SOC 21-1021 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Child, Family, and School Social Workers — Missouri
Missouri · 8 metro areas compared
In Missouri the median wage is $48,520.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
In Missouri the median wage is $48,520. That is 18.5% lower than the national median of $59,550. Pay ranges from under $37,200 at the tenth percentile to more than $65,230 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $44,300 to $55,740.
Employment stands at 9,620, or 3.3 jobs per thousand held locally. Missouri ranks number 45th out of 51 states by median pay for this occupation. Within the state, Jefferson City records the highest median at $51,710. Of the 733 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 478th.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $37,200 | −37.5% |
| 25th | $44,300 | −25.6% |
| Median (50th) | $48,520 | −18.5% |
| 75th | $55,740 | −6.4% |
| 90th | $65,230 | +9.5% |
| Mean | $51,360 | −13.8% |
Highest-paying metro areas in Missouri
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jefferson City | $51,710 | 440 | |
| 2 | St. Louis | $51,080 | 3,790 | |
| 3 | Kansas City | $49,880 | 2,620 | |
| 4 | St. Joseph | $49,060 | 190 | |
| 5 | Joplin | $48,600 | 330 | |
| 6 | Springfield | $47,980 | 870 | |
| 7 | Cape Girardeau | $46,430 | 250 | |
| 8 | Columbia | $45,460 | 390 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Missouri run 9.2% below the national average, so the median of $48,520 goes as far as $53,436 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 10.3% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$48,520as reported by BLSLocal price level
90.8US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$53,436US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $48,520 a year, 18.5% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $37,200 to $65,230 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 9,620 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 45th of 51 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Jefferson City, at $51,710.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Child, Family, and School Social Workers in Missouri?
The median annual wage is $48,520, or $23.33 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $59,550, so pay in Missouri is 18.5% lower. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in Missouri earns more than $65,230 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $37,200 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in Jefferson City, at $51,710 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 9,620 jobs in this occupation in Missouri. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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