As we reviewed in Speech-Language Pathologist Pay in the Top 20 Metro Areas earlier this year, the largest U.S. metropolitan markets are the major centers for speech-language pathologist employment. Nonetheless, a deeper look into U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) data discloses that smaller metro areas commonly provide speech-language pathologists with higher-paying employment opportunities.  A review of May 2021 BLS data shows us that only four of the top 20 U.S. metropolitan areas were among the 20 best metro areas for speech-language pathologist pay:

20 Best Metro Areas for Speech-Language Pathologist Pay

	Metropolitan Area		# Employed	Annual Mean Wages
1	San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward (#)		1,590	$118,260
2	San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA		640	$111,120
3	Salinas, CA		140	$107,160
4	Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA		110	$106,710
5	Central Louisiana non-metro		60	$106,430
6	Modesto, CA		300	$106,130
7	New York-Newark-Jersey City (#)		13,140	$106,030
8	Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA		150	$104,550
9	Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade		800	$103,740
10	Urban Honolulu		180	$103,420
11	Northern Valley California non-metro		90	$102,980
12	Vallejo-Fairfield, CA		90	$102,940
13	Grand Junction, CO		100	$102,350
14	Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT		550	$101,200
15	Las Cruces, NM		100	$101,190
16	San Diego-Carlsbad (#)		1,180	$101,150
17	Yuba City, CA		60	$100,880
18	Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim (#)		5,140	$100,530
19	Napa, CA		50	$100,370
20	Fresno, CA		380	$100,330
	National		147,470	$85,820

(#) a top 20 U.S metro population area

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OES. Data extracted on December 3, 2022