The St. Louis, MO-IL metropolitan statistical area, as BLS defines it.
Pay data · metro area
Average Salary in St. Louis, MO-IL (2026)
The average salary in the St. Louis metro area is $66,330 a year and the median is $49,990: 2% below the US median and 5% above Missouri's (BLS, May 2025). At national-average prices the median is worth $52,570, 134th of 387 metro areas.
- Average (mean) salary
- $66,330US $69,770
- Median salary
- $49,990US $50,980
- Median hourly
- $24.03BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Price level
- 95.1US = 100 · BEA 2024
The spread
What workers in St. Louis earn
| Percentile | St. Louis area | Missouri | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $31,200 | $29,780 | $31,200 |
| 25th | $37,050 | $36,160 | $37,590 |
| 50th (median) | $49,990 | $47,800 | $50,980 |
| 75th | $78,730 | $74,260 | $80,520 |
| 90th | $115,090 | $104,320 | $128,560 |
| Mean | $66,330 | $62,160 | $69,770 |
Prices
Cost of living in St. Louis
BEA Regional Price Parities put the St. Louis area at 95.1 against a US average of 100. Matching a $100,000 national-average lifestyle takes about $95,090 here. Compare with another city.
US = 100
- All items95.1
- Housing (rents)79
- Goods100
- Utilities69.9
- Other services98.6
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| All items | 95.1 |
| Housing (rents) | 79 |
| Goods | 100 |
| Utilities | 69.9 |
| Other services | 98.6 |
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024
Common jobs
What common jobs pay in St. Louis
Mean annual wage in the St. Louis area against the national mean for the same occupation (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
| Occupation | St. Louis area | US mean | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nurse | $88,320 | $101,420 | -13% |
| Software Developer | $126,090 | $148,100 | -15% |
| Elementary School Teacher | $63,020 | $72,650 | -13% |
| Accountant | $86,570 | $94,750 | -9% |
| Electrician | $75,770 | $71,490 | +6% |
| Truck Driver | $59,820 | $59,710 | 0% |
| Customer Service Representative | $48,590 | $46,590 | +4% |
| Retail Salesperson | $37,070 | $37,310 | -1% |
| Nursing Assistant | $40,730 | $42,700 | -5% |
| General and Operations Manager | $114,710 | $134,940 | -15% |
| Maintenance and Repair Worker, General | $56,450 | $53,780 | +5% |
| Cook, Restaurant | $40,500 | $38,730 | +5% |
The jobs
Best-paying jobs in St. Louis
BLS publishes estimates for 629 occupations in this metro. Highest mean pay, and the large occupations this area pays furthest above their national average.
Highest-paying jobs
Mean annual wage
- 1General Internal Medicine Physician$228,280
- 2Pediatrician, General$217,360
- 3Family Medicine Physician$193,420
- 4Financial Manager$172,850
- 5Lawyer$167,880
- 6IT Manager$166,380
- 7Architectural and Engineering Manager$166,110
- 8Natural Sciences Manager$162,200
- 9Computer and Information Research Scientist$156,710
- 10Economist$156,690
Jobs St. Louis pays above the national average
Occupations with 100,000+ US workers
- 1Multiple Machine Tool Setter, Operator, and Tender, Metal and Plastic$64,900 · +30%
- 2Construction Laborer$66,680 · +28%
- 3Food Batchmaker$51,580 · +18%
- 4Operating Engineer and Other Construction Equipment Operator$77,940 · +18%
- 5Cement Mason and Concrete Finisher$69,370 · +16%
- 6Industrial Machinery Mechanic$78,920 · +15%
- 7Painter, Construction and Maintenance$62,710 · +13%
- 8Geothermal Technician$60,590 · +13%
- 9Plumber$81,080 · +12%
- 10Roofer$64,900 · +12%
Compare
Other metro areas in Missouri
Method
About these numbers
- All-occupations wages for the metro are BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025 estimates (api.bls.gov). Wage and salary workers only; excludes the self-employed.
- Pay by occupation is the OEWS May 2025 mean for that occupation in this metro, as published in the Department of Labor’s 2026–27 prevailing-wage file. Only figures BLS estimated for this metro itself are used, never state or national fallbacks.
- Price levels are BEA Regional Price Parities for 2024. Price-adjusted pay is a NueCareer calculation (wage ÷ RPP/100).
Questions
Average salary in St. Louis: FAQ
What is the average salary in St. Louis?
Across all occupations in the St. Louis, MO-IL metro area, the average (mean) annual wage is $66,330 and the median is $49,990, 2% below the US median (BLS OEWS, May 2025). That covers 1,341,320 wage and salary jobs.
What is a good salary in St. Louis?
Above $49,990 out-earns half of workers in the St. Louis area; the top 25% start at $78,730 and the top 10% at $115,090. Prices run 5% below the national average (BEA, 2024), so matching a $100,000 national-average lifestyle takes about $95,090 here.
Is St. Louis expensive to live in?
BEA's price level for the St. Louis metro is 95.1 (US = 100, 2024). Housing rents are 79.0, goods 100.0, utilities 69.9. At local prices the median wage is worth $52,570, 134th of 387 metros.
What are the highest-paying jobs in St. Louis?
By mean annual wage: General Internal Medicine Physician ($228,280), Pediatrician, General ($217,360), Family Medicine Physician ($193,420), Financial Manager ($172,850), Lawyer ($167,880) (BLS OEWS May 2025, via the DOL wage file).