How Much Does an RN Make in Missouri in 2026?

A typical RN in Missouri earns about $39.32 per hour ($81,780 per year), according to the latest government wage data (May 2025). That works out to roughly $6,815 a month and $1,573 a week, figures calculated from the annual pay. Pay varies by city, employer, and years of experience. A nurse in a smaller town may see a different figure than one in St. Louis or Kansas City.

Nationally, RNs typically earn $46.90 an hour ($97,550 a year). Missouri's typical pay of $39.32 an hour runs 16% below that mark, and the state ranks 40th out of 51 states and territories. Lower pay in Missouri often tracks a lower cost of living compared with higher-paying states. Missouri employs 76,310 RNs, compared with 3,379,720 nationwide, a workforce large enough to cover hospitals, clinics, and long-term care facilities statewide.

Entry-level RN positions in Missouri typically offer around $30.40 an hour, or about $63,230 a year, according to the same May 2025 wage data. New nurses usually start near this figure and see pay rise as they gain experience and clinical skills. Within a few years, many RNs in Missouri reach pay closer to the state's typical figure of $81,780. Where a nurse works and what unit they're in also shapes how quickly pay grows.

Experienced RNs in Missouri often earn upwards of $47.39 an hour, or about $98,560 a year. The top 10% of earners make over $104,390 a year. The gap between entry-level and top pay comes to $41,160, a spread shaped by years of experience, work setting, and city. An RN in a specialized hospital unit in a higher-paying city tends to sit at the upper end of that range.

Missouri RN pay has risen steadily over the past decade. In 2015, typical pay stood at $57,770 a year; by 2025, it reached $81,780, a gain of $24,010. That's a rise of 42% over ten years, according to the same wage data. The increase reflects broader wage growth across the state's nursing workforce.

Nationally, RN pay rose 45% over the same ten years, slightly ahead of Missouri's pace. Missouri's nursing pay has still moved up substantially, and someone starting an RN career in the state today enters at a higher pay level than nurses did a decade ago. Past growth doesn't guarantee future increases, but the trend has been upward for ten straight years.

Pay runs highest in Jefferson City, where RNs typically earn $85,010 a year ($40.87 an hour), about 4% above the state figure. Columbia follows closely at $84,330 a year, and St. Louis pays $83,180. These figures cover each city's full metro area, not just the city center. Kansas City rounds out the higher-paying group at $83,040 a year.

Joplin pays the least among Missouri's tracked cities, at $74,930 a year, putting the spread between the highest- and lowest-paying cities at $10,080. St. Louis employs the most RNs of any Missouri city, with 35,200 working there, even though its typical pay sits below Jefferson City's. Cities with higher pay often carry higher living costs, so a bigger paycheck doesn't always stretch further.

Missouri's neighbors show a mixed picture. Illinois pays RNs the most nearby, at $95,990 a year, about 17% above Missouri's figure. Nebraska pays somewhat more too, at $84,730. On the lower end, Iowa and Arkansas both pay about 3-4% less than Missouri, at $78,630 and $78,940. Nurses considering a move across state lines can often transfer or endorse their license into a neighboring state rather than starting licensure over.

RNs in Missouri typically earn $81,780 a year, a figure that has climbed 42% over the past decade. Pay varies by city and experience, from entry-level positions near $63,230 to top earners above $104,390. Readers weighing a move or a new nursing career in Missouri can check the state board of nursing's licensing requirements and review city-level pay figures for a closer look at local numbers.