State salary profile · Missouri

Missouri Salaries

Missouri wages where BEA prices sit below the national average (RPP 90.8), from BLS OEWS May 2025. Published local OEWS areas include Cape Girardeau, MO-IL, Central Missouri nonmetropolitan area, Columbia, MO, Jefferson City, MO, Joplin, MO-KS, Kansas City, MO-KS, then North Missouri nonmetropolitan area, Southeast Missouri nonmetropolitan area, Southwest Missouri nonmetropolitan area, Springfield, MO, St. Joseph, MO-KS, St. Louis, MO-IL.

$187,236
Mean of top 50 medians
731
Occupations
12
Local wage areas
139,390
Estimated jobs (top tier)

The equal-weighted mean of the top 50 published occupation medians in Missouri is $187,236.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey, The May 2025 release has a published median for 731 occupations in Missouri; percentile boundaries and local-area rows are available only where BLS publishes them. The highest-paying reported occupation, Orthopedic Surgeons, Except Pediatric, earns $842,800, versus $28,600 for Gambling Dealers at the bottom of the range. Detail is available for 8 metro areas and 4 nonmetropolitan areas. Published local OEWS areas include Cape Girardeau, MO-IL, Central Missouri nonmetropolitan area, Columbia, MO, Jefferson City, MO, Joplin, MO-KS, Kansas City, MO-KS, then North Missouri nonmetropolitan area, Southeast Missouri nonmetropolitan area, Southwest Missouri nonmetropolitan area, Springfield, MO, St. Joseph, MO-KS, St. Louis, MO-IL.

Missouri · employment ≠ wage

In Missouri, General and Operations Managers lead by published employment (109,020 jobs, #1 of 706) but rank #154 of 706 on median wage ($79,300), while Cardiologists top the wage list at $648,070 (#1 of 706) with 150 jobs (#614 of 706). The largest payroll is not the highest published median.

109,020
General and Operations Man... employment #1
$648,070
Cardiologists wage #1
#614
Employment rank of wage leader
#154
Wage rank of employment leader

Employment is OEWS tot_emp inside this state; pay is the occupation median. Same detailed-occupation pool, two rankings.

Employment of Missouri's #1 occupations by headcount vs median wage

Same unit (published jobs) for both named leaders. BLS OEWS May 2025.

jobs

What this shows General and Operations Managers lead Missouri by employment; Cardiologists lead on median wage at $648,070.

Source U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS As of May 2025

Missouri, the picture in one line

Missouri ranks #34 of 54 states and territories by BLS-published All Occupations annual mean wage; its highest published occupation median is Orthopedic Surgeons, Except Pediatric at $842,800. Published local OEWS areas include Cape Girardeau, MO-IL, Central Missouri nonmetropolitan area, Columbia, MO, Jefferson City, MO, Joplin, MO-KS, Kansas City, MO-KS, then North Missouri nonmetropolitan area, Southeast Missouri nonmetropolitan area, Southwest Missouri nonmetropolitan area, Springfield, MO, St. Joseph, MO-KS, St. Louis, MO-IL.

#34
of 54 states by published mean wage
$842,800
top-paying: Orthopedic Surgeons, Except Pediatric
37th
percentile among all states
Cape Girardeau, MO-IL
local OEWS: Cape Girardeau, MO-IL and Central Missouri nonmetropolitan area

The state rank uses BLS's All Occupations mean. Occupation rows below use occupation-specific medians; the two statistics are not interchangeable. Start local checks in Cape Girardeau, MO-IL.

Where Missouri already employs the upper wage tier

Software Developers and Financial Managers lead Missouri's published employment inside this top-pay sample, order follows OEWS job counts, not median wage.

  1. 1. Software Developers 20,020 jobs · $126,120
  2. 2. Financial Managers 13,330 jobs · $143,460
  3. 3. Lawyers 11,560 jobs · $133,450
  4. 4. Managers, All Other 11,420 jobs · $125,760
  5. 5. Computer and Information Systems Managers 11,130 jobs · $159,460
  6. 6. Nurse Practitioners 7,710 jobs · $129,930
  7. 7. Sales Managers 7,630 jobs · $115,370
  8. 8. Pharmacists 6,740 jobs · $137,610
  9. 9. Marketing Managers 6,550 jobs · $130,550
  10. 10. Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary 5,700 jobs · $130,490
  11. 11. Industrial Production Managers 4,110 jobs · $117,660
  12. 12. Physicians, All Other 3,990 jobs · $227,980
  13. 13. Family Medicine Physicians 3,740 jobs · $171,180
  14. 14. Human Resources Managers 3,510 jobs · $130,680
  15. 15. Chief Executives 2,550 jobs · $172,320
  16. 16. Dentists, General 2,440 jobs · $204,960
  17. 17. Electrical Engineers 2,410 jobs · $118,670
  18. 18. Physician Assistants 2,300 jobs · $135,130
  19. 19. Architectural and Engineering Managers 2,250 jobs · $157,800
  20. 20. Nurse Anesthetists 1,550 jobs · $242,630

Local BLS wage areas inside Missouri

Published local OEWS areas include Cape Girardeau, MO-IL, Central Missouri nonmetropolitan area, Columbia, MO, Jefferson City, MO, Joplin, MO-KS, Kansas City, MO-KS, then North Missouri nonmetropolitan area, Southeast Missouri nonmetropolitan area, Southwest Missouri nonmetropolitan area, Springfield, MO, St. Joseph, MO-KS, St. Louis, MO-IL.

Cape Girardeau, MO-IL Central Missouri nonmetropolitan area Columbia, MO Jefferson City, MO Joplin, MO-KS Kansas City, MO-KS North Missouri nonmetropolitan area Southeast Missouri nonmetropolitan area Southwest Missouri nonmetropolitan area Springfield, MO St. Joseph, MO-KS St. Louis, MO-IL

Observed statewide pay change

What changed, BLS OEWS 2024–2025

May 2024 → May 2025
  • BLS's published All Occupations median in Missouri moved from $46,390 in May 2024 to $47,800 in May 2025 (+3.0%).
  • Across the 54 states and territories priced in both releases, the median place changed +2.7%.
  • Missouri sits +0.3 pp near that median, nominal dollars, no price deflator applied.

Correctional Officers and Jailers shows the widest statewide vs national median gap in Missouri

Correctional Officers and Jailers publishes $42,620 here versus $58,940 nationally (-27.7%; 6,670statewide jobs). Next is General and Operations Managers at $79,300 locally versus $105,770 nationally (-25.0%).

  1. Correctional Officers and Jailers$42,620 in Missouri sits 27.7% below the national Correctional Officers and Jailers median of $58,940 (6,670 published local jobs).
  2. General and Operations Managers$79,300 in Missouri sits 25.0% below the national General and Operations Managers median of $105,770 (109,020 published local jobs).
  3. Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors$36,450 in Missouri sits 22.7% below the national Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors median of $47,160 (5,060 published local jobs).
  4. Sales Managers$115,370 in Missouri sits 22.2% below the national Sales Managers median of $148,270 (7,630 published local jobs).

Correctional Officers and Jailers and the other occupations above are descriptive OEWS endpoints for Missouri; they are not findings about taxes, employers, or worker experience.

· Source: BLS OEWS May 2025

The Missouri OEWS table has a published median for 731 occupations. The displayed top 50 rows have summed published employment of approximately 139,390; that sum does not include the bottom table or rows whose employment is suppressed. BLS publishes means and percentile boundaries only where the corresponding estimate meets its publication standards. Averaging the medians of the top 50 highest-paying occupations gives $187,236 per year. That is only a mean of the displayed upper-tier occupation medians; it is not the BLS All Occupations mean or median and does not describe a typical worker. Published local OEWS areas include Cape Girardeau, MO-IL, Central Missouri nonmetropolitan area, Columbia, MO, Jefferson City, MO, Joplin, MO-KS, Kansas City, MO-KS, then North Missouri nonmetropolitan area, Southeast Missouri nonmetropolitan area, Southwest Missouri nonmetropolitan area, Springfield, MO, St. Joseph, MO-KS, St. Louis, MO-IL. Local OEWS areas in this extract include Cape Girardeau, MO-IL, Central Missouri nonmetropolitan area, Columbia, MO, Jefferson City, MO, Joplin, MO-KS, Kansas City, MO-KS, North Missouri nonmetropolitan area, Southeast Missouri nonmetropolitan area, Southwest Missouri nonmetropolitan area, Springfield, MO, St. Joseph, MO-KS, St. Louis, MO-IL.

At the top of the ranking, Orthopedic Surgeons, Except Pediatric pays a Missouri median of $842,800, the highest-paying reported occupation in the state. The number-two spot goes to Cardiologists at $648,070, followed by Emergency Medicine Physicians at $456,280. At the bottom of the published range, Gambling Dealers has a median of $28,600, making the displayed endpoint ratio 29.5×. The endpoints do not establish a cause or career stage. WageDex has BLS occupation rows for 8 metro areas and 4 nonmetropolitan areas assigned to Missouri, allowing comparisons below the statewide estimate without treating nonmetropolitan areas as MSAs.

Missouri's lower BEA price level (RPP 90.8) lifts the national-price reading of the published mean to about $68,458. Even then, compare Orthopedic Surgeons, Except Pediatric and Gambling Dealers inside a local OEWS area before treating either median as an offer. Published local OEWS areas include Cape Girardeau, MO-IL, Central Missouri nonmetropolitan area, Columbia, MO, Jefferson City, MO, Joplin, MO-KS, Kansas City, MO-KS, then North Missouri nonmetropolitan area, Southeast Missouri nonmetropolitan area, Southwest Missouri nonmetropolitan area, Springfield, MO, St. Joseph, MO-KS, St. Louis, MO-IL. Local OEWS area names are state-specific; statewide means are not metro offers.

Top-Tier Sample

75

occupations shown below

Avg. Median Salary

$187,236

top 50 occupations

Top Salary

$842,800

Orthopedic Surgeons, Except Pediatric

Where Missouri ranks by published mean wage

BLS All Occupations annual mean vs. 54 states & territories; local OEWS includes Cape Girardeau, MO-IL and Central Missouri nonmetropolitan area, Columbia, MO

$62,160 Bottom 37% higher than 37% of 54 states & territories

$0–$5,000: 0 states & territories (0%). Below this entry. $5,000–$10,000: 0 states & territories (0%). Below this entry. $10,000–$15,000: 0 states & territories (0%). Below this entry. $15,000–$20,000: 0 states & territories (0%). Below this entry. $20,000–$25,000: 0 states & territories (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$30,000: 0 states & territories (0%). Below this entry. $30,000–$35,000: 0 states & territories (0%). Below this entry. $35,000–$40,000: 1 states & territories (2%). Below this entry. $40,000–$45,000: 0 states & territories (0%). Below this entry. $45,000–$50,000: 1 states & territories (2%). Below this entry. $50,000–$55,000: 3 states & territories (6%). Below this entry. $55,000–$60,000: 8 states & territories (15%). Below this entry. $60,000–$65,000: 16 states & territories (30%). This entry sits in this band. $65,000–$70,000: 8 states & territories (15%). Above this entry. $70,000–$75,000: 8 states & territories (15%). Above this entry. $75,000–$80,000: 4 states & territories (7%). Above this entry. $80,000–$85,000: 3 states & territories (6%). Above this entry. $85,000–$90,000: 1 states & territories (2%). Above this entry. $90,000–$95,000: 0 states & territories (0%). Above this entry. $95,000–$100,000: 0 states & territories (0%). Above this entry. $100,000–$105,000: 0 states & territories (0%). Above this entry. $105,000–$110,000: 0 states & territories (0%). Above this entry. $110,000–$115,000: 1 states & territories (2%). Above this entry. This state $0 $115,000 every state & territory, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $5K-wide band; taller bars hold more states & territories. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Read the chart as text · as of May 2025
Band Count Share
$0–$5,000 0 states & territories 0%
$5,000–$10,000 0 states & territories 0%
$10,000–$15,000 0 states & territories 0%
$15,000–$20,000 0 states & territories 0%
$20,000–$25,000 0 states & territories 0%
$25,000–$30,000 0 states & territories 0%
$30,000–$35,000 0 states & territories 0%
$35,000–$40,000 1 states & territories 2%
$40,000–$45,000 0 states & territories 0%
$45,000–$50,000 1 states & territories 2%
$50,000–$55,000 3 states & territories 6%
$55,000–$60,000 8 states & territories 15%
$60,000–$65,000 (this entry) 16 states & territories 30%
$65,000–$70,000 8 states & territories 15%
$70,000–$75,000 8 states & territories 15%
$75,000–$80,000 4 states & territories 7%
$80,000–$85,000 3 states & territories 6%
$85,000–$90,000 1 states & territories 2%
$90,000–$95,000 0 states & territories 0%
$95,000–$100,000 0 states & territories 0%
$100,000–$105,000 0 states & territories 0%
$105,000–$110,000 0 states & territories 0%
$110,000–$115,000 1 states & territories 2%

$62,160 · 37th percentile of 54 states & territories

Source U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS · May 2025

Missouri ranks #34 of 54 by BLS-published All Occupations annual mean wage ($62,160). It is not the median wage or a prediction for a particular worker.

National-price-equivalent mean: dividing the $62,160 BLS All Occupations mean by the BEA state RPP gives $68,458. Inputs: BEA Regional Price Parity for Missouri (RPP 90.8, 2024; 100 = national average, all items, table SARPP). The division is a WageDex calculation, not an after-tax or household-income measure.

Largest OEWS footprints in Missouri

Published employment among the top-pay sample, top 15 by jobs

jobs
Source U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS As of May 2025

BLS publishes wage data for 731 distinct occupations in Missouri. The table below shows the top 50 by median annual wage, reordered by published employment for this reading. Drill into the full top-100 ranking or the fastest-growing list for deeper coverage.

Top-pay occupations in Missouri, by employment

View all 100 →

Same top-pay sample as the salary ranking, sorted by published Missouri jobs so the title sequence follows the local OEWS mix.

# Occupation Median Salary
1 Software Developers $126,120
2 Financial Managers $143,460
3 Lawyers $133,450
4 Managers, All Other $125,760
5 Computer and Information Systems Managers $159,460
6 Nurse Practitioners $129,930
7 Sales Managers $115,370
8 Pharmacists $137,610
9 Marketing Managers $130,550
10 Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary $130,490
11 Industrial Production Managers $117,660
12 Physicians, All Other $227,980
13 Family Medicine Physicians $171,180
14 Human Resources Managers $130,680
15 Chief Executives $172,320
16 Dentists, General $204,960
17 Electrical Engineers $118,670
18 Physician Assistants $135,130
19 Architectural and Engineering Managers $157,800
20 Nurse Anesthetists $242,630
21 Natural Sciences Managers $129,410
22 Purchasing Managers $132,100
23 Electronics Engineers, Except Computer $117,630
24 Athletes and Sports Competitors $172,700
25 Aerospace Engineers $130,680
26 Optometrists $133,810
27 Pediatricians, General $223,910
28 Elevator and Escalator Installers and Repairers $126,750
29 Actuaries $129,220
30 Economists $117,010
31 Air Traffic Controllers $122,200
32 Psychologists, All Other $134,890
33 Psychiatrists $312,680
34 Computer and Information Research Scientists $127,820
35 General Internal Medicine Physicians $216,570
36 Anthropology and Archeology Teachers, Postsecondary $130,500
37 Podiatrists $129,950
38 Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators, and Hearing Officers $129,670
39 Cardiologists $648,070
40 Economics Teachers, Postsecondary $116,530
41 Physicists $140,460
42 Nurse Midwives $130,220
43 Medical Dosimetrists $129,610
44 Hydrologists $116,100
45 Dentists, All Other Specialists $230,130
46 Orthopedic Surgeons, Except Pediatric $842,800
47 Emergency Medicine Physicians $456,280
48 Orthodontists $332,630
49 Physicians, Pathologists $261,830
50 Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric $228,410

Lowest Paying Jobs in Missouri

Occupation Median Salary
Gambling Dealers $28,600
Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other $28,600
Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop $29,130
Motion Picture Projectionists $29,140
Physical Therapist Aides $29,250
Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers $29,260
Waiters and Waitresses $29,400
Personal Care and Service Workers, All Other $29,700
Amusement and Recreation Attendants $29,790
Telemarketers $29,840
Cooks, Fast Food $29,890
Upholsterers $29,990
Bartenders $30,090
Fast Food and Counter Workers $30,390
Pressers, Textile, Garment, and Related Materials $30,520
Cashiers $30,520
Textile Cutting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders $30,540
Credit Counselors $30,580
Locker Room, Coatroom, and Dressing Room Attendants $30,680
Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists $30,750
Childcare Workers $30,790
Baggage Porters and Bellhops $30,800
Parking Attendants $31,050
Animal Caretakers $31,230
Food Preparation Workers $31,510

Fastest Growing Jobs

View all 50 →

See national growth projections alongside the published OEWS state employment estimates for each occupation in Missouri. Based on BLS employment projections 2024-2034.

Metro and Nonmetropolitan Wage Areas in Missouri

Cape Girardeau, MO-IL Central Missouri nonmetropolitan area Columbia, MO Jefferson City, MO Joplin, MO-KS Kansas City, MO-KS North Missouri nonmetropolitan area Southeast Missouri nonmetropolitan area Southwest Missouri nonmetropolitan area Springfield, MO St. Joseph, MO-KS St. Louis, MO-IL

Salary Guides

Best States for Salaries

Which states pay the most and why

Salary vs. Cost of Living

Compare local wage and price-level benchmarks

Fastest Growing Occupations

Where the job growth is heading

Nationwide states with similar All Occupations pay or employment scale

Two BLS OEWS peer sets outside Missouri. Local metro cards below stay inside this state; these neighborhoods are cross-state nearest neighbors on published All Occupations mean wage ($62,160 here) and reported employment (2,936,050 jobs here).

Similar mean wage

Nearest other states by BLS All Occupations annual mean wage.

Similar employment scale

Nearest headcount peers (floor 250,000 All Occupations jobs), distinct from the mean-wage column.

Peers are nearest-neighbor matches on BLS OEWS All Occupations mean annual wage and reported employment. Employment peers exclude states already listed in the mean-wage column so the two link sets stay distinct.

Local OEWS areas and related Missouri pages

Published local OEWS areas include Cape Girardeau, MO-IL, Central Missouri nonmetropolitan area, Columbia, MO, Jefferson City, MO, Joplin, MO-KS, Kansas City, MO-KS, then North Missouri nonmetropolitan area, Southeast Missouri nonmetropolitan area, Southwest Missouri nonmetropolitan area, Springfield, MO, St. Joseph, MO-KS, St. Louis, MO-IL.

Cape Girardeau, MO-IL

Local OEWS wage area

Central Missouri nonmetropolitan area

Local OEWS wage area

Columbia, MO

Local OEWS wage area

Jefferson City, MO

Local OEWS wage area

Joplin, MO-KS

Local OEWS wage area

Kansas City, MO-KS

Local OEWS wage area

Highest Paying in Missouri

Top 100 by median salary

Fastest Growing in Missouri

Projected 2024-2034 growth

Orthopedic Surgeons, Except Pediatric

National occupation profile

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average of the top 50 occupation medians in Missouri? ▼
The equal-weighted mean of the top 50 published occupation medians is $187,236/year (BLS OEWS May 2025). It is not the statewide mean or median and does not describe the wage of a typical worker.
What is the average salary in Missouri? ▼
BLS publishes an All Occupations annual mean wage of $62,160/year for Missouri in the May 2025 OEWS release, which ranks 34th among the 54 states and territories with a published mean. Published local OEWS areas include Cape Girardeau, MO-IL, Central Missouri nonmetropolitan area, Columbia, MO, Jefferson City, MO, Joplin, MO-KS, Kansas City, MO-KS, then North Missouri nonmetropolitan area, Southeast Missouri nonmetropolitan area, Southwest Missouri nonmetropolitan area, Springfield, MO, St. Joseph, MO-KS, St. Louis, MO-IL. This is an occupational wage estimate, not a household-income statistic or a prediction for one worker.
What is the highest paying job in Missouri? ▼
The highest paying occupation in Missouri is Orthopedic Surgeons, Except Pediatric with a median salary of $842,800/year according to BLS data. The second highest is Cardiologists at $648,070/year.
What jobs pay the least in Missouri? ▼
The lowest published occupation median in this Missouri ranking is Gambling Dealers at $28,600/year. The table does not classify that occupation as entry-level or explain why its median is lowest.
How many local BLS wage areas are shown for Missouri? ▼
WageDex has occupation-level wage rows for 8 metro areas and 4 nonmetropolitan areas assigned to Missouri. Published local OEWS areas include Cape Girardeau, MO-IL, Central Missouri nonmetropolitan area, Columbia, MO, Jefferson City, MO, Joplin, MO-KS, Kansas City, MO-KS, then North Missouri nonmetropolitan area, Southeast Missouri nonmetropolitan area, Southwest Missouri nonmetropolitan area, Springfield, MO, St. Joseph, MO-KS, St. Louis, MO-IL. Nonmetropolitan reporting areas are not MSAs. Compare the same occupation and statistic across areas; published coverage can differ by occupation and geography.
How many occupations are shown for Missouri? ▼
BLS publishes wage data for 731 distinct occupations in Missouri. The 50 occupations in the displayed upper tier have a combined OEWS employment estimate of approximately 139,390 jobs in covered establishments.

Price-level sources for Missouri

BLS OEWS state wage tables → BEA Regional Price Parities → BLS LAUS unemployment → BEA personal income by state →

What to do with this data

How to use Missouri wage data in a real decision

  • Missouri prices sit below the national BEA average (RPP 90.8), so the published $62,160 mean is closer to $68,458 nationally; still re-check Orthopedic Surgeons, Except Pediatric inside Cape Girardeau, MO-IL and Central Missouri nonmetropolitan area before relocating. Compare states
  • Inside Missouri, re-check Orthopedic Surgeons, Except Pediatric in Cape Girardeau, MO-IL, Central Missouri nonmetropolitan area, Columbia, MO, Jefferson City, MO or Joplin, MO-KS before treating the statewide median as a metro offer. Cape Girardeau, MO-IL
  • Open Orthopedic Surgeons, Except Pediatric for percentile bands and local-area rows; Missouri's statewide median of $842,800 uses a different geography than any single metro estimate. Orthopedic Surgeons, Except Pediatric
  • The published Missouri range runs from Gambling Dealers at $28,600 to Orthopedic Surgeons, Except Pediatric at $842,800; an offer still depends on the exact role and employer. Salary calculator

BLS OEWS estimates reflect the May 2025 reference period and exclude self-employed workers; some small occupation-area cells are suppressed.

Last updated: May 2025. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025.

State-level employment totals and local-area breakouts from BLS OEWS State and Area Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates, May 2025. Local areas can be metropolitan or nonmetropolitan.

Source data and WageDex calculations are identified in context on this page. State wage figures are computed directly from BLS OEWS state-level data. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.

This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or career advice. Statewide figures are estimates and may not reflect pay in your specific local wage area or employer.