SOC 29-1141 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Registered Nurses — Southwest Missouri
Southwest Missouri nonmetropolitan area · 8 metro areas compared
Median pay for this occupation in Southwest Missouri, MO is $79,660 a year, trailing the national median of $97,550 by 18.3%.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
Median pay for this occupation in Southwest Missouri, MO is $79,660 a year, trailing the national median of $97,550 by 18.3%. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $71,350 and $86,090. The lowest tenth earn under $59,130, while the highest tenth earn more than $101,160.
The area has 1,270 jobs in this occupation, which works out to 16.0 of every thousand jobs. Jefferson City leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $85,010. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 27th of 259 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $59,130 | −39.4% |
| 25th | $71,350 | −26.9% |
| Median (50th) | $79,660 | −18.3% |
| 75th | $86,090 | −11.7% |
| 90th | $101,160 | +3.7% |
| Mean | $80,020 | −18.0% |
Other metro areas in Missouri
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jefferson City | $85,010 | 1,910 | |
| 2 | Columbia | $84,330 | 3,680 | |
| 3 | St. Louis | $83,180 | 35,200 | |
| 4 | Kansas City | $83,040 | 29,650 | |
| 5 | Cape Girardeau | $82,640 | 1,470 | |
| 6 | Springfield | $79,370 | 6,820 | |
| 7 | St. Joseph | $77,240 | 1,490 | |
| 8 | Joplin | $74,930 | 2,670 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Southwest Missouri run 9.2% below the national average, so the median of $79,660 goes as far as $87,731 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 10.1% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$79,660as reported by BLSLocal price level
90.8US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$87,731US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $79,660 a year, 18.3% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $59,130 to $101,160 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 1,270 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Jefferson City, at $85,010.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Registered Nurses in Southwest Missouri, MO?
The median annual wage is $79,660, or $38.30 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 $97,550, so pay in Southwest Missouri, MO is 18.3% 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 Southwest Missouri, MO earns more than $101,160 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $59,130 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 $85,010 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 1,270 jobs in this occupation in Southwest Missouri, MO. 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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