TRAVEL RANKING · SOC 29-1127
Best states for travel slps — ranked by real take-home pay.
All 51 states + DC for speech-language pathologists on a travel-weighted WageBench Score that adds stipend efficiency + license portability on top of base pay and tax.
NATIONAL MEDIAN
$97,870
↑ 2.6% vs 2024
TOP PICK
Colorado
WageBench Score (Travel) 80
NO STATE INCOME TAX
9 / 51
states
Every state · SLPs
WageBench Score (Travel) = 35% pay power · 30% stipend efficiency · 20% license access · 10% demand · 5% livability. Click any column header to sort. Click any state for the full breakdown.
51 states · page 1 of 3
COL = cost of living vs the US average (avg = national average, + pricier, − cheaper). Wages: BLS OEWS 2025; COL: BEA Regional Price Parity.
| Rank | State | Median | Take-Home | ≈ /week | State Tax | COL | PT Compact | Crisis | WB Score ↓ | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Colorado | $110,750 | $105,877 | $2,036 | 4.4% | +3% | ✓ | Active | 80 | |
| #2 | New Mexico | $98,690 | $93,854 | $1,805 | 4.9% | -8% | — | — | 80 | |
| #3 | Texas | $99,910 | $99,910 | $1,921 | 0.0% | -3% | ✓ | Active | 80 | |
| #4 | Missouri | $89,280 | $85,262 | $1,640 | 4.5% | -9% | ✓ | — | 79 | |
| #5 | Georgia | $96,760 | $91,535 | $1,760 | 5.4% | -4% | ✓ | Active | 79 | |
| #6 | Washington | $105,550 | $105,550 | $2,030 | 0.0% | +7% | ✓ | Active | 79 | |
| #7 | Ohio | $93,300 | $90,501 | $1,740 | 3.0% | -7% | ✓ | Active | 79 | |
| #8 | North Carolina | $86,460 | $82,785 | $1,592 | 4.3% | -6% | ✓ | — | 78 | |
| #9 | Tennessee | $84,630 | $84,630 | $1,628 | 0.0% | -8% | ✓ | — | 78 | |
| #10 | Delaware | $102,760 | $97,416 | $1,873 | 5.2% | avg | ✓ | — | 78 | |
| #11 | South Carolina | $90,530 | $85,551 | $1,645 | 5.5% | -6% | ✓ | — | 78 | |
| #12 | Arizona | $97,800 | $95,355 | $1,834 | 2.5% | +1% | ✓ | — | 78 | |
| #13 | Arkansas | $83,580 | $80,655 | $1,551 | 3.5% | -13% | ✓ | Active | 78 | |
| #14 | Indiana | $87,360 | $84,696 | $1,629 | 3.0% | -7% | ✓ | Active | 78 | |
| #15 | Florida | $99,990 | $99,990 | $1,923 | 0.0% | +3% | ✓ | Active | 77 | |
| #16 | Pennsylvania | $92,960 | $90,106 | $1,733 | 3.1% | -2% | ✓ | — | 77 | |
| #17 | Kentucky | $83,550 | $80,208 | $1,542 | 4.0% | -10% | ✓ | — | 77 | |
| #18 | Mississippi | $78,130 | $74,692 | $1,436 | 4.4% | -13% | ✓ | — | 77 | |
| #19 | North Dakota | $75,240 | $73,735 | $1,418 | 2.0% | -11% | ✓ | — | 77 | |
| #20 | Virginia | $96,250 | $91,245 | $1,755 | 5.2% | +1% | ✓ | — | 77 | |
| #21 | Wyoming | $82,040 | $82,040 | $1,578 | 0.0% | -7% | ✓ | Active | 77 | |
| #22 | West Virginia | $80,970 | $77,083 | $1,482 | 4.8% | -11% | ✓ | Active | 77 | |
| #23 | Oklahoma | $84,470 | $80,669 | $1,551 | 4.5% | -12% | ✓ | Active | 77 | |
| #24 | Iowa | $81,050 | $77,970 | $1,499 | 3.8% | -12% | ✓ | — | 77 | |
| #25 | Nebraska | $84,350 | $80,301 | $1,544 | 4.8% | -10% | ✓ | — | 77 |
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WHY COLORADO TOPS THE LIST
Colorado pays $110,750, but the real story is take-home.
At $110,750 median, the after-state-tax take-home is $105,877/yr — about $2,036/week before federal tax. Effective state tax around 4.4% keeps more of the sticker rate.
See every metro in this state → Colorado wage breakdown