Updated May 2026 · BLS OEWS 2025 reference period
64 Highest Paying Jobs in St. Louis, MO (2026)
The highest-paying job in St. Louis, MO, Missouri is Pediatrician with a median salary of $223,910 as of 2026, based on Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data. Across all 64 tracked occupations the average median is $101,234, with 29 occupations paying a six-figure ($100K+) median. St. Louis, MO has a cost-of-living index of 90 (national average = 100), so a $101,234 nominal salary equals $112,482 in average-cost-metro buying power.
The 64 occupations below are ranked by median wage in St. Louis, MO, MO, from BLS OEWS data. St. Louis, MO's cost-of-living index runs 90.0 (national baseline = 100), which shapes the headline-wage interpretation. Top-paying occupations in any U.S. metro typically cluster around physicians, dentists, executives, tech specialists, and licensed professionals. The specific top of the list varies with local industry concentration: tech-heavy metros boost software-engineering ranks, finance-heavy metros boost banking ranks.
Each role on the ranking links to the per-role-and-city page with full percentile distribution (p10 to p90), employment count, and cost-adjusted wage. For workers comparing offers within St. Louis, MO, the percentile data is the most decision-relevant.
Top 10 Highest-Paying Jobs in St. Louis, MO
Ranked by median (50th percentile) salary. The COL-Adjusted column rebases each nominal salary to St. Louis, MO's cost-of-living index of 90 so you can compare buying power against an average-cost U.S. metro.
Median $223,910 · 10th–90th $65,700–$344,020 · 320 jobs in metro
Pediatricians in St. Louis, MO earn $223,910 median, with top earners (90th percentile) over $344,020. The lower cost of living here means the median translates to $248,789 of buying power versus an average-cost metro — better than the nominal number suggests.
Median $210,430 · 10th–90th $96,300–$559,260 · 1,250 jobs in metro
Dentists in St. Louis, MO earn $210,430 median, with top earners (90th percentile) over $559,260. The lower cost of living here means the median translates to $233,811 of buying power versus an average-cost metro — better than the nominal number suggests.
Median $167,130 · 10th–90th $103,330–$217,130 · 6,160 jobs in metro
Computer and Information Systems Managers in St. Louis, MO earn $167,130 median, with top earners (90th percentile) over $217,130. The lower cost of living here means the median translates to $185,700 of buying power versus an average-cost metro — better than the nominal number suggests.
Median $158,780 · 10th–90th $92,720–$304,260 · 7,190 jobs in metro
Financial Managers in St. Louis, MO earn $158,780 median, with top earners (90th percentile) over $304,260. The lower cost of living here means the median translates to $176,422 of buying power versus an average-cost metro — better than the nominal number suggests.
Median $142,690 · 10th–90th $67,600–$306,650 · 6,100 jobs in metro
Lawyers in St. Louis, MO earn $142,690 median, with top earners (90th percentile) over $306,650. The lower cost of living here means the median translates to $158,544 of buying power versus an average-cost metro — better than the nominal number suggests.
Median $142,660 · 10th–90th $79,000–$246,240 · 100 jobs in metro
Software Quality Assurance Analysts in St. Louis, MO earn $142,660 median, with top earners (90th percentile) over $246,240. The lower cost of living here means the median translates to $158,511 of buying power versus an average-cost metro — better than the nominal number suggests.
Median $138,530 · 10th–90th $111,110–$166,840 · 2,910 jobs in metro
Pharmacists in St. Louis, MO earn $138,530 median, with top earners (90th percentile) over $166,840. The lower cost of living here means the median translates to $153,922 of buying power versus an average-cost metro — better than the nominal number suggests.
Median $137,900 · 10th–90th $80,740–$231,700 · 3,540 jobs in metro
Marketing Managers in St. Louis, MO earn $137,900 median, with top earners (90th percentile) over $231,700. The lower cost of living here means the median translates to $153,222 of buying power versus an average-cost metro — better than the nominal number suggests.
Median $136,120 · 10th–90th $77,620–$170,960 · 1,260 jobs in metro
Physician Assistants in St. Louis, MO earn $136,120 median, with top earners (90th percentile) over $170,960. The lower cost of living here means the median translates to $151,244 of buying power versus an average-cost metro — better than the nominal number suggests.
Median $135,090 · 10th–90th $71,500–$193,430 · 340 jobs in metro
Optometrists in St. Louis, MO earn $135,090 median, with top earners (90th percentile) over $193,430. The lower cost of living here means the median translates to $150,100 of buying power versus an average-cost metro — better than the nominal number suggests.
Full Ranking (64 Occupations)
| Rank | Role | Category | Median | 10th–90th | COL-Adjusted | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pediatrician | Healthcare | $223,910 | $65,700–$344,020 | $248,789 | 320 |
| 2 | Dentist | Healthcare | $210,430 | $96,300–$559,260 | $233,811 | 1,250 |
| 3 | Computer and Information Systems Manager | Technology | $167,130 | $103,330–$217,130 | $185,700 | 6,160 |
| 4 | Financial Manager | Finance | $158,780 | $92,720–$304,260 | $176,422 | 7,190 |
| 5 | Lawyer | Legal | $142,690 | $67,600–$306,650 | $158,544 | 6,100 |
| 6 | Software Quality Assurance Analyst | Technology | $142,660 | $79,000–$246,240 | $158,511 | 100 |
| 7 | Pharmacist | Healthcare | $138,530 | $111,110–$166,840 | $153,922 | 2,910 |
| 8 | Marketing Manager | Management | $137,900 | $80,740–$231,700 | $153,222 | 3,540 |
| 9 | Physician Assistant | Healthcare | $136,120 | $77,620–$170,960 | $151,244 | 1,260 |
| 10 | Optometrist | Healthcare | $135,090 | $71,500–$193,430 | $150,100 | 340 |
| 11 | Human Resources Manager | Management | $133,880 | $84,630–$247,350 | $148,756 | 1,940 |
| 12 | Nurse Practitioner | Healthcare | $131,580 | $108,340–$164,280 | $146,200 | 3,430 |
| 13 | Software Developer | Technology | $129,030 | $77,730–$169,030 | $143,367 | 9,820 |
| 14 | Electrical Engineer | Engineering | $123,960 | $77,770–$165,120 | $137,733 | 1,290 |
| 15 | Sales Manager | Management | $123,870 | $64,370–$243,000 | $137,633 | 4,060 |
| 16 | Veterinarian | Healthcare | $122,460 | $74,680–$195,480 | $136,067 | 810 |
| 17 | Computer Occupations (Other) | Technology | $108,450 | $58,100–$166,660 | $120,500 | 7,330 |
| 18 | Information Security Analyst | Technology | $106,420 | $65,330–$166,900 | $118,244 | 1,640 |
| 19 | Web Designer | Technology | $106,360 | $68,940–$129,080 | $118,178 | 490 |
| 20 | Medical and Health Services Manager | Healthcare | $106,200 | $67,990–$200,900 | $118,000 | 5,000 |
| 21 | Database Architect | Technology | $104,650 | $62,320–$154,280 | $116,278 | 550 |
| 22 | Engineers (Other) | Engineering | $103,880 | $62,900–$155,130 | $115,422 | 680 |
| 23 | Personal Financial Advisor | Finance | $103,690 | $52,690–$330,360 | $115,211 | 2,630 |
| 24 | Computer Network Architect | Technology | $103,370 | $62,080–$170,730 | $114,856 | 2,010 |
| 25 | Industrial Engineer | Engineering | $102,230 | $71,320–$156,730 | $113,589 | 2,580 |
| 26 | Business Professor (Postsecondary) | Education | $101,730 | $48,210–$331,940 | $113,033 | 910 |
| 27 | Management Analyst | Management | $101,100 | $61,830–$164,770 | $112,333 | 5,100 |
| 28 | Physical Therapist | Healthcare | $100,600 | $77,390–$124,190 | $111,778 | 2,480 |
| 29 | Mechanical Engineer | Engineering | $100,340 | $65,900–$149,060 | $111,489 | 2,190 |
| 30 | Financial Analyst | Finance | $99,950 | $61,970–$166,390 | $111,056 | 2,650 |
| 31 | Data Scientist | Technology | $99,600 | $59,500–$158,310 | $110,667 | 2,640 |
| 32 | Audiologist | Healthcare | $99,450 | $83,050–$127,030 | $110,500 | 90 |
| 33 | Architect | Engineering | $98,800 | $60,780–$139,700 | $109,778 | 880 |
| 34 | Dental Hygienist | Healthcare | $97,650 | $78,760–$99,400 | $108,500 | 2,150 |
| 35 | Computer Programmer | Technology | $96,920 | $63,230–$132,120 | $107,689 | 660 |
| 36 | Civil Engineer | Engineering | $96,830 | $67,510–$140,460 | $107,589 | 3,150 |
| 37 | Computer Systems Analyst | Technology | $96,290 | $61,840–$145,590 | $106,989 | 3,920 |
| 38 | Occupational Therapist | Healthcare | $95,770 | $73,720–$117,460 | $106,411 | 1,860 |
| 39 | Software Quality Assurance Tester | Technology | $94,590 | $59,600–$169,820 | $105,100 | 1,360 |
| 40 | General and Operations Manager | Management | $93,140 | $45,690–$210,790 | $103,489 | 46,410 |
| 41 | Network Architect | Technology | $88,940 | $59,450–$129,410 | $98,822 | 2,840 |
| 42 | Speech-Language Pathologist | Healthcare | $86,480 | $58,180–$113,470 | $96,089 | 1,630 |
| 43 | Registered Nurse | Healthcare | $83,180 | $63,440–$104,460 | $92,422 | 35,200 |
| 44 | Statistician | Technology | $80,950 | $56,010–$132,760 | $89,944 | 0 |
| 45 | Financial Examiner | Finance | $80,430 | $55,370–$153,980 | $89,367 | 850 |
| 46 | Accountant | Finance | $78,880 | $51,040–$130,340 | $87,644 | 13,610 |
| 47 | Electrician | Trades | $77,170 | $46,890–$104,800 | $85,744 | 5,920 |
| 48 | Plumber | Trades | $77,000 | $47,040–$121,230 | $85,556 | 4,060 |
| 49 | Family Medicine Physician | Healthcare | $76,830 | $70,100–$428,550 | $85,367 | 1,660 |
| 50 | Computer Network Support Specialist | Technology | $75,060 | $46,390–$131,610 | $83,400 | 2,080 |
| 51 | Web Developer | Technology | $74,780 | $48,310–$136,380 | $83,089 | 650 |
| 52 | Loan Officer | Finance | $74,510 | $38,370–$149,000 | $82,789 | 2,690 |
| 53 | Market Research Analyst | Management | $74,130 | $39,520–$133,140 | $82,367 | 6,980 |
| 54 | Carpenter | Trades | $70,990 | $45,000–$99,550 | $78,878 | 7,210 |
| 55 | Public Relations Specialist | Creative | $65,170 | $43,640–$107,990 | $72,411 | 1,990 |
| 56 | Operations Research Analyst | Technology | $63,650 | $49,180–$125,800 | $70,722 | 900 |
| 57 | Secondary School Teacher | Education | $62,130 | $47,630–$98,540 | $69,033 | 9,870 |
| 58 | Paralegal | Legal | $61,970 | $45,950–$97,830 | $68,856 | 4,030 |
| 59 | Clinical Laboratory Technologist | Healthcare | $61,830 | $38,400–$96,860 | $68,700 | 3,960 |
| 60 | Graphic Designer | Creative | $61,000 | $39,930–$88,740 | $67,778 | 2,010 |
| 61 | Elementary School Teacher | Education | $60,650 | $47,210–$83,750 | $67,389 | 13,440 |
| 62 | Automotive Technician | Trades | $58,190 | $36,280–$78,140 | $64,656 | 7,590 |
| 63 | Writer/Author | Creative | $57,390 | $45,380–$100,350 | $63,767 | 300 |
| 64 | Welder | Trades | $51,640 | $38,770–$72,140 | $57,378 | 2,820 |
Why These Roles Pay the Most in St. Louis, MO
St. Louis, MO's pay distribution reflects its mix of regional employers and industries, plus the local cost of living that affects nominal salary levels in the BLS data.
An average median salary above $90K places this metro in the top tier of U.S. cities for nominal pay. Most of that premium accrues to the upper percentiles of skilled and managerial occupations; entry-level and service-sector pay is closer to national norms.
St. Louis, MO's cost-of-living index of 90 runs 10% below the U.S. national average. Lower nominal pay here often translates to comparable or better purchasing power than higher headline numbers in coastal hubs — see the COL-Adjusted column for the apples-to-apples figure.
How to Use This Ranking
For salary negotiation, the median is a starting anchor — not the ceiling. A Pediatrician with five-plus years of experience in St. Louis, MO should be benchmarking against the 75th percentile ($283,965) or 90th percentile ($344,020), not the $223,910 median. Use the salary percentile calculator to place any specific salary into the BLS distribution for any role-and-city pair.
For cross-city comparisons, ignore the nominal Median column and look at COL-Adjusted. A $224K Pediatrician salary in St. Louis, MO (COL 90) translates to $249K of buying power in an average-cost metro — that is the apples-to-apples figure when weighing a relocation. Read the methodology behind these adjustments in our methodology page.
For job hunting, focus on the top-10 ranking above and on the role-by-role detail pages — each links through to a Pediatrician in St. Louis, MO page with full percentile breakdowns, year-over-year change, and prevailing-wage references for H-1B / PERM applicants.
Frequently Asked Questions
The highest paying job in St. Louis, MO is Pediatrician with a median salary of $223,910 and a 90th-percentile reading of $344,020. The role employs roughly 320 workers in this metro according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics' 2025 OEWS data.
29 of the 64 BLS-tracked occupations in St. Louis, MO have a median salary of $100,000 or higher. That is well above what most U.S. metros offer. See the full list ranked by median salary above.
Across 64 BLS-tracked occupations, the average median salary in St. Louis, MO is $101,234. The cost-of-living index is 90, so adjusted to a national-average baseline, the average is $112,482 in equivalent purchasing power.
St. Louis, MO has a cost-of-living index of 90, below the national average. Nominal pay translates better than face value, making it a strong choice for many careers — particularly the Pediatrician, Dentist, Computer and Information Systems Manager occupations at the top of the ranking.
Every wage figure on this page is sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program at bls.gov/oes — public domain federal survey data covering about 1.2 million U.S. employers across all industries. The OEWS publishes 10th, 25th, 50th (median), 75th, and 90th percentile wages by Metropolitan Statistical Area and Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) code. The same data is used by the Department of Labor for prevailing wage determinations.
Related Pages
Rankings based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2025 reference period. COL adjustments use a composite cost-of-living index calibrated to U.S. average = 100.
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2026.