Registered Nurse salary in St. Louis, MO-IL
Registered Nurses in the St. Louis, MO-IL metro area earn a median of $83,180 a year ($39.99 an hour), based on BLS data for 35,200 workers.
Pay ranges from $63,440 for the lowest-paid 10% to $104,460 for the top 10%. That is 15% lower than the national median of $97,550. Pay here is 2% higher than the Missouri statewide median of $81,780. There are 26 registered nurses per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.2× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $88,310, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for registered nurses in St. Louis, MO-IL
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $63,440 | $30.50 |
| 25th percentile | $77,410 | $37.22 |
| Median | $83,180 | $39.99 |
| 75th percentile | $100,230 | $48.19 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $104,460 | $50.22 |
| Average (mean) | $88,310 | $42.46 |
Half of registered nurses earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $6,931.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,465.83 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,199.23 |
| Weekly | $1,599.62 |
| Hourly | $39.99 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Registered Nurse salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $100,490 | 100,240 |
| Champaign-Urbana, IL | $90,230 | 3,520 |
| Decatur, IL | $87,170 | 790 |
| Kankakee, IL | $86,220 | 1,390 |
| Jefferson City, MO | $85,010 | 1,910 |
| Columbia, MO | $84,330 | 3,680 |
| Springfield, IL | $84,220 | 4,110 |
| Kansas City, MO-KS | $83,040 | 29,650 |
| Cape Girardeau, MO-IL | $82,640 | 1,470 |
| Peoria, IL | $81,010 | 5,460 |
| Rockford, IL | $80,930 | 4,620 |
| Bloomington, IL | $79,970 | 1,990 |
| Paducah, KY-IL | $79,920 | 1,720 |
| Springfield, MO | $79,370 | 6,820 |
| St. Joseph, MO-KS | $77,240 | 1,490 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $77,150 | 3,520 |
| Joplin, MO-KS | $74,930 | 2,670 |
Highest-paying states for registered nurses
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| California | $140,270 |
| Hawaii | $136,320 |
| Oregon | $129,010 |
| Washington | $124,200 |
| Alaska | $109,480 |
| New York | $109,440 |
| New Jersey | $106,500 |
| Massachusetts | $104,550 |
| Nevada | $103,670 |
| Connecticut | $102,740 |
See Registered Nurse pay in every state or the Missouri statewide figures.
Related jobs in St. Louis, MO-IL
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Nurse Practitioner | $131,580 | $63.26 |
| Pharmacist | $138,530 | $66.60 |
| Physical Therapist | $100,600 | $48.37 |
| Physicians, All Other | $246,440 | $118.48 |
| Dental Hygienist | $97,650 | $46.95 |
| Occupational Therapist | $95,770 | $46.04 |
| Family Medicine Physician | $76,830 | $36.94 |
| Speech-Language Pathologist | $86,480 | $41.58 |
| Physician Assistant | $136,120 | $65.44 |
| Respiratory Therapist | $79,210 | $38.08 |
| Dentists, General | $210,430 | $101.17 |
| Veterinarian | $122,460 | $58.87 |
| Dietitians and Nutritionists | $70,360 | $33.83 |
| Nurse Anesthetist | $232,300 | $111.68 |
More: Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations · all salaries in St. Louis, MO-IL
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 29-1141. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a registered nurse make in St. Louis, MO-IL?
The median salary for registered nurses in the St. Louis, MO-IL metro area is $83,180 a year, or $39.99 an hour. Pay ranges from $63,440 for the lowest-paid 10% to $104,460 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid registered nurses make in St. Louis, MO-IL?
The top 10% of registered nurses in the St. Louis, MO-IL metro area earn at least $104,460 a year. The top 25% earn $100,230 or more.
What is the starting pay for registered nurses in St. Louis, MO-IL?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $63,440 a year, and a quarter of registered nurses earn $77,410 or less.
How many registered nurses work in St. Louis, MO-IL?
About 35,200 registered nurses are employed in the St. Louis, MO-IL metro area, not counting the self-employed.