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Speech-Language Pathology Salary in Maine: Is It a Good Career?

Maine · 2026 BLS salary data

Speech-Language Pathology pay in Maine

The median wage is $82,660/yr — 16% below the national median. Among U.S. states, Maineranks #40 of 51 states by median pay.

The numbers in Maine

Real BLS state-level figures for Speech-Language Pathology.

Median salary
$82,660/yr
Pay range (25th–75th)
$73,930 – $99,060
National median
$97,870/yr
Employed in Maine
640

Source: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics (OEWS), state estimates, May 2025 release.

What that pay is really worth in Maine

Salary alone can mislead — Maine costs 3% less than the U.S. average. Here's the median adjusted for local prices (real purchasing power).

Cost of living (US=100)
97
Nominal median
$82,660
Adjusted for cost of living
≈ $85,216
State income tax
Up to 7.15%

Maine's high pay is offset by cost of living — adjusted for prices it ranks #44 of 51, down from #40 on raw salary.

Cost of living: BEA Regional Price Parities (all items, US=100), 2024. Adjusted pay = nominal median ÷ (RPP/100) — purchasing power vs the U.S. average. State income tax = top marginal rate on wage income (Tax Foundation, 2025); your effective rate is lower and depends on income and deductions.

FAQ

How much do speech-language pathology professionals make in Maine?

The median annual wage is $82,660 (BLS OEWS, state estimates), with the middle 50% earning between $73,930 and $99,060. That's 16% below the national median.

Is Maine a good state for speech-language pathology?

By raw pay, Maine ranks #40 of 51 states by median pay. Adjusted for cost of living (Maine costs 3% less than the U.S. average), that median is worth about $85,216. Maine's high pay is offset by cost of living — adjusted for prices it ranks #44 of 51, down from #40 on raw salary.

Are speech-language pathology professionals in demand in Maine?

About 640 people work in this field in Maine (BLS OEWS). Nationally, BLS projects +15.0% employment growth for this field from 2024 to 2034.

The verdict, pros, and cons below apply to Speech-Language Pathology nationally — Maine pay is 16% below the national median. See the full Speech-Language Pathology career guide →

The verdict

Yes — speech-language pathology offers strong pay, fast growth, meaningful work, and flexible settings. The barrier is the required master's degree and clinical fellowship, plus the debt involved.

Pros & cons

Pros

  • Strong, above-median pay
  • Much-faster-than-average projected growth
  • Meaningful work across ages and conditions
  • Flexible settings: schools, clinics, hospitals, teletherapy
  • Good work-life balance, part-time options

Cons

  • Requires a master's degree plus clinical fellowship
  • Graduate debt relative to salary
  • Heavy documentation and caseloads
  • Licensure and continuing-education requirements

Who it's for

✓ A good fit if…

  • People wanting meaningful, flexible clinical work
  • Those able to complete graduate training
  • Anyone valuing strong work-life balance

✗ Probably not if…

  • People unwilling to pursue a master's
  • Those seeking a fast, low-cost entry

What people are actually asking

Real Reddit discussions on whether Speech-Language Pathology is worth it — titles link to the original threads.