Speech-Language Pathologists Employment & Job Outlook in California (2024)

California employs 17,270 Speech-Language Pathologists professionals, above the national average concentration.

Data: BLS OEWS 2024 • California employment outlook • Updated 2026-04-06

Total Employed
17,270
professionals
Jobs per 1,000
17.27
workers
Location Quotient
5.03
vs national avg
Average Salary
$112K
annual

High Demand in California

The location quotient (LQ) of 5.03 indicates that California has a higher-than-average concentration of Speech-Language Pathologists professionals. This means the job is in high demand relative to other states, suggesting strong local job market opportunities.

Note: Location Quotient (LQ) is the ratio of the percentage of workers in an occupation in a given area to the percentage in that occupation nationwide. An LQ > 1.0 means above-average concentration; < 1.0 means below-average.

California vs National Average

Total Employed
17,270
National: 171,530
10.1% of national
Jobs per 1,000
17.27
National: 3.43
+403.5%
Average Salary
$112K
National: $88K
+26.5%

Top States by Speech-Language Pathologists Employment

#1
18,790
18,790
employed
#2
17,270
17,270
employed
#3
16,610
16,610
employed
#4
8,260
8,260
employed
#5
7,850
7,850
employed
#6
6,610
6,610
employed
#7
6,250
6,250
employed
#8
5,940
5,940
employed
#9
4,810
4,810
employed
#10
4,440
4,440
employed

What Does a Speech-Language Pathologists Earn in California?

The average annual salary for a Speech-Language Pathologists in California is $112,030. For a detailed breakdown by percentile, entry-level, median, and senior salaries, see the comprehensive salary guide below.

View full salary breakdown →

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Frequently Asked Questions

How many Speech-Language Pathologists jobs are there in California?

California employs approximately 17,270 Speech-Language Pathologists professionals (2024 BLS data). This ranks California among the top states nationwide.

Is Speech-Language Pathologists in demand in California?

Yes — California has above-average concentration of Speech-Language Pathologists jobs (LQ: 5.03). A Location Quotient above 1.0 indicates higher-than-average demand.

What is the average salary for Speech-Language Pathologists in California?

The average (mean) salary for Speech-Language Pathologists in California is $112030/year. See our detailed salary page for percentile breakdowns.

What is a Location Quotient (LQ)?

Location Quotient measures how concentrated an occupation is in a state compared to the national average. LQ > 1.0 means the state has more of that job proportionally. LQ > 1.2 indicates strong demand.

Which states employ the most Speech-Language Pathologists professionals?

The top state for Speech-Language Pathologists employment is Texas with 18,790 jobs.

Related Pages

Data Source

Employment and location quotient data sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) 2024. This data reflects total employment, jobs per 1,000 workers, location quotient, and average salary for Speech-Language Pathologists (SOC 291127) in California.

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