Speech-Language Pathologist Salary in Racine, WI: $85,209 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time speech-language pathologist in Racine, WI earns a median $85,209/year (≈ $40.97/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-1127). Once you factor in Racine's price level (4% below national, BEA RPP 96.0), that paycheck buys what $88,795 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 3.3% above the Wisconsin state average.
Official BLS data · View source

Speech-language pathologists in Racine, Wisconsin, can expect a median annual salary of $85,209 in 2026, which is notably lower than the national median of $101,775. The projected salary range for local SLPs spans from $64,224 at the 10th percentile to $108,545 at the 90th percentile. This data, drawn from 2025 BLS OEWS surveys and projected to 2026, reflects the reality of the profession’s dual pathways in Racine—namely, the school versus medical SLP divide. Institutions like school districts employ a majority of SLPs, creating a competitive yet often lower salary structure compared to settings like hospitals and skilled nursing facilities, which generally offer higher pay due to the specialized needs often present in their patient populations.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $64,224 | $30.87 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $73,802 | $35.48 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $85,209 | $40.97 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $105,446 | $50.70 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $108,545 | $52.18 |
Median Salary Position
16.28% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Racine
In Racine, WI, the speech-language pathologist salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $44,321 (2026 est.). At $85,209, the local median is 16.28% below the national median of $101,775.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Racine: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Racine Speech-Language Pathologist Pay Compares
Racine median: $85,209/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Racine Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Wisconsin Average | $82,487 | +3.30% more |
| National Average | $101,775 | -16.28% less |
Speech-Language Pathologists in Racine, WI earn a median of $85,209 per year (2026 est.), which is 16.28% lower than the national median of $101,775 and 3.30% above the Wisconsin state average of $82,487.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Racine has a cost of living 4.04% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Racine, WI has a cost-of-living index of 95.961 (below the national average of 100). A speech-language pathologist earning $85,209 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $88,795 in an average-cost city — an effective 4.21% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$75,610
2025 BLS Actual
$81,940
2026 Current Est.
$85,209
2019–2027 Growth
+17.2%
Salary Trajectory for Speech-Language Pathologists in Racine (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.99% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $75,610 | Actual |
| 2020 | $67,381 | Actual |
| 2021 | $76,730 | Actual |
| 2022 | $79,580 | Actual |
| 2023 | $77,450 | Actual |
| 2024 | $78,740 | Actual |
| 2025 | $81,940 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $85,209 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $88,609 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Racine metropolitan area, the median speech-language pathologist salary grew 8.4% from $75,610 (2019) to $81,940 (2025). At a 3.99% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $88,609 by 2027 — a total increase of $12,999 (17.19%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Racine 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) | $64,224 – $73,802 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $73,802 – $85,209 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $85,209 – $105,446 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $105,446 – $108,545 |
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 Racine
With around 70 speech-language pathologists currently working in Racine, the local market presents a mixture of opportunities and challenges. The city's cost of living index stands at 95.961, suggesting that take-home pay allows for reasonable purchasing power, even if salaries remain below national averages. Among the various employers, hospital inpatient rehab facilities and outpatient pediatric clinics tend to offer the highest remuneration, while school districts typically provide salaries on the lower end of the scale, constrained by academic year contracts. Factors driving the salary spread include employment setting, certifications, and specific demand for skills, including specialties in bilingual therapy or telepractice options that have surged in popularity since 2020. For current professionals and those in their CFY year, strategizing for higher earnings in Racine could involve pursuing specialized certifications or considering opportunities in the medical field or telepractice, where conditions are more favorable for increased compensation.
More salary data for Racine, WI:
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 $81,940 for speech-language pathologistsin the Racine 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