Speech-Language Pathologists pay range in Santa Cruz
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $86,290 a year or less, while the top 10% make $155,340 or more. The middle half of speech-language pathologists in Santa Cruz earn between $99,210 and $140,720.
- $86K10th
- $99K25th
- $119KMedian
- $141K75th
- $155K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $122,840 | $10,237 | $59.06 |
| Median | $118,670 | $9,889 | $57.05 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $99,210 | $8,268 | $47.70 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $140,720 | $11,727 | $67.65 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Speech-Language Pathologists pay in Santa Cruz vs. California and the U.S.
Speech-language pathologists in Santa Cruz earn 4% more than the California average ($118,600) and 25% more than the U.S. average ($98,170). At the median the gap is +21% against the U.S. median of $97,870.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Cruz | $122,840 | $118,670 | $86,290 | $155,340 | 110 |
| California | $118,600 | $118,970 | $79,750 | $160,900 | 16,930 |
| United States | $98,170 | $97,870 | $62,900 | $134,160 | 183,390 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Speech-Language Pathologists salary after taxes in Santa Cruz
On the average salary of $122,840, a single filer in Santa Cruz takes home about $87,895 a year, or $7,325 a month and $3,381 every two weeks. Taxes take 28% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Is Santa Cruz a good place for speech-language pathologists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Santa Cruz area are 10% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 109.9), so the average $122,840 buys what about $111,778 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.2 times the median wage of all jobs in Santa Cruz ($54,730). A typical home costs $1,157,157, or 9.4 years of this average salary before tax.
Speech-Language Pathologists salary in other California cities
Santa Cruz ranks 9th of 25 California metro areas for this job; El Centro pays the most ($139,700).
- El Centro$139,700
- Napa$135,020
- San Jose$134,270
- Santa Rosa$132,480
- San Francisco$130,240
- Santa Maria$129,450
- Vallejo$123,960
- Salinas$123,560
- Santa Cruz$122,840
- Fresno$121,950
Highest-paying cities for speech-language pathologists
El Centro, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($139,700).
- El Centro, CA$139,700
- Napa, CA$135,020
- San Jose, CA$134,270
- Santa Rosa, CA$132,480
- San Francisco, CA$130,240
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Speech-Language Pathologists salary in Santa Cruz: questions
How much do speech-language pathologists make an hour in Santa Cruz?
$59.06 an hour on average, and $57.05 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level speech-language pathologists salary in Santa Cruz?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $86,290 a year and the 25th percentile is $99,210, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the speech-language pathologists take-home pay in Santa Cruz?
About $87,895 a year ($7,325 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $122,840. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do speech-language pathologists earn more in Santa Cruz than elsewhere?
The average here is 25% more than the U.S. average for this job ($98,170).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 29-1127; area Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA (42100). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.5%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.97, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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