Speech-Language Pathologists pay range in Hickory
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $64,020 a year or less, while the top 10% make $118,410 or more. The middle half of speech-language pathologists in Hickory earn between $71,480 and $103,720.
- $64K10th
- $71K25th
- $86KMedian
- $104K75th
- $118K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $89,620 | $7,468 | $43.09 |
| Median | $86,120 | $7,177 | $41.40 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $71,480 | $5,957 | $34.37 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $103,720 | $8,643 | $49.87 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Speech-Language Pathologists pay in Hickory vs. North Carolina and the U.S.
Speech-language pathologists in Hickory earn about the same as the North Carolina average ($88,640) and 9% less than the U.S. average ($98,170). At the median the gap is -12% against the U.S. median of $97,870.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hickory | $89,620 | $86,120 | $64,020 | $118,410 | 130 |
| North Carolina | $88,640 | $86,460 | $60,800 | $121,040 | 5,600 |
| 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 Hickory
On the average salary of $89,620, a single filer in Hickory takes home about $68,811 a year, or $5,734 a month and $2,647 every two weeks. Taxes take 23% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Hickory a good place for speech-language pathologists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Hickory area are 12% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 88.5), so the average $89,620 buys what about $101,282 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.9 times the median wage of all jobs in Hickory ($45,220). A typical home costs $271,739, or 3.0 years of this average salary before tax.
Speech-Language Pathologists salary in other North Carolina cities
Hickory ranks 3rd of 14 North Carolina metro areas for this job; Greenville pays the most ($96,470).
- Greenville$96,470
- Charlotte$91,280
- Hickory$89,620
- Winston-Salem$89,380
- Rocky Mount$89,230
- Raleigh$89,190
- Durham$87,410
- Wilmington$86,700
- Asheville$86,550
- Fayetteville$85,240
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 Hickory: questions
How much do speech-language pathologists make an hour in Hickory?
$43.09 an hour on average, and $41.40 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level speech-language pathologists salary in Hickory?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $64,020 a year and the 25th percentile is $71,480, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the speech-language pathologists take-home pay in Hickory?
About $68,811 a year ($5,734 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $89,620.
Do speech-language pathologists earn more in Hickory than elsewhere?
The average here is 9% less 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 Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC (25860). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.1%.
- 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 (2026 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.72, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.72).
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