Average and median wage in Missouri
Half of the 2,936,050 workers in Missouri earn less than $47,800 a year, the median wage, while the average pay is $62,160, or $29.89 an hour. The lowest-paid 10% make $29,780 or less and the top 10% $104,320 or more. The average is 11% less than the U.S. average ($69,770) and the median 6% less than the U.S. median ($50,980).
- $30K10th
- $36K25th
- $48KMedian
- $74K75th
- $104K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Missouri per year | Per hour* | U.S. per year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $62,160 | $29.88 | $69,770 |
| Median | $47,800 | $22.98 | $50,980 |
| 10th percentile | $29,780 | $14.32 | $31,200 |
| 25th percentile | $36,160 | $17.38 | $37,590 |
| 75th percentile | $74,260 | $35.70 | $80,520 |
| 90th percentile | $104,320 | $50.15 | $128,560 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Statewide figures include every employer in the state, metro and rural. Median vs. average salary · reading percentiles.
Average salary by city in Missouri
- Kansas City$66,550
- St. Louis$66,330
- Columbia$61,380
- Jefferson City$58,750
- St. Joseph$57,160
- Cape Girardeau$56,640
- Springfield$56,420
- Joplin$53,370
Map of Missouri metro areas
Loading map…
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Salary, take-home pay and cost of living by city
| City | Average | Median | Take-home* | Cost of living | Home value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kansas City | $66,550 | $50,820 | $52,772 | 93 | $329,641 |
| St. Louis | $66,330 | $49,990 | $52,605 | 95 | $276,878 |
| Columbia | $61,380 | $47,260 | $49,551 | 89 | $323,951 |
| Jefferson City | $58,750 | $48,030 | $47,562 | 88 | $275,951 |
| St. Joseph | $57,160 | $47,350 | $46,359 | 86 | $215,126 |
| Cape Girardeau | $56,640 | $44,470 | $45,965 | 86 | $232,332 |
| Springfield | $56,420 | $45,780 | $45,799 | 89 | $272,938 |
| Joplin | $53,370 | $44,980 | $43,492 | 86 | $226,857 |
*Average salary after federal and state income tax and payroll taxes for a single filer. Cost of living: BEA price parity, U.S. = 100.
Highest-paying jobs in Missouri
- Orthopedic Surgeons, Except Pediatric · Springfield$710,930
- Athletes and Sports Competitors · Kansas City$467,430
- Athletes and Sports Competitors · St. Louis$435,350
- Anesthesiologists · Kansas City$401,340
- Radiologists · St. Louis$396,830
- Family Medicine Physicians · St. Joseph$379,650
- Psychiatrists · St. Louis$357,180
- Emergency Medicine Physicians · St. Louis$314,150
- Family Medicine Physicians · Springfield$310,190
- Physicians, All Other · Columbia$298,810
Most common jobs in Missouri
| Job | Jobs statewide | Average | Median | Highest city average |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| General and Operations Managers | 109,020 | $102,610 | $79,300 | $114,850 |
| Home Health and Personal Care Aides | 94,810 | $34,020 | $33,080 | $36,950 |
| Registered Nurses | 76,310 | $85,900 | $81,780 | $92,700 |
| Cashiers | 69,430 | $32,810 | $30,520 | $34,500 |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | 67,390 | $39,150 | $36,710 | $40,470 |
| Retail Salespersons | 67,140 | $36,310 | $33,460 | $37,070 |
| Office Clerks, General | 56,050 | $45,250 | $42,370 | $47,560 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | 55,780 | $30,990 | $29,890 | $32,470 |
| Customer Service Representatives | 50,530 | $46,470 | $44,190 | $48,600 |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | 47,760 | $56,830 | $54,550 | $61,850 |
Jobs, average and median: BLS statewide estimates. Highest city average: best-paid metro area we cover in the state.
Average salary by job family in Missouri
Missouri income tax and take-home pay
Take-home figures on these pages apply Missouri's 2026 income tax rules for a single filer with the standard deduction, plus federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security and Medicare. City or county income taxes are included for Kansas City (1%), St. Louis (1%). The 1% earnings tax applies to people who live or work in Kansas City or St. Louis itself, not in the suburbs.
Missouri at a glance
Average salary in other states
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Puerto Rico
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- Washington, D.C.
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Salary in Missouri: questions
What is the average salary in Missouri?
$62,160 a year across all jobs, according to BLS statewide estimates (OEWS, May 2025). That is 11% less than the U.S. average ($69,770).
What is the median salary in Missouri?
$47,800 a year: half of Missouri workers earn more and half earn less. The median is lower than the average because a minority of high earners lifts the average.
What is the average hourly wage in Missouri?
$29.89 an hour on average, and $22.98 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
Which city in Missouri pays the most?
Kansas City, with an average of $66,550 a year among the metro areas we cover.
Is Missouri expensive to live in?
BEA puts Missouri prices 9% below the U.S. average (price parity 90.8). Within the state, St. Louis 95, Kansas City 93, Columbia 89 are the most expensive metros.
Sources and how to read this page
- Statewide figures: BLS OEWS state estimates, May 2025, all occupations and every employer in the state (metro and rural areas).
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. City figures: the metro areas we cover in Missouri.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Population and median household income: Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2023.
- Crime: FBI Crime Data Explorer, violent and property crimes reported by agencies statewide, latest 12 months available.
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