Everything we can verify about jobs, pay and living in Missouri, from official statistics, with source and date on every table.
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By AtiveSite · Published 07/11/2026 · Updated 07/11/2026 · Every figure is linked to its source below.
Missouri is in the Midwest region (West North Central division), with 6,245,466 residents, a median age of 39.4 and a median household income of $71,589. The unemployment rate was 3.6% in 2026M09, and the state's price level is 90.8 against 100 for the US as a whole.
| Indicator ⇅ | Value ⇅ | Rank among 50 states + DC ⇅ | Direction ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $71,589 | 43 of 51 | higher is better |
| Unemployment rate | 3.6% | 21 of 51 | lower is better |
| Job openings rate | 4.1% | 17 of 51 | higher is better |
| Price level (RPP) | 90.8 | 13 of 51 | lower is better |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 33.5% | 33 of 51 | higher is better |
| Foreign-born share | 4.9% | 43 of 51 | higher is better |
See the 989 federal jobs open now →Country guide: United States250 largest cities
Neighbouring states in the West North Central division: Iowa · Kansas · Minnesota · Nebraska · North Dakota · South Dakota.
| Industry ⇅ | GDP ($ million, annual rate) ⇅ | Share of state GDP ⇅ |
|---|---|---|
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 61,575 | 12.6% |
| Manufacturing | 52,637 | 10.8% |
| Government and government enterprises | 49,215 | 10.1% |
| Finance and insurance | 45,892 | 9.4% |
| Health care and social assistance | 45,463 | 9.3% |
| Wholesale trade | 34,220 | 7.0% |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 33,394 | 6.8% |
| Retail trade | 31,827 | 6.5% |
| Construction | 21,981 | 4.5% |
| Information | 17,157 | 3.5% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 16,055 | 3.3% |
| Accommodation and food services | 14,886 | 3.1% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 14,080 | 2.9% |
| Other services (except government and government enterprises) | 11,187 | 2.3% |
| Management of companies and enterprises | 10,712 | 2.2% |
| Utilities | 7,816 | 1.6% |
| Educational services | 5,552 | 1.1% |
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting | 5,533 | 1.1% |
| Arts, entertainment, and recreation | 5,308 | 1.1% |
| Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction | 1,073 | 0.2% |
| Sector ⇅ | Jobs (payroll) ⇅ | Change in 12 months ⇅ | Month ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mining and logging | 4,600 | +2.2% | 2026M09 |
| Construction | 163,200 | +6.2% | 2026M09 |
| Manufacturing | 279,500 | +0.3% | 2026M09 |
| Trade, transportation and utilities | 554,600 | +0.3% | 2026M09 |
| Information | 45,800 | +0.7% | 2026M09 |
| Financial activities | 179,200 | -1.0% | 2026M09 |
| Professional and business services | 363,300 | -0.4% | 2026M09 |
| Education and health services | 543,200 | +1.3% | 2026M09 |
| Leisure and hospitality | 324,700 | +4.1% | 2026M09 |
| Other services | 115,800 | +0.2% | 2026M09 |
| Government | 436,200 | -0.5% | 2026M09 |
BEA values are seasonally adjusted annual rates averaged over the latest four quarters. BLS payroll counts are not seasonally adjusted. The state total of jobs is 3,010,100 (latest month).
| Occupation field ⇅ | Jobs ⇅ | Per 1,000 jobs ⇅ | Location quotient ⇅ | Median pay ⇅ | Entry (10th pct.) ⇅ | Top (90th pct.) ⇅ | Median vs US ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Office and Administrative Support | 340,130 | 115.8 | 1.01 | $45,070 | $31,620 | $69,970 | -5% |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related | 255,150 | 86.9 | 0.99 | $31,080 | $28,600 | $46,550 | -11% |
| Transportation and Material Moving | 250,310 | 85.3 | 0.97 | $43,170 | $30,190 | $67,040 | -3% |
| Sales and Related | 241,320 | 82.2 | 0.95 | $35,910 | $28,600 | $81,650 | -7% |
| Management | 223,420 | 76.1 | 1.06 | $99,620 | $47,200 | $205,730 | -21% |
| Business and Financial Operations | 186,200 | 63.4 | 0.94 | $76,670 | $45,560 | $131,710 | -7% |
| Healthcare Practitioners and Technical | 208,140 | 70.9 | 1.12 | $79,250 | $42,800 | $136,520 | -8% |
| Educational Instruction and Library | 168,480 | 57.4 | 0.98 | $49,270 | $29,730 | $89,020 | -19% |
| Production | 194,100 | 66.1 | 1.20 | $47,810 | $34,450 | $78,150 | +2% |
| Healthcare Support | 167,240 | 57.0 | 1.12 | $36,100 | $28,600 | $47,260 | -6% |
| Construction and Extraction | 115,800 | 39.4 | 0.95 | $61,730 | $39,990 | $101,900 | +4% |
| Installation, Maintenance, and Repair | 118,690 | 40.4 | 1.03 | $57,810 | $36,530 | $91,560 | -3% |
| Computer and Mathematical | 88,550 | 30.2 | 0.89 | $93,690 | $49,990 | $160,730 | -14% |
| Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance | 82,870 | 28.2 | 0.97 | $36,580 | $29,420 | $48,820 | -3% |
| Protective Service | 62,760 | 21.4 | 0.88 | $46,840 | $31,200 | $89,560 | -6% |
| Personal Care and Service | 59,880 | 20.4 | 0.97 | $32,620 | $28,600 | $52,400 | -10% |
| Community and Social Service | 49,900 | 17.0 | 0.99 | $49,540 | $37,260 | $77,640 | -15% |
| Architecture and Engineering | 38,010 | 12.9 | 0.77 | $86,450 | $54,410 | $142,290 | -13% |
| Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media | 34,140 | 11.6 | 0.88 | $50,790 | $30,460 | $101,150 | -19% |
| Life, Physical, and Social Science | 22,860 | 7.8 | 0.82 | $75,870 | $44,030 | $133,780 | -8% |
| Legal | 21,470 | 7.3 | 0.87 | $81,870 | $44,600 | $214,500 | -20% |
| Farming, Fishing, and Forestry | 6,630 | 2.3 | 0.81 | $38,040 | $29,160 | $60,500 | +4% |
| Industry ⇅ | Share of employed residents ⇅ |
|---|---|
| Education and health care | 25.4% |
| Retail trade | 11.2% |
| Manufacturing | 11.0% |
| Professional, scientific, management, administrative | 10.6% |
| Arts, entertainment, accommodation, food | 8.4% |
| Finance, insurance, real estate | 7.2% |
| Construction | 6.7% |
| Transportation, warehousing, utilities | 5.6% |
| Other services | 4.8% |
| Public administration | 4.1% |
| Wholesale trade | 1.9% |
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing, mining | 1.6% |
| Information | 1.4% |
| Occupation ⇅ | Jobs ⇅ | Location quotient ⇅ | Median pay (year) ⇅ | Entry (10th pct.) ⇅ | Top (90th pct.) ⇅ | Median vs US ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nurse Anesthetists | 1,550 | 1.58 | $242,630 | $177,900 | $362,800 | +3% |
| Physicians, All Other | 3,990 | 0.62 | $227,980 | $67,070 | $435,150 | -14% |
| Dentists, General | 2,440 | 1.04 | $204,960 | $95,610 | $427,970 | +20% |
| Chief Executives | 2,550 | 0.66 | $172,320 | $75,040 | $416,060 | -19% |
| Family Medicine Physicians | 3,740 | 1.84 | $171,180 | $69,590 | $428,550 | -30% |
| Computer and Information Systems Managers | 11,130 | 0.88 | $159,460 | $95,690 | $216,330 | -9% |
| Architectural and Engineering Managers | 2,250 | 0.54 | $157,800 | $105,170 | $213,050 | -8% |
| Financial Managers | 13,330 | 0.84 | $143,460 | $86,950 | $273,420 | -14% |
| Pharmacists | 6,740 | 1.11 | $137,610 | $107,530 | $166,840 | -2% |
| Physician Assistants | 2,300 | 0.75 | $135,130 | $82,690 | $169,650 | -1% |
| Lawyers | 11,560 | 0.81 | $133,450 | $67,020 | $299,990 | -16% |
| Human Resources Managers | 3,510 | 0.84 | $130,680 | $81,730 | $225,160 | -12% |
| Marketing Managers | 6,550 | 0.88 | $130,550 | $76,160 | $226,700 | -22% |
| Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary | 5,700 | 1.37 | $130,490 | $61,550 | $282,650 | +22% |
| Nurse Practitioners | 7,710 | 1.26 | $129,930 | $100,650 | $162,060 | -2% |
| Natural Sciences Managers | 1,230 | 0.60 | $129,410 | $65,650 | $229,950 | -23% |
| Software Developers | 20,020 | 0.63 | $126,120 | $72,570 | $169,340 | -7% |
| Managers, All Other | 11,420 | 0.97 | $125,760 | $64,990 | $207,380 | -11% |
| Electrical Engineers | 2,410 | 0.64 | $118,670 | $77,620 | $166,710 | -2% |
| Industrial Production Managers | 4,110 | 0.88 | $117,660 | $71,840 | $183,200 | -7% |
| Sales Managers | 7,630 | 0.63 | $115,370 | $60,920 | $223,340 | -22% |
| Veterinarians | 1,920 | 1.21 | $114,660 | $61,270 | $193,860 | -12% |
| Construction Managers | 3,680 | 0.51 | $112,230 | $75,490 | $172,570 | -2% |
| Database Architects | 1,410 | 1.11 | $110,570 | $64,420 | $166,610 | -21% |
| Education Administrators, Postsecondary | 2,830 | 0.83 | $104,560 | $63,110 | $213,740 | -0% |
| Occupation ⇅ | Jobs ⇅ | Location quotient ⇅ | Median pay (year) ⇅ | Entry (10th pct.) ⇅ | Top (90th pct.) ⇅ | Median vs US ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cooks, Fast Food | 55,780 | 4.61 | $29,890 | $28,600 | $35,290 | -3% |
| Umpires, Referees, and Other Sports Officials | 1,240 | 4.16 | $33,140 | $28,600 | $50,320 | -19% |
| Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | 7,220 | 3.07 | $53,160 | $38,020 | $80,080 | +13% |
| Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders | 1,030 | 2.67 | $43,460 | $33,380 | $53,910 | -3% |
| Telemarketers | 2,710 | 2.45 | $29,840 | $28,600 | $37,120 | -16% |
| Real Estate Brokers | 1,980 | 2.28 | $62,280 | $31,590 | $111,070 | -15% |
| Tax Examiners and Collectors, and Revenue Agents | 2,280 | 2.13 | $50,250 | $40,980 | $71,220 | -19% |
| Healthcare Support Workers, All Other | 4,410 | 2.13 | $39,940 | $35,780 | $58,710 | -18% |
| Farmworkers, Farm, Ranch, and Aquacultural Animals | 1,310 | 2.11 | $32,950 | $28,600 | $57,410 | -10% |
| Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners | 1,160 | 2.01 | $51,560 | $39,640 | $63,770 | +3% |
| Helpers--Production Workers | 6,250 | 2.00 | $40,580 | $34,330 | $56,160 | +4% |
| Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators | 1,560 | 1.98 | $69,400 | $42,410 | $98,560 | +30% |
| Brickmasons and Blockmasons | 1,940 | 1.95 | $72,370 | $47,610 | $85,630 | +17% |
| Maintenance Workers, Machinery | 2,180 | 1.92 | $63,720 | $48,070 | $84,430 | +5% |
| Highway Maintenance Workers | 5,470 | 1.87 | $47,470 | $37,970 | $61,440 | -6% |
| Family Medicine Physicians | 3,740 | 1.84 | $171,180 | $69,590 | $428,550 | -30% |
| Financial Examiners | 2,290 | 1.79 | $79,990 | $48,140 | $148,400 | -15% |
| Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood | 1,380 | 1.79 | $38,030 | $30,630 | $48,670 | -11% |
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | 12,620 | 1.76 | $48,070 | $36,180 | $61,310 | +11% |
| Locomotive Engineers | 1,110 | 1.76 | $78,820 | $78,750 | $79,040 | -3% |
| Production Workers, All Other | 8,300 | 1.75 | $38,470 | $32,210 | $59,630 | -4% |
| Computer Occupations, All Other | 14,340 | 1.74 | $101,040 | $52,590 | $165,360 | -13% |
| Paramedics | 3,300 | 1.74 | $59,180 | $45,480 | $81,300 | -2% |
| Health Technologists and Technicians, All Other | 5,900 | 1.71 | $46,040 | $36,640 | $64,780 | -8% |
| General and Operations Managers | 109,020 | 1.65 | $79,300 | $42,460 | $188,820 | -25% |
Occupations with a page of their own link to it. Pay above $239,200 a year is shown as "≥ $239,200" (BLS top-code). "n/a" means BLS suppressed the figure.
There are 989 federal job postings open now in Missouri (USAJOBS). This is the federal government only: most US jobs are in the private sector and are advertised on employers' own sites, so use the pay and demand tables on this page for the whole labour market.
| Agency ⇅ | Open postings ⇅ |
|---|---|
| Veterans Health Administration | 188 |
| Forest Service | 141 |
| Department of the Air Force Headquarters | 130 |
| Federal Aviation Administration | 40 |
| Immigration and Customs Enforcement | 33 |
| Bureau of Prisons/Federal Prison System | 25 |
| U.S. Army Corps of Engineers | 24 |
| Internal Revenue Service | 21 |
| Farm Service Agency | 21 |
| United States Army Installation Management Command | 20 |
| Military Treatment Facilities under DHA | 17 |
| Air Force Civilian Career Training | 17 |
| Offices, Boards and Divisions | 13 |
| Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service | 12 |
| National Park Service | 12 |
| Series ⇅ | Open postings ⇅ |
|---|---|
| Wildland Fire Management | 72 |
| Medical Officer | 62 |
| Attorney | 41 |
| Nurse | 37 |
| Miscellaneous Administration And Program | 32 |
| Forestry Technician | 31 |
| Information Technology Management | 24 |
| Program Management | 21 |
| Management And Program Analysis | 20 |
| Human Resources Management | 17 |
| Contracting | 16 |
| Criminal Investigation | 16 |
| Aviation Safety | 15 |
| General Business And Industry | 14 |
| Psychology | 12 |
Median starting salary in postings that list a yearly range: $75,897 (757 postings).
5 of the 250 largest US cities are in Missouri.
| City ⇅ | Population ⇅ | Median household income ⇅ | Median rent ⇅ | Unemployment (ACS) ⇅ | Bachelor's+ ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kansas City | 516,045 | $69,958 | $1,292 | 2.7% | 39.1% |
| St. Louis | 288,512 | $56,160 | $997 | 5.0% | 41.1% |
| Springfield | 169,954 | $49,311 | $964 | 4.3% | 31.4% |
| Columbia | 128,548 | $66,498 | $1,097 | 4.0% | 56.7% |
| Independence | 121,740 | $60,339 | $1,109 | 5.6% | 21.9% |
Click a state or a city. States: Alabama · Alaska · Arizona · Arkansas · California · Colorado · Connecticut · Delaware · District of Columbia · Florida · Georgia · Hawaii · Idaho · Illinois · Indiana · Iowa · Kansas · Kentucky · Louisiana · Maine · Maryland · Massachusetts · Michigan · Minnesota · Mississippi · Missouri · Montana · Nebraska · Nevada · New Hampshire · New Jersey · New Mexico · New York · North Carolina · North Dakota · Ohio · Oklahoma · Oregon · Pennsylvania · Rhode Island · South Carolina · South Dakota · Tennessee · Texas · Utah · Vermont · Virginia · Washington · West Virginia · Wisconsin · Wyoming.
The median wage in Missouri is $47,800 a year ($22.98 an hour) against $50,980 nationally (-6%). The 10th percentile earns $29,780 and the 90th $104,320.
| Occupation field ⇅ | Jobs ⇅ | Per 1,000 jobs ⇅ | Location quotient ⇅ | Median pay ⇅ | Entry (10th pct.) ⇅ | Top (90th pct.) ⇅ | Median vs US ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Office and Administrative Support | 340,130 | 115.8 | 1.01 | $45,070 | $31,620 | $69,970 | -5% |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related | 255,150 | 86.9 | 0.99 | $31,080 | $28,600 | $46,550 | -11% |
| Transportation and Material Moving | 250,310 | 85.3 | 0.97 | $43,170 | $30,190 | $67,040 | -3% |
| Sales and Related | 241,320 | 82.2 | 0.95 | $35,910 | $28,600 | $81,650 | -7% |
| Management | 223,420 | 76.1 | 1.06 | $99,620 | $47,200 | $205,730 | -21% |
| Business and Financial Operations | 186,200 | 63.4 | 0.94 | $76,670 | $45,560 | $131,710 | -7% |
| Healthcare Practitioners and Technical | 208,140 | 70.9 | 1.12 | $79,250 | $42,800 | $136,520 | -8% |
| Educational Instruction and Library | 168,480 | 57.4 | 0.98 | $49,270 | $29,730 | $89,020 | -19% |
| Production | 194,100 | 66.1 | 1.20 | $47,810 | $34,450 | $78,150 | +2% |
| Healthcare Support | 167,240 | 57.0 | 1.12 | $36,100 | $28,600 | $47,260 | -6% |
| Construction and Extraction | 115,800 | 39.4 | 0.95 | $61,730 | $39,990 | $101,900 | +4% |
| Installation, Maintenance, and Repair | 118,690 | 40.4 | 1.03 | $57,810 | $36,530 | $91,560 | -3% |
| Computer and Mathematical | 88,550 | 30.2 | 0.89 | $93,690 | $49,990 | $160,730 | -14% |
| Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance | 82,870 | 28.2 | 0.97 | $36,580 | $29,420 | $48,820 | -3% |
| Protective Service | 62,760 | 21.4 | 0.88 | $46,840 | $31,200 | $89,560 | -6% |
| Personal Care and Service | 59,880 | 20.4 | 0.97 | $32,620 | $28,600 | $52,400 | -10% |
| Community and Social Service | 49,900 | 17.0 | 0.99 | $49,540 | $37,260 | $77,640 | -15% |
| Architecture and Engineering | 38,010 | 12.9 | 0.77 | $86,450 | $54,410 | $142,290 | -13% |
| Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media | 34,140 | 11.6 | 0.88 | $50,790 | $30,460 | $101,150 | -19% |
| Life, Physical, and Social Science | 22,860 | 7.8 | 0.82 | $75,870 | $44,030 | $133,780 | -8% |
| Legal | 21,470 | 7.3 | 0.87 | $81,870 | $44,600 | $214,500 | -20% |
| Farming, Fishing, and Forestry | 6,630 | 2.3 | 0.81 | $38,040 | $29,160 | $60,500 | +4% |
Estimate for a wage earner: 2026 federal brackets and standard deduction (IRS), Social Security 6.2% up to $184,500, Medicare 1.45% (+0.9% above $200,000 single / $250,000 married), and a state rate you set; graduated states show 0 until you enter your own estimate. It ignores credits, pre-tax deductions, local taxes and benefits. Sources: IRS: tax year 2026 inflation adjustments · SSA wage base per Federal Register notice 2025-19763.
| Rule ⇅ | In Missouri ⇅ |
|---|---|
| Minimum wage (per hour) | $15.00 (federal minimum is $7.25; the higher applies for most workers) |
| State income tax on wages | Graduated, top rate 4.70% |
| Right-to-work state | No |
| State paid family and medical leave program | No program listed in our source |
| Employment | At-will in most states (either side can end the job with notice, with legal exceptions) |
Nationwide rules (overtime after 40 hours, family leave, discrimination, visas) are on the country guide. Many cities and counties set higher minimum wages or paid sick leave; check the local government. Confirm all figures with the official sources before acting.
| Indicator ⇅ | Value ⇅ |
|---|---|
| Price level, all items (US = 100) | 90.8 |
| Median gross rent per month | $1,067 |
| Median home value | $254,400 |
| Homeowners (share of households) | 68.6% |
| Poverty rate | 12.3% |
| Drive alone to work | 74.8% |
| Public transit to work | 1.0% |
| Work from home | 11.8% |
| Commute of 45 minutes or more | 12.0% |
Regional price parities measure how much it costs to buy the same basket of goods and services: 100 is the national average.
4.9% of residents of Missouri were born abroad (308,526 people).
| Country of birth ⇅ | Residents ⇅ |
|---|---|
| Mexico | 44,238 |
| India | 25,365 |
| China, excluding Hong Kong and Taiwan | 16,394 |
| Philippines | 12,095 |
| Vietnam | 10,534 |
| Bosnia and Herzegovina | 8,829 |
| Germany | 7,729 |
| Korea | 7,236 |
| Guatemala | 7,170 |
| Honduras | 6,573 |
| Canada | 5,508 |
| El Salvador | 5,382 |
| Nigeria | 4,160 |
| Kenya | 4,092 |
| Russia | 3,772 |
Work permits and visas are federal. See permits and first steps and, for your country, Working in the US from your country.
$15.00 (the federal minimum is $7.25; the higher rate applies for most workers). Source: US Department of Labor.
Graduated, top rate 4.70% (Tax Foundation, rates as of 01/01/2026).
3.6% in 2026M09 (BLS, seasonally adjusted).
$71,589 (Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024, 2024 dollars).
989 postings on USAJOBS today. Private-sector jobs are not included.