Missouri's average registered nurse salary of $85,900 places it below Illinois ($94,360) and Indiana ($89,150) but close to Tennessee ($85,390) and above Kansas ($82,360). If you are competing for nurses who might consider crossing state lines, Illinois in particular represents a higher-paying alternative that candidates may weigh. Missouri is a cost-effective hiring market relative to most regional peers, but that advantage narrows when competing for experienced talent.
Registered nurse salary in Missouri (2026)
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The average registered nurse salary in Missouri is $85,900 per year. A small pool of very high earners pulls that average upward, so the median of $81,780 gives you a more reliable starting point for most hiring decisions. Missouri employs 76,310 registered nurses, and the $4,120 gap between the mean and median reflects real variation in the candidate pool you will be evaluating. Junior registered nurses in Missouri typically earn around $63,230, while senior specialists reach and exceed the $104,390 level at the 90th percentile. Plan for a range rather than a single number when budgeting for a registered nurse hire in Missouri, and anchor that range to the seniority and specialization of the role you are filling.
Metric / Value
Metric | Value |
Median Annual Salary | $81,780 |
Average Annual Salary | $85,900 |
vs. National Average | 15.3% below the national mean of $101,420 |
Data comes from the BLS OEWS and covers 76,310 employed registered nurses across Missouri.
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Registered nurse salary percentiles in Missouri
Percentile | Annual Salary |
10th Percentile | $63,230 |
25th Percentile | $76,050 |
75th Percentile | $98,560 |
90th Percentile | $104,390 |
When setting an offer for a registered nurse in Missouri, the 25th percentile at $76,050 is a practical floor for entry-level candidates, while experienced nurses in specialized roles typically reach $98,560 to $104,390. Offers below $76,050 will struggle to attract candidates with more than minimal experience in the Missouri market.
City | Average Annual Salary |
St. Louis | $88,310 |
Kansas City | $87,740 |
Columbia | $85,120 |
Springfield | $81,080 |
Joplin | $76,820 |
Location meaningfully affects what you will need to budget for a registered nurse hire in Missouri. St. Louis and Kansas City sit at the top of the range at $88,310 and $87,740 respectively, while Joplin comes in at $76,820, a difference of more than $11,000 compared to St. Louis. If you are hiring across multiple Missouri locations, build location-specific pay bands rather than applying a single statewide figure.
State | Average Annual Salary | Median Annual Salary |
Missouri | $85,900 | $81,780 |
Illinois | $94,360 | $95,990 |
Indiana | $89,150 | $83,500 |
Ohio | $87,730 | $82,510 |
Tennessee | $85,390 | $81,500 |
Kansas | $82,360 | $79,320 |
Missouri is a cost-effective market for registered nurse hiring relative to most of its neighbors, which matters if you are weighing where to staff or expand. Illinois averages $94,360 and Indiana averages $89,150, both meaningfully above Missouri's $85,900 mean. Tennessee and Kansas are the closest peers, making Missouri a mid-range state where compensation expectations are broadly in line with the regional norm.
Frequently asked questions about registered nurse salary in Missouri
How does Missouri compare to other states for registered nurse salary?
Registered Nurse salary by state
Data sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), 2025, SOC code 29-1141 (Registered Nurses).
Disclaimer
Rippling and its affiliates do not provide tax, accounting, or legal advice. This material has been prepared for informational purposes only, and is not intended to provide or be relied on for tax, accounting, or legal advice. You should consult your own tax, accounting, and legal advisors before engaging in any related activities or transactions.
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The Rippling Team
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