The county economy from official statistics, with source and year on every table.
Click any dot to open that city: jobs, pay, rent, commute, county economy and climate. Dot size follows population; colours follow the state flag.
By AtiveSite · Published 07/11/2026 · Updated 07/11/2026 · Every figure is linked to its source below.
Adair County is a county of Missouri with 25,301 residents. Its economy produced $1,105 million in 2024 (ranked #47 of 115 counties) and had 9,656 jobs with an average annual pay of $45,054 (#54 for pay). The unemployment rate was 3.6% in 2026M09. It is part of the Kirksville, MO micropolitan area (central county).
Adair County produced about $1,105 million of goods and services in 2024, which is 0.2% of the combined output of the 115 counties of Missouri that BEA reports (about 0.4% of the state's population lives here), and ranks it 47th of 115 on that measure. Per resident that is $43,665, 40% below the state average; the average for all counties of the state taken together is $72,469. In current dollars output grew 3.1% from 2023 to 2024, before adjusting for inflation.
BLS counts 9,656 jobs located in Adair County on average in 2024, spread over 748 employer sites (about 13 jobs per site). That is 0.38 jobs for every resident, above the 0.30 of the typical county in Missouri, which tells you whether the county is a place people mostly commute to for work or a place they commute from. The average annual pay per job was $45,054, 28% below the average of all counties in the state ($45,054 against $62,295). Average pay is total wages divided by jobs, so it is pulled up by high earners and counts part-time jobs as whole jobs; it is not the pay of a typical worker. The number of jobs rose 1.8% from 2023 to 2024.
The three largest private industries are retail trade (30.5% of private jobs, $33,180 a year on average), manufacturing (21.2% of private jobs, $59,262 a year on average), accommodation and food services (19.9% of private jobs, $18,602 a year on average). Together they hold 71.7% of private-sector jobs. Among industries with at least 3% of jobs, the best paying is finance and insurance at $66,819 a year, followed by construction ($60,488). The county is specialised in an industry: retail trade (1.6 times the US share, 1,582 jobs). A location quotient above 1 means an industry employs a larger share of workers here than in the whole country, so these are the industries where local employers compete hardest for skills. Several of the biggest employers pay well below the county average: accommodation and food services ($18,602). Jobs there are plentiful but the pay is lower than the headline average suggests.
In 2026M09 the unemployment rate in Adair County was 3.6%, 10% above the average of the state's counties (3.6% against 3.3%). The labour force (people working or looking for work) numbered 10,662. Over the last 12 months it ranged from 3.6% (2026M09) to 5.9% (2026M07); the latest month is preliminary and BLS revises it. These county rates are not seasonally adjusted, so compare the same month across years.
The median household income was $61,536 (ACS 2020–2024), 13% below the state median ($61,536 against $70,702). The guide covers 1 city with this as the main county: Kirksville. Open any of them for rent, home values, commuting and climate.
Counties close to Adair County in output are Vernon County, Stone County, Henry County, Miller County. Compare their jobs, pay and unemployment on their own pages.
| Measure ⇅ | Value ⇅ | Rank among the 115 counties of Missouri ⇅ |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 25,301 | 41 of 115 |
| GDP 2024 | $1,105 million | 47 of 115 |
| GDP per resident | $43,665 | 51 of 115 |
| Jobs (QCEW 2024) | 9,656 | 34 of 115 |
| Average annual pay | $45,054 | 54 of 115 |
| Job change vs 2023 | +1.8% | 30 of 115 |
| Unemployment rate (lower is better) | 3.6% | 80 of 115 |
| Median household income | $61,536 | 50 of 115 |
Federal jobs in Missouri (989) →All cities of MissouriState guide: Missouri
These links go to official sources and open in a new window. The first one is the government's or company's own site as listed in Wikidata (property "official website"); check it before relying on it.
Cities of this guide whose main county is Adair County.
| City ⇅ | Population ⇅ | Median household income ⇅ | Median rent ⇅ | Median home value ⇅ | Bachelor's+ ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kirksville | 17,563 | $50,071 | $775 | $153,900 | 40.3% |
| Industry ⇅ | Jobs ⇅ | Share of private jobs ⇅ | Average annual pay ⇅ | Concentration vs US (location quotient) ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Retail trade | 1,582 | 30.5% | $33,180 | 1.64 |
| Manufacturing | 1,101 | 21.2% | $59,262 | 1.39 |
| Accommodation and food services | 1,032 | 19.9% | $18,602 | 1.18 |
| Construction | 442 | 8.5% | $60,488 | 0.87 |
| Other services (except public administration) | 211 | 4.1% | $35,648 | 0.73 |
| Finance and insurance | 196 | 3.8% | $66,819 | 0.50 |
| Administrative and waste services | 174 | 3.4% | $32,614 | 0.31 |
| Wholesale trade | 149 | 2.9% | $46,371 | 0.39 |
| Arts, entertainment, recreation | 101 | 1.9% | $10,900 | 0.62 |
| Real estate and rental | 86 | 1.7% | $44,359 | 0.57 |
| Information | 82 | 1.6% | $40,581 | 0.45 |
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing | 26 | 0.5% | $25,618 | 0.33 |
A location quotient above 1 means the industry is more concentrated here than in the US. BLS withholds sectors with too few employers.
| Measure ⇅ | Value ⇅ |
|---|---|
| Labour force | 10,662 |
| Employed residents | 10,275 |
| Unemployed residents | 387 |
| Unemployment rate | 3.6% |
| Jobs located in the county (QCEW) | 9,656 |
| Employer sites | 748 |
Residents employed and jobs located here differ: many residents commute to other counties.
| County ⇅ | Population ⇅ | GDP 2024 ⇅ | GDP per resident ⇅ | Jobs ⇅ | Average annual pay ⇅ | Unemployment ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saint Louis County | 995,569 | $114,807 million | $115,318 | 596,676 | $75,926 | 3.6% |
| Jackson County | 719,976 | $65,089 million | $90,404 | 375,574 | $71,613 | 3.3% |
| Saint Charles County | 414,535 | $26,419 million | $63,732 | 162,611 | $60,105 | 2.9% |
| Greene County | 303,375 | $24,469 million | $80,655 | 178,374 | $57,254 | 3.1% |
| Saint Louis City | 288,512 | $40,403 million | $140,039 | 221,464 | $79,002 | 4.0% |
| Clay County | 258,122 | $17,310 million | $67,060 | 111,855 | $63,093 | 2.8% |
| Jefferson County | 229,458 | $6,906 million | $30,095 | 49,458 | $49,615 | 3.0% |
| Boone County | 188,043 | $13,935 million | $74,104 | 98,657 | $59,677 | 2.7% |
| Jasper County | 124,357 | $7,433 million | $59,767 | 59,244 | $50,009 | 3.2% |
| Cass County | 110,773 | $4,298 million | $38,803 | 30,655 | $48,331 | 2.8% |
| Platte County | 110,371 | $9,635 million | $87,296 | 48,079 | $59,070 | 2.8% |
| Franklin County | 105,950 | $6,419 million | $60,582 | 39,312 | $51,695 | 3.0% |
| Christian County | 92,915 | $2,964 million | $31,895 | 20,678 | $44,911 | 2.9% |
| Buchanan County | 83,568 | $6,731 million | $80,543 | 45,842 | $58,558 | 3.5% |
| Cape Girardeau County | 82,735 | $5,359 million | $64,776 | 41,463 | $51,752 | 2.9% |
| Cole County | 77,032 | $7,420 million | $96,323 | 54,302 | $55,952 | 2.7% |
| Saint Francois County | 66,999 | $2,449 million | $36,560 | 23,026 | $43,743 | 3.7% |
| Lincoln County | 63,057 | $1,859 million | $29,484 | 12,799 | $53,839 | 3.1% |
| Newton County | 60,118 | $3,082 million | $51,262 | 21,297 | $53,349 | 3.2% |
| Taney County | 56,529 | $3,723 million | $65,852 | 28,634 | $41,907 | 3.9% |
| Johnson County | 54,732 | $2,621 million | $47,879 | 16,239 | $46,500 | 3.1% |
| Pulaski County | 53,894 | $3,008 million | $55,804 | 13,323 | $47,536 | 3.3% |
| Phelps County | 45,194 | $2,138 million | $47,313 | 19,225 | $50,599 | 3.2% |
| Callaway County | 44,741 | $2,701 million | $60,365 | 14,917 | $56,776 | 2.7% |
| Camden County | 43,667 | $2,352 million | $53,857 | 17,655 | $46,820 | 3.4% |
| Pettis County | 43,397 | $3,342 million | $77,004 | 19,456 | $48,616 | 3.2% |
| Butler County | 42,020 | $2,004 million | $47,683 | 18,133 | $46,285 | 4.0% |
| Webster County | 40,500 | $1,257 million | $31,035 | 8,569 | $45,339 | 3.2% |
| Howell County | 40,383 | $1,761 million | $43,605 | 15,361 | $44,674 | 4.1% |
| Lawrence County | 38,593 | $1,343 million | $34,799 | 8,920 | $47,246 | 3.2% |
| Scott County | 37,933 | $2,219 million | $58,501 | 16,179 | $49,793 | 3.4% |
| Warren County | 37,177 | $1,226 million | $32,981 | 8,212 | $50,631 | 3.1% |
| Laclede County | 36,390 | $2,066 million | $56,768 | 13,577 | $47,063 | 3.8% |
| Barry County | 35,033 | $2,070 million | $59,076 | 13,187 | $45,851 | 3.6% |
| Lafayette County | 33,115 | $1,158 million | $34,957 | 8,809 | $44,138 | 3.0% |
| Polk County | 32,444 | $1,168 million | $36,014 | 9,503 | $46,113 | 3.1% |
| Stone County | 32,048 | $1,132 million | $35,313 | 7,300 | $38,944 | 3.8% |
| Stoddard County | 28,470 | $1,478 million | $51,927 | 9,951 | $45,866 | 3.7% |
| Marion County | 28,457 | $1,627 million | $57,174 | 12,904 | $50,856 | 3.2% |
| Dunklin County | 27,493 | $1,154 million | $41,974 | 9,137 | $36,543 | 4.9% |
| Adair County | 25,301 | $1,105 million | $43,665 | 9,656 | $45,054 | 3.6% |
| Miller County | 25,269 | $1,051 million | $41,582 | 8,005 | $44,073 | 2.9% |
| Texas County | 25,161 | $753 million | $29,928 | 5,867 | $41,291 | 3.7% |
| Audrain County | 24,548 | $1,183 million | $48,177 | 8,074 | $47,465 | 3.2% |
| Randolph County | 24,365 | $1,588 million | $65,172 | 9,202 | $49,618 | 3.2% |
| McDonald County | 23,701 | $981 million | $41,405 | 5,686 | $44,246 | 3.7% |
| Washington County | 23,470 | $580 million | $24,701 | 5,002 | $40,224 | 3.7% |
| Saline County | 23,231 | $1,304 million | $56,128 | 8,879 | $45,958 | 2.8% |
| Ray County | 23,145 | $651 million | $28,142 | 4,007 | $47,361 | 2.9% |
| Crawford County | 22,797 | $965 million | $42,315 | 6,634 | $48,075 | 3.6% |
| Henry County | 22,328 | $1,061 million | $47,519 | 8,123 | $48,739 | 3.1% |
| Morgan County | 21,717 | $846 million | $38,947 | 4,784 | $38,671 | 3.7% |
| Clinton County | 21,414 | $575 million | $26,855 | 4,455 | $48,055 | 3.0% |
| Nodaway County | 20,774 | $1,012 million | $48,708 | 8,431 | $42,806 | 2.3% |
| Benton County | 20,151 | $613 million | $30,418 | 3,736 | $38,196 | 4.5% |
| Vernon County | 19,687 | $1,138 million | $57,804 | 6,582 | $46,600 | 3.1% |
| Perry County | 18,976 | $1,328 million | $69,990 | 9,542 | $50,010 | 2.7% |
| Wright County | 18,965 | $579 million | $30,519 | 4,649 | $39,897 | 3.9% |
| Sainte Genevieve County | 18,571 | $871 million | $46,919 | 6,113 | $57,481 | 2.6% |
| Andrew County | 18,065 | $399 million | $22,082 | 2,810 | $40,237 | 3.0% |
| Pike County | 17,711 | $684 million | $38,636 | 5,398 | $44,932 | 3.6% |
| Dallas County | 17,551 | $408 million | $23,220 | 2,784 | $35,760 | 3.9% |
| Cooper County | 16,824 | $633 million | $37,642 | 4,872 | $41,936 | 2.9% |
| Bates County | 16,186 | $626 million | $38,704 | 3,673 | $42,876 | 3.1% |
| New Madrid County | 15,731 | $1,369 million | $87,052 | 7,504 | $44,792 | 4.2% |
| Moniteau County | 15,262 | $666 million | $43,649 | 4,087 | $47,661 | 2.6% |
| Macon County | 15,163 | $750 million | $49,439 | 4,831 | $43,944 | 3.1% |
| Pemiscot County | 14,958 | $611 million | $40,824 | 4,806 | $39,855 | 4.9% |
| Gasconade County | 14,746 | $581 million | $39,428 | 5,134 | $39,679 | 3.0% |
| Cedar County | 14,615 | $459 million | $31,393 | 3,486 | $40,789 | 3.5% |
| Dent County | 14,539 | $486 million | $33,406 | 3,795 | $42,359 | 3.5% |
| Livingston County | 14,364 | $742 million | $51,651 | 6,156 | $44,944 | 2.9% |
| Osage County | 13,402 | $609 million | $45,428 | 4,306 | $50,573 | 2.4% |
| Madison County | 12,729 | $368 million | $28,914 | 3,585 | $40,593 | 3.6% |
| Douglas County | 11,965 | $286 million | $23,917 | 2,558 | $37,095 | 3.6% |
| Mississippi County | 11,902 | $426 million | $35,752 | 3,074 | $42,184 | 4.9% |
| Linn County | 11,852 | $541 million | $45,688 | 4,078 | $44,083 | 3.0% |
| Barton County | 11,690 | $520 million | $44,446 | 3,521 | $43,856 | 3.0% |
| Montgomery County | 11,426 | $479 million | $41,951 | 3,225 | $49,334 | 2.9% |
| DeKalb County | 10,876 | $417 million | $38,378 | 2,586 | $46,221 | 3.3% |
| Wayne County | 10,862 | $260 million | $23,917 | 2,269 | $38,066 | 4.4% |
| Ripley County | 10,708 | $285 million | $26,644 | 2,859 | $31,859 | 3.7% |
| Bollinger County | 10,559 | $235 million | $22,299 | 1,794 | $41,371 | 2.9% |
| Ralls County | 10,428 | $804 million | $77,066 | 3,599 | $52,377 | 2.8% |
| Howard County | 10,147 | $295 million | $29,087 | 2,438 | $43,039 | 3.0% |
| Lewis County | 9,924 | $308 million | $31,066 | 2,401 | $43,339 | 3.6% |
| Grundy County | 9,787 | $390 million | $39,849 | 2,890 | $42,317 | 2.8% |
| Saint Clair County | 9,587 | $257 million | $26,832 | 1,710 | $39,737 | 3.4% |
| Iron County | 9,446 | $371 million | $39,275 | 3,472 | $47,965 | 3.8% |
| Caldwell County | 8,927 | $277 million | $31,073 | 1,886 | $42,251 | 2.8% |
| Ozark County | 8,873 | $195 million | $21,938 | 1,512 | $33,721 | 4.4% |
| Monroe County | 8,734 | $289 million | $33,091 | 1,849 | $42,014 | 3.3% |
| Oregon County | 8,673 | $289 million | $33,332 | 2,535 | $36,248 | 3.6% |
| Hickory County | 8,585 | $228 million | $26,607 | 1,520 | $36,375 | 5.3% |
| Daviess County | 8,477 | $264 million | $31,109 | 1,886 | $42,310 | 2.6% |
| Maries County | 8,450 | $243 million | $28,790 | 1,381 | $40,788 | 2.7% |
| Carroll County | 8,411 | $420 million | $49,913 | 2,658 | $42,929 | 3.3% |
| Harrison County | 8,190 | $309 million | $37,706 | 2,475 | $41,474 | 2.9% |
| Dade County | 7,641 | $274 million | $35,874 | 1,675 | $39,568 | 3.1% |
| Chariton County | 7,390 | $379 million | $51,347 | 1,837 | $42,334 | 3.0% |
| Shannon County | 7,177 | $190 million | $26,524 | 1,562 | $35,970 | 4.6% |
| Clark County | 6,675 | $201 million | $30,105 | 1,423 | $35,719 | 3.0% |
| Gentry County | 6,245 | $301 million | $48,228 | 2,177 | $44,102 | 2.5% |
| Reynolds County | 6,010 | $228 million | $37,914 | 1,757 | $46,798 | 3.8% |
| Shelby County | 5,986 | $214 million | $35,775 | 1,781 | $44,151 | 2.3% |
| Sullivan County | 5,857 | $619 million | $105,654 | 2,348 | $50,473 | 3.1% |
| Carter County | 5,297 | $163 million | $30,743 | 1,472 | $36,121 | 4.1% |
| Atchison County | 5,187 | $425 million | $81,864 | 1,616 | $45,066 | 2.3% |
| Scotland County | 4,686 | $236 million | $50,376 | 1,268 | $42,746 | 2.3% |
| Putnam County | 4,642 | $188 million | $40,492 | 993 | $43,210 | 3.0% |
| Holt County | 4,240 | $246 million | $58,084 | 1,314 | $46,316 | 3.1% |
| Schuyler County | 4,038 | $181 million | $44,906 | 811 | $41,217 | 2.3% |
| Knox County | 3,756 | $163 million | $43,356 | 900 | $41,462 | 3.4% |
| Mercer County | 3,482 | $137 million | $39,230 | 814 | $44,042 | 2.8% |
| Worth County | 1,934 | $74 million | $38,215 | 357 | $33,466 | 3.3% |
25,301 (Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024).
$1,105 million in 2024 (BEA, current dollars).
3.6% in 2026M09 (BLS, not seasonally adjusted; the latest month may be revised).
9,656 jobs on average in 2024 with an average annual pay of $45,054 (BLS QCEW).