facilities generally provide higher pay rates than public school districts. The pay disparity is influenced by various factors, including work setting and the prevalence of board specialty certifications. For maximizing earnings in this market, pursuing roles in medical settings, focusing on dysphagia, and enhancing qualifications through bilingual certification or specialized training can yield significant financial benefits. Speech-language pathologists can strategically position themselves in the emerging telepractice sector, which has continued to expand following the 2020 pandemic, further enhancing their opportunities in this evolving landscape.
More salary data for Winchester, VA:
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 $96,040 for speech-language pathologistsin the Winchester 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, 6-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