St. Joseph Hourly Wage & Salary 2026
St. Joseph, MO: $23.35/hr median hourly wage, $48,574 median annual salary, cost of living index 90.4, and $12.30/hr minimum wage. Calculate take-home pay with federal and Missouri taxes.
St. Joseph Hourly Wage Quick Answer
The median hourly wage in St. Joseph, MO is $23.35/hr,equivalent to $48,574 per year at 2,080 work hours. Entry-level pay estimates around $14.48/hr, senior-level pay estimates around $33.16/hr, and the local minimum wage is $12.30/hr.
Median figures are Salario estimates: BLS OEWS does not publish a metropolitan-area wage series that covers St. Joseph, MO.
Median Salary
$48,574
$23.35/hr
Cost of Living
90.4
US avg = 100
Minimum Wage
$12.30
per hour
Unemployment
2.5%
rate
St. Joseph, MO Overview
Population
72,473
Median Salary
$48,574
Average Salary
$54,403
Avg Commute
17 min
Median Home Price
$190,000
Median Rent
$796/mo
Job Growth
+1.7%
Sales Tax
4.225%
St. Joseph is located in Missouri with a population of 72,473. The median annual wage across all occupations is $48,574 ($23.35/hour, Salario estimate), which is $2,406 below the national median of $50,980. The national median is the BLS OEWS May 2025 all-occupations median annual wage. The average commute time is 17 minutes, and the city has a job growth rate of +1.7%.
St. Joseph Salary by Experience Level (2026)
Wage distribution in St. Joseph, MO built around the $48,574 median salary (Salario estimate). Entry-level represents 10th–25th percentile; mid-level is the median; senior-level represents 75th–90th percentile. The non-median rows are Salario estimates.
| Experience Level | Annual Salary | Hourly Wage | Years Exp |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry-Level | $30,116 | $14.48/hr | 0–2 years |
| Mid-Level (Median) | $48,574 | $23.35/hr | 3–7 years |
| Senior-Level | $68,975 | $33.16/hr | 8–15 years |
| Top 10% (90th Percentile) | $86,462 | $41.56/hr | 15+ years / leadership |
Percentile multipliers (62%, 100%, 142%, 178%) are Salario approximations of the typical all-occupations wage spread in BLS OEWS metro tables; only the median row is a published BLS value where BLS covers the metro, which is not the case here. Specific roles vary; see jobs by city for role-specific data.
St. Joseph Paycheck Calculator
Enter your annual salary to see your estimated take-home pay in St. Joseph, MO, after federal, state, and local taxes.
Estimated Annual Take-Home Pay
$39,169
$3,264.08/month · $1,506.50/biweekly · Effective Rate: 19.4%
Biweekly paycheck estimate: this salary equals about $1,506.50 take-home per paycheck after estimated Missouri and federal taxes. For the 26-paycheck formula, three-paycheck months, and withholding examples, see the Biweekly Paycheck Calculator.
Gross Pay
$48,574
Federal Tax
-$3,649
State Tax
-$1,346
Local Tax
-$695
FICA
-$3,716
Net Pay
$39,169
Pay Breakdown
| Item | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary | $4,047.83 | $48,574.00 |
| Federal Income Tax | -$304.07 | -$3,648.88 |
| Missouri State Tax (2.77% eff.) | -$112.14 | -$1,345.65 |
| Local Tax (1.43%) | -$57.88 | -$694.61 |
| Social Security (6.2%) | -$250.97 | -$3,011.59 |
| Medicare (1.45%) | -$58.69 | -$704.32 |
| Net Take-Home Pay | $3,264.08 | $39,168.95 |
Salary Comparison: St. Joseph vs Other Cities
See how St. Joseph's median salary and cost of living compare to the national average and similar cities.
| City | Median Salary | COL Index | Adj. Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| St. Joseph, MO | $48,574 | 90.4 | $53,732 |
| National Average | $50,980 | 100 | $50,980 |
| Odessa, TX | $48,590 | 95 | $51,147 |
| Davenport, IA | $48,550 | 85 | $57,118 |
| Moline, IL | $48,550 | 87.5 | $55,486 |
| Bettendorf, IA | $48,550 | 82.9 | $58,565 |
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 St. Joseph
St. Joseph's cost of living index is 90.4 (national average = 100). Living in St. Joseph is 9.599999999999994% less expensive than the national average.
Median Home Price
$190,000
Median Monthly Rent
$796
Annual Rent Cost
$9,552
Your Salary's Purchasing Power
Your $39,169 annual take-home pay in St. Joseph has the purchasing power of approximately $43,328 in an average-cost US area. Your $48,574 salary stretches further here than in most US cities.
Top Industries in St. Joseph
St. Joseph's economy is driven by these key industries. Workers in top industries often earn significantly above the median salary of $48,574.
Salary Tips for St. Joseph Workers
- Research top industries. St. Joseph's top industries include Healthcare, Manufacturing, Agriculture. Targeting roles in these sectors can help you earn above the $48,574 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.
Other Cities in Missouri
St. Louis
St. Peters
University City
Wentzville
Wildwood
Ballwin
Blue Springs
Cape Girardeau
Chesterfield
Columbia
Florissant
Independence
Methodology & Local Economy Data Sources
How we calculate St. Joseph salary data: BLS OEWS does not publish a metropolitan-area series covering St. Joseph, so the median and average salary here are Salario estimates built from state and regional wage references, not BLS survey values. The entry/senior/top-10% rows and paycheck estimate are Salario calculations built on that estimate. Cost-of-living adjustments use the C2ER Cost of Living Index baseline of 100 (national average), with St. Joseph indexed at 90.4.
- Median salary: $48,574 annual, $23.35 hourly, Salario estimate.
- Tax burden reflects Missouri 2026 state income tax brackets and standard deduction (top rate 4.7%), plus St. Joseph local tax of 1.43%, sales tax (4.225%), and federal taxes per IRS 2026 brackets.
- Unemployment rate for St. Joseph: 2.5%, sourced from BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS).
- Top industries: Healthcare, Manufacturing, Agriculture, based on QCEW employment concentration data.
- Job growth: 1.7% projected through 2034, derived from BLS Employment Projections program for Missouri.
- Housing context: median home price $190,000, median rent $796/mo, sourced from Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
Authoritative US data sources for St. Joseph, MO:
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), metropolitan area salary data
- BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, St. Joseph unemployment rate
- U.S. Census Bureau, St. Joseph 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. St. Joseph'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 Harlan Voss · Last updated September 17, 2026 · Wage figures: BLS OEWS May 2025 release (published May 2026) where available · Census data current as of latest releases
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the hourly wage in St. Joseph, MO?
The median hourly wage in St. Joseph, MO is estimated at $23.35 per hour (Salario model; BLS does not publish a metropolitan-area series for this city). At a standard 2,080-hour work year, that equals about $48,574 per year. Entry-level workers are estimated around $14.48/hr, while senior-level workers are estimated around $33.16/hr before overtime, bonuses, or benefits.
What is the median salary in St. Joseph, MO?
The median salary in St. Joseph, MO is $48,574 per year, or $23.35 per hour (Salario estimate). The average salary is $54,403. This is $2,406 below the BLS national median of $50,980.
What is the cost of living in St. Joseph, MO?
St. Joseph's cost of living index is 90.4 (national average = 100), meaning it is 9.599999999999994% less expensive compared to the national average. The median home price is $190,000 and the median monthly rent is $796.
What are the best industries in St. Joseph?
The top industries in St. Joseph, MO include Healthcare, Manufacturing, Agriculture. The city has a job growth rate of 1.7% and an unemployment rate of 2.5%. Workers in these industries often earn above the city's median salary of $48,574.
How does St. Joseph's salary compare to other cities?
St. Joseph's median salary of $48,574 is 4.7% below the national median of $50,980. However, when adjusted for cost of living (index: 90.4), the real purchasing power is approximately $53,732.
What is the minimum wage in St. Joseph, MO?
The minimum wage in St. Joseph, 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.