How Much Does an RN Make in Columbia, MO in 2026?
Typical pay for RNs in Columbia, from federal wage data (May 2025), with the ten-year trend and how the city compares across Missouri.
BLS OES May 2025 · Columbia metro area
A typical RN in Columbia, Missouri earns $40.54 per hour, or $84,330 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $7,028 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $63,080, and the top 10% of earners make over $105,790.
That pay is 3% above the Missouri figure of $81,780 and 14% below the national figure of $97,550. Columbia ranks 2nd of 8 metro areas in Missouri for RN pay. About 3,680 RNs work in the Columbia area.
RN pay in Columbia at a glance
- Typical pay is $40.54 an hour, or $84,330 a year.
- That is 3% above the Missouri figure, ranking 2nd of 8 metro areas in the state.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $63,080; the top 10% make over $105,790.
- Typical pay rose +49% from 2015 to 2025, against +42% for Missouri as a whole.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does an RN make in Columbia?
Pay in Columbia runs from entry-level positions at around $30.33 an hour to more than $50.86 for the top 10% of earners. The table sets each career stage against the Missouri and national figures.
RN pay by career stage in Columbia
| Career stage | Columbia | Missouri | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $63,080$30.33 an hour | $63,230$30.40 an hour | $68,940$33.14 an hour |
| First years | $68,930$33.14 an hour | $76,050$36.56 an hour | $80,330$38.62 an hour |
| Typical RN | $84,330$40.54 an hour | $81,780$39.32 an hour | $97,550$46.90 an hour |
| Experienced | $93,390$44.90 an hour | $98,560$47.39 an hour | $112,350$54.02 an hour |
| Top 10% | $105,790$50.86 an hour | $104,390$50.19 an hour | $137,470$66.09 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the Columbia area as BLS defines it
RN pay growth in Columbia
Typical (median) annual wage for RNs in the Columbia area · BLS OES May estimates, 2015 to 2025 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
In 2015, typical RN pay in Columbia was $56,660 a year. By 2025 it had reached $84,330, a change of +49%, compared with +42% for Missouri over the same years.
How Columbia compares with other Missouri cities
Jefferson City pays RNs the most in Missouri at $85,010 a year, $680 more than Columbia. The lowest-paying area in the state is Joplin at $74,930.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Columbia | RNs employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jefferson City | $85,010 | $40.87 | +1% | 1,910 |
| 2 | Columbia | $84,330 | $40.54 | this city | 3,680 |
| 3 | St. Louis | $83,180 | $39.99 | -1% | 35,200 |
| 4 | Kansas City | $83,040 | $39.92 | -2% | 29,650 |
| 5 | Cape Girardeau | $82,640 | $39.73 | -2% | 1,470 |
| 6 | Springfield | $79,370 | $38.16 | -6% | 6,820 |
| 7 | St. Joseph | $77,240 | $37.13 | -8% | 1,490 |
| 8 | Joplin | $74,930 | $36.03 | -11% | 2,670 |
Every metro area in Missouri with RN wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · Missouri typical pay $81,780
Is Columbia a good place to work as an RN?
RNs in Columbia earn less than the national figure: typical pay is $84,330 a year, 14% below the national rate. For every 1,000 jobs in the Columbia area, about 34 are RN positions; nationally, the figure is closer to 22. That makes the local economy more reliant on RNs than most places, and turnover keeps positions opening through the year.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does an RN make in Columbia, MO?
- A typical RN in Columbia earns $84,330 a year, or $40.54 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $63,080 and the top 10% earn over $105,790.
- How much does an RN make an hour in Columbia?
- Typical hourly pay for RNs in Columbia is $40.54. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $30.33, and the top 10% earn over $50.86 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for an RN in Columbia?
- Entry-level RN positions in Columbia typically offer around $30.33 an hour, or $63,080 a year.
- Is RN pay in Columbia higher than in the rest of Missouri?
- Columbia pay is 3% above the Missouri figure of $81,780 a year, ranking 2nd of 8 metro areas in the state. Jefferson City pays the most in Missouri at $85,010.