SalaryExplorer

SOC 29-1127 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS

Speech-Language PathologistsKingsport

Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA · 9 metro areas compared

$78,940 /year
$37.95per hour
160jobs in area
19.3%vs US median

In Kingsport, TN the median wage is $78,940.

Wage distribution · annual

Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners

US MEDIAN $97,87010TH$55,00025TH$63,840MEDIAN$78,94075TH$102,10090TH$117,520

Salary overview

In Kingsport, TN the median wage is $78,940. That is 19.3% lower than the national median of $97,870. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $63,840 and $102,100. The lowest tenth earn under $55,000, while the highest tenth earn more than $117,520.

The area has 160 jobs in this occupation, giving a location quotient of 1.13 — a measure of how concentrated the occupation is here relative to the country as a whole. Chattanooga leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $93,740. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 55th of 347 by median pay.

Percentile breakdown

Annual wages by percentile · Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA · May 2025
PercentileAnnualvs US median
10th$55,000−43.8%
25th$63,840−34.8%
Median (50th)$78,940−19.3%
75th$102,100+4.3%
90th$117,520+20.1%
Mean$83,940−14.2%

Other metro areas in Tennessee

Median annual wage for Speech-Language Pathologists, by metro area
#Metro areaMedianJobsRelative
1Chattanooga$93,740330
2Clarksville$93,370170
3Memphis$86,120460
4Morristown$85,75040
5Nashville$83,780980
6Johnson City$82,050140
7Jackson$82,000100
8Knoxville$78,060400
9Cleveland$67,84040

What the pay is worth locally

Prices in Kingsport run 8.1% below the national average, so the median of $78,940 goes as far as $85,898 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 12.2% below the national median in real terms.

Published median

$78,940as reported by BLS

Local price level

91.9US average = 100 · BEA 2024

Adjusted for local prices

$85,898US average = 100 · BEA 2024

Key takeaways

  • Median pay is $78,940 a year, 19.3% below the national median.
  • Published pay spans $55,000 to $117,520 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
  • The area has 160 jobs in this occupation.
  • The highest-paying metro area covered is Chattanooga, at $93,740.

Frequently asked questions

What is the median wage for Speech-Language Pathologists in Kingsport, TN?

The median annual wage is $78,940, or $37.95 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.

Is that higher than the national average?

The national median for this occupation is $97,870, so pay in Kingsport, TN is 19.3% lower. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.

What do the top earners make?

The top tenth of this occupation in Kingsport, TN earns more than $117,520 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.

What is the starting range?

The tenth percentile wage is $55,000 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.

Which area nearby pays the most?

The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in Chattanooga, at $93,740 per year.

How many jobs are there in this occupation here?

The survey estimates 160 jobs in this occupation in Kingsport, TN. Self-employed workers are not included.

Source and methodology

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.

Speech-Language Pathologists Salary in Kingsport, TN (2025): $78,940 Median | Salary Explorer