Speech-Language Pathologists pay range in Columbia
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $60,890 a year or less, while the top 10% make $115,210 or more. The middle half of speech-language pathologists in Columbia earn between $73,590 and $106,080.
- $61K10th
- $74K25th
- $88KMedian
- $106K75th
- $115K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $89,410 | $7,451 | $42.99 |
| Median | $87,820 | $7,318 | $42.22 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $73,590 | $6,132 | $35.38 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $106,080 | $8,840 | $51.00 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Speech-Language Pathologists pay in Columbia vs. South Carolina and the U.S.
Speech-language pathologists in Columbia earn about the same as the South Carolina average ($89,950) and 9% less than the U.S. average ($98,170). At the median the gap is -10% against the U.S. median of $97,870.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia | $89,410 | $87,820 | $60,890 | $115,210 | 390 |
| South Carolina | $89,950 | $90,530 | $56,560 | $124,070 | 2,190 |
| 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 Columbia
On the average salary of $89,410, a single filer in Columbia takes home about $68,117 a year, or $5,676 a month and $2,620 every two weeks. Taxes take 24% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Columbia a good place for speech-language pathologists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Columbia area are 6% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 93.7), so the average $89,410 buys what about $95,460 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.9 times the median wage of all jobs in Columbia ($46,430). A typical home costs $256,154, or 2.9 years of this average salary before tax.
Speech-Language Pathologists salary in other South Carolina cities
Columbia ranks 6th of 7 South Carolina metro areas for this job; Charleston pays the most ($93,320).
- Charleston$93,320
- Florence$92,990
- Spartanburg$91,430
- Hilton Head Island$91,380
- Myrtle Beach$90,770
- Columbia$89,410
- Greenville$88,260
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 Columbia: questions
How much do speech-language pathologists make an hour in Columbia?
$42.99 an hour on average, and $42.22 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level speech-language pathologists salary in Columbia?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $60,890 a year and the 25th percentile is $73,590, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the speech-language pathologists take-home pay in Columbia?
About $68,117 a year ($5,676 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $89,410.
Do speech-language pathologists earn more in Columbia 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 Columbia, SC (17900). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.9%.
- 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 0.84, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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