Wage Rates

Wage Rates

Greater St. Louis offers an affordable living for those who work here, and at the same time provides employers a competitive and reasonable market in which to do business.

Overall, the combined mean annual wage for all St. Louis’ occupations was $42,230 in 2008, slightly lower than the U.S. average annual wage of $42,270. With the area’s low cost of living, these wage rates afford St. Louis workers a comfortable life, and at the same time provide employers an advantage over competitors operating in other, more expensive cities.

Wage Rates
Occupational Groups	SOC Code (1)	St. Louis MSA Mean Annual Wage	U.S. Mean Annual Wage
Management Occupations	110000	$100,700	$100,310
Business and Financial Operations Occupations	130000	$61,030	$64,720
Computer and Mathematical Occupations	150000	$69,410	$74,500
Architecture and Engineering Occupations	170000	$69,510	$71,430
Life Physical and Social Services Occupations	190000	$59,090	$64,280
Community and Social Services Occupations	210000	$39,940	$41,790
Legal Occupations	230000	$85,910	$92,270
Education Training and Library Occupations	250000	$47,930	$48,460
Arts Design, Entertainment, Sports and Media Occupations	270000	$49,000	$50,670
Healthcare Practitioner and Technical Occupations	290000	$61,960	$67,890
Healthcare Support Occupations	310000	$25,710	$26,340
Protective Service Occupations	330000	$38,830	$40,200
Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations	350000	$19,310	$20,220
Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations	370000	$24,300	$24,370
Personal Care and Service Occupations	390000	$23,020	$24,120
Sales and Related Occupations	410000	$37,110	$36,080
Office and Administrative Support Occupations	430000	$32,580	$32,220
Farming Fishing and Forestry Occupations	450000	$30,000	$23,560
Construction and Extraction Occupations	470000	$52,660	$42,350
Installation Maintenance and Repair Occupations	490000	$43,010	$41,230
Production Occupations	510000	$34,840	$32,320
Transportation and Material Moving Occupations	530000	$32,970	$31,450
Source: "Occupational Employment Statistics: Wages by Area and Occupation, May 2008" U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2009. (1) Standard Occupational Classification system code used by Federal statistical agencies.