Cape Girardeau Hourly Wage & Salary 2026
Cape Girardeau, MO: $20.05/hr median hourly wage, $41,709 median annual salary, cost of living index 81.3, and $12.30/hr minimum wage. Calculate take-home pay with federal and Missouri taxes.
Cape Girardeau Hourly Wage Quick Answer
The median hourly wage in Cape Girardeau, MO is $20.05/hr, equivalent to $41,709 per year at 2,080 work hours. Entry-level pay estimates around $12.43/hr, senior-level pay estimates around $28.47/hr, and the local minimum wage is $12.30/hr.
Median Salary
$41,709
$20.05/hr
Cost of Living
81.3
US avg = 100
Minimum Wage
$12.30
per hour
Unemployment
2.7%
rate
Cape Girardeau, MO Overview
Population
40,100
Median Salary
$41,709
Average Salary
$46,714
Avg Commute
19 min
Median Home Price
$179,000
Median Rent
$736/mo
Job Growth
+2%
Sales Tax
4.225%
Cape Girardeau is located in Missouri with a population of 40,100. The median household salary is $41,709 per year ($20.05/hour), which is $17,675 below the national median of $59,384. The average commute time is 19 minutes, and the city has a job growth rate of +2%.
Cape Girardeau Salary by Experience Level (2026)
Wage distribution in Cape Girardeau, MO based on BLS percentile breakdown of the $41,709 median salary. Entry-level represents 10th–25th percentile; mid-level is the median; senior-level represents 75th–90th percentile.
| Experience Level | Annual Salary | Hourly Wage | Years Exp |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry-Level | $25,860 | $12.43/hr | 0–2 years |
| Mid-Level (Median) | $41,709 | $20.05/hr | 3–7 years |
| Senior-Level | $59,227 | $28.47/hr | 8–15 years |
| Top 10% (90th Percentile) | $74,242 | $35.69/hr | 15+ years / leadership |
Percentile multipliers (62%, 100%, 142%, 178%) derived from 2024 BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics distribution across all occupations in metro areas. Specific roles vary; see jobs by city for role-specific data.
Cape Girardeau Paycheck Calculator
Enter your annual salary to see your estimated take-home pay in Cape Girardeau, MO, after federal, state, and local taxes.
Estimated Annual Take-Home Pay
$33,257
$2,771.45/month · $1,279.13/biweekly · Effective Rate: 20.3%
Gross Pay
$41,709
Federal Tax
-$2,825
State Tax
-$2,065
Local Tax
-$371
FICA
-$3,191
Net Pay
$33,257
Pay Breakdown
| Item | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary | $3,475.75 | $41,709.00 |
| Federal Income Tax | -$235.42 | -$2,825.08 |
| Missouri State Tax (4.95%) | -$172.05 | -$2,064.60 |
| Local Tax (0.89%) | -$30.93 | -$371.21 |
| Social Security (6.2%) | -$215.50 | -$2,585.96 |
| Medicare (1.45%) | -$50.40 | -$604.78 |
| Net Take-Home Pay | $2,771.45 | $33,257.38 |
Salary Comparison: Cape Girardeau vs Other Cities
See how Cape Girardeau's median salary and cost of living compare to the national average and similar cities.
| City | Median Salary | COL Index | Adj. Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cape Girardeau, MO | $41,709 | 81.3 | $51,303 |
| National Average | $59,384 | 100 | $59,384 |
| Middletown, OH | $41,722 | 89.2 | $46,774 |
| Post Falls, ID | $41,621 | 91.9 | $45,289 |
| Metairie, LA | $41,597 | 89.4 | $46,529 |
| Fuquay-Varina, NC | $41,532 | 85.2 | $48,746 |
Adjusted salary reflects purchasing power when cost of living is factored in. A higher adjusted salary means your money goes further.
Cost of Living in Cape Girardeau
Cape Girardeau's cost of living index is 81.3 (national average = 100). Living in Cape Girardeau is 18.700000000000003% less expensive than the national average.
Median Home Price
$179,000
Median Monthly Rent
$736
Annual Rent Cost
$8,832
Your Salary's Purchasing Power
Your $33,257 annual take-home pay in Cape Girardeau has the purchasing power of approximately $40,907 in an average-cost US area. Your $41,709 salary stretches further here than in most US cities.
Top Industries in Cape Girardeau
Cape Girardeau's economy is driven by these key industries. Workers in top industries often earn significantly above the median salary of $41,709.
Salary Tips for Cape Girardeau Workers
- Your salary goes further here. Cape Girardeau has a cost of living 18.700000000000003% below the national average. A salary of $41,709 here has the purchasing power of about $51,303 in an average-cost area.
- Research top industries. Cape Girardeau's top industries include Healthcare, Manufacturing, Agriculture. Targeting roles in these sectors can help you earn above the $41,709 median salary.
- Review your W-4 withholding. If you regularly receive large tax refunds, adjust your W-4 to increase your per-paycheck take-home pay instead of giving the government an interest-free loan.
Methodology & Local Economy Data Sources
How we calculate Cape Girardeau salary data: Our citywide compensation figures aggregate occupation-specific salary data from BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics for the Cape Girardeau-MO metropolitan statistical area (MSA), weighted by local employment counts. Cost-of-living adjustments use the C2ER Cost of Living Index baseline of 100 (national average), with Cape Girardeau indexed at 81.3.
- Median salary calculation: weighted average of Cape Girardeau's occupation-specific medians from BLS OEWS, adjusted for local cost of living. Net result: $41,709 annual median.
- Tax burden reflects Missouri state income tax (4.95%), plus Cape Girardeau local tax of 0.89%, sales tax (4.225%), and federal taxes per IRS 2026 brackets.
- Unemployment rate for Cape Girardeau: 2.7%, sourced from BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS).
- Top industries: Healthcare, Manufacturing, Agriculture — based on QCEW employment concentration data.
- Job growth: 2% projected through 2034, derived from BLS Employment Projections program for Missouri.
- Housing context: median home price $179,000, median rent $736/mo, sourced from Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
Authoritative US data sources for Cape Girardeau, MO:
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) — metropolitan area salary data
- BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics — Cape Girardeau unemployment rate
- U.S. Census Bureau — Cape Girardeau QuickFacts — population, housing, demographics
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW) — county-level industry employment
- BLS Economy at a Glance — Missouri — state economic indicators
- U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) — local GDP and personal income data
- BLS Consumer Price Index (CPI-U) — regional inflation tracking
Disclaimer: Salary and cost data are estimates for general guidance. Individual compensation varies by employer, experience, education, negotiation, and skills. Cape Girardeau's rapidly changing economy can shift these baselines — always verify with current job listings, employer offers, and recent Missouri labor market reports for the most current figures.
Reviewed by Brazora Monk· Last updated 2026 · BLS & Census data current as of latest releases
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the hourly wage in Cape Girardeau, MO?
The median hourly wage in Cape Girardeau, MO is $20.05 per hour. At a standard 2,080-hour work year, that equals about $41,709 per year. Entry-level workers are estimated around $12.43/hr, while senior-level workers are estimated around $28.47/hr before overtime, bonuses, or benefits.
What is the median salary in Cape Girardeau, MO?
The median salary in Cape Girardeau, MO is $41,709 per year, or $20.05 per hour. The average salary is $46,714. This is $17,675 below the national median of $59,384.
What is the cost of living in Cape Girardeau, MO?
Cape Girardeau's cost of living index is 81.3 (national average = 100), meaning it is 18.700000000000003% less expensive compared to the national average. The median home price is $179,000 and the median monthly rent is $736.
What are the best industries in Cape Girardeau?
The top industries in Cape Girardeau, MO include Healthcare, Manufacturing, Agriculture. The city has a job growth rate of 2% and an unemployment rate of 2.7%. Workers in these industries often earn above the city's median salary of $41,709.
How does Cape Girardeau's salary compare to other cities?
Cape Girardeau's median salary of $41,709 is 29.8% below the national median of $59,384. However, when adjusted for cost of living (index: 81.3), the real purchasing power is approximately $51,303.
What is the minimum wage in Cape Girardeau, MO?
The minimum wage in Cape Girardeau, MO is $12.30 per hour. This equals approximately $25,584 per year for a full-time worker (40 hours/week). This is $5.05 above the federal minimum wage of $7.25/hour.