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Speech-language pathologist salary in North Carolina

Updated November 2, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data. Published by Humblebee.

$86,460median pay per year in North Carolina, or $41.57 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $60,800lowest 10% earn less
  2. $71,16025th percentile
  3. $86,460median
  4. $103,02075th percentile
  5. $121,040top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[2]US median for this job, $97,870[3]

The median pay for speech-language pathologists in North Carolina was $86,460 a year in May 2025[1]. That was $11,410 lower than the US median[6].

Jobs in NC
5,600[4]
Rank by median pay
31 of 51[5]
Compared with US median
−11.7%[6]

How much do speech-language pathologists make in North Carolina?

Half of the speech-language pathologists in North Carolina earned more than $86,460 a year, and half earned less[1]. That works out to $41.57 an hour[1]. The average was a bit higher, at $88,640[7].

Across the US, the median was $97,870[3]. North Carolina came in $11,410 (11.7%) lower[6]. Among the 50 states and DC with a published median, North Carolina ranked 31st[5]. Against all jobs in the state, the gap is wide. The median for all occupations in North Carolina was $47,970[8], so speech-language pathologists earned $38,490 more[9].

The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $60,800, and the highest-paid 10% earned more than $121,040[2]. By metro area, Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia had a median of $90,960[10]. Raleigh-Cary had a median of $87,400[10]. Greenville had the highest median of the 15 metro areas with a published figure, at $101,580[11].

OEWS counts wage and salary workers. It leaves out the self-employed and does not include bonuses or the cost of benefits[12].

North Carolina vs US pay

Pay for speech-language pathologists in North Carolina next to the national figures[1][3].

NCUS
Median per year$86,460[1]$97,870[3]
Median per hour$41.57[1]$47.05[3]
Lowest 10% earn less than$60,800[2]$62,900[13]
Top 10% earn more than$121,040[2]$134,160[13]
Jobs5,600[4]183,390[3]

Pay by metro area in North Carolina

Metro areas in North Carolina with the most jobs for speech-language pathologists, and the median pay in each[10]. A metro area that crosses state lines is counted as a whole.

Metro areaMedian per yearJobs
Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC[10]$90,9601,260
Raleigh-Cary, NC$87,4001,050
Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC$97,870880
Greensboro-High Point, NC$78,830430
Durham-Chapel Hill, NC$83,460390
Winston-Salem, NC$85,890340
Wilmington, NC$82,410300
Asheville, NC$85,040290

Pay in nearby states

Median pay for speech-language pathologists in the states that border North Carolina, highest first[14].

StateMedian per yearJobs
Georgia[14]$96,7604,030
Virginia$96,2504,460
South Carolina$90,5302,190
Tennessee$84,6303,320

Median pay for speech-language pathologists in every state

Job outlook and training

Across the US, jobs for speech-language pathologists are projected to grow 16.6% from 2025 to 2035[15]. BLS does not publish this projection by state. The typical education for entry is: master's degree[16].

How to become one: steps, training and duties

Frequently asked questions

How much does a speech-language pathologist make in North Carolina?
The median was $86,460 a year in May 2025[1]. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $60,800 and the highest-paid 10% earned more than $121,040[2].
How much does a speech-language pathologist make an hour in North Carolina?
The median hourly wage was $41.57[1]. The average was $42.62 an hour[7].
Which city in North Carolina pays speech-language pathologists the most?
Greenville had the highest median annual wage among North Carolina metro areas with a published figure, at $101,580[11]. Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia had a median of $90,960[10].
Is North Carolina a good state for speech-language pathologists?
North Carolina had the 31st highest median wage out of the 50 states and DC with a published median[5]. Its median was $11,410 lower than the US median[6].
What do you need to become a speech-language pathologist in North Carolina?
This is a US figure, not a North Carolina one. Across the US, the typical entry path is a master's degree, no work experience in a related job, and an internship or residency[16].

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Speech-Language Pathologists in North Carolina was $86,460 per year and $41.57 per hour. Half of these workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  2. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Speech-Language Pathologists in North Carolina: 10th percentile $60,800, 25th percentile $71,160, 75th percentile $103,020, 90th percentile $121,040. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less, the 90th means 10% earned more. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  3. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Speech-Language Pathologists in the US as a whole was $97,870 per year and $47.05 per hour, with about 183,390 jobs nationwide. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  4. BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 5,600 people worked as Speech-Language Pathologists in North Carolina (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  5. BLS OEWS, May 2025: North Carolina had the 31st highest median annual wage for Speech-Language Pathologists out of the 50 states and DC with a published median. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  6. CareerFacts calculation from BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for Speech-Language Pathologists in North Carolina ($86,460) was $11,410 (11.7%) lower than the US median ($97,870). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  7. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Speech-Language Pathologists in North Carolina was $88,640 per year and $42.62 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  8. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in North Carolina was $47,970. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  9. CareerFacts calculation from BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for Speech-Language Pathologists in North Carolina was $38,490 higher than the median for all occupations in the state ($47,970). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. Metro areas with the most jobs in this occupation, with median annual wage, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  11. BLS OEWS, May 2025: of the 15 metro areas in or partly in North Carolina with a published median for Speech-Language Pathologists, Greenville, NC had the highest median annual wage, $101,580. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  12. BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  13. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Speech-Language Pathologists in the US: 10th percentile $62,900, 25th percentile $77,730, 75th percentile $114,570, 90th percentile $134,160. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  14. BLS OEWS, May 2025, median annual wage for Speech-Language Pathologists in states that border North Carolina (highest first): Georgia $96,760; Virginia $96,250; South Carolina $90,530; Tennessee $84,630. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  15. BLS Employment Projections (US, not by state): employment of Speech-Language Pathologists is projected to grow 16.6% nationwide from 2025 to 2035, with about 12,500 openings a year on average. All occupations are projected to grow 3.5%. BLS Employment Projections
  16. BLS Employment Projections (US, not by state), typical path into Speech-Language Pathologists: education needed for entry: Master's degree; work experience in a related occupation: None; typical on-the-job training: Internship/residency. BLS Employment Projections

State figures cover only North Carolina. Job outlook and entry requirements are national (US) figures: BLS does not publish them by state in our sources. Figures labelled “CareerFacts calculation” are simple differences between the BLS numbers shown.