High paying entry level jobs in Missouri

These occupations in Missouri ask for no prior experience in a related job and no on-the-job training period: you are expected to be productive on arrival. That is precisely why most of them want a specific qualification instead — the credential does the work the experience would have. Read the line under each title for what that qualification is; several here are doctorates. If you need something you can start without one, use the no-experience list.

Cost of living: prices in Missouri run 9.2% below the national average (2024), so a Missouri salary is worth about 1.10× its face value in national terms. That scales every wage here by the same factor — it changes what the numbers mean, not their order. To see where a job pays a real premium, use jobs that pay more in Missouri.

Wages: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Cost of living: BEA regional price parities, 2024

Find high paying jobs in Missouri

OccupationMedian, Missouri · Employed

1Nurse Anesthetists$242,630
Master's degree
$177,900 – $362,8001,550
2Dentists, General$204,960
Doctoral or professional degree
$95,610 – $427,9702,440
3Pharmacists$137,610
Doctoral or professional degree
$107,530 – $166,8406,740
4Physician Assistants$135,130
Master's degree
$82,690 – $169,6502,300
5Lawyers$133,450
Doctoral or professional degree
$67,020 – $299,99011,560
6Nurse Practitioners$129,930
Master's degree
$100,650 – $162,0607,710
7Software Developers$126,120
Bachelor's degree
$72,570 – $169,34020,020
8Electrical Engineers$118,670
Bachelor's degree
$77,620 – $166,7102,410
9Veterinarians$114,660
Doctoral or professional degree
$61,270 – $193,8601,920
10Web Developers$103,750
Bachelor's degree
$58,140 – $186,2601,160
11Engineers, All Other$102,980
Bachelor's degree
$63,170 – $168,5301,850
12Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists$102,540
Doctoral or professional degree
$64,160 – $173,4803,650
13Computer Occupations, All Other$101,040
Bachelor's degree
$52,590 – $165,36014,340
14Financial Risk Specialists$100,620
Bachelor's degree
$60,850 – $162,1401,070
15Business Teachers, Postsecondary$100,310
Doctoral or professional degree
$49,640 – $280,7101,720
16Database Administrators$100,270
Bachelor's degree
$57,730 – $150,4901,140
17Diagnostic Medical Sonographers$100,130
Associate's degree
$76,820 – $106,0901,930
18Mechanical Engineers$99,330
Bachelor's degree
$64,750 – $142,1004,870
19Physical Therapists$99,310
Doctoral or professional degree
$76,110 – $124,5304,900
20Industrial Engineers$99,290
Bachelor's degree
$65,880 – $143,9505,070
21Financial and Investment Analysts$98,420
Bachelor's degree
$60,500 – $160,5404,430
22Occupational Therapists$97,290
Master's degree
$71,880 – $120,1303,400
23Data Scientists$97,090
Bachelor's degree
$58,960 – $151,3804,730
24Project Management Specialists$94,660
Bachelor's degree
$56,660 – $157,65021,460
25Civil Engineers$92,750
Bachelor's degree
$64,950 – $139,2105,760
26Dental Hygienists$92,750
Associate's degree
$59,880 – $99,4003,810
27Computer Systems Analysts$92,060
Bachelor's degree
$59,600 – $145,5907,730
28Computer Programmers$90,420
Bachelor's degree
$54,760 – $126,5901,520
29Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers$85,530
Bachelor's degree
$55,030 – $141,3502,930
30Occupational Health and Safety Specialists$83,090
Bachelor's degree
$43,330 – $130,1102,660
31Chemists$82,800
Bachelor's degree
$48,240 – $134,9401,640
32Registered Nurses$81,780
Bachelor's degree
$63,230 – $104,39076,310
33Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary$80,970
Doctoral or professional degree
$52,700 – $174,8501,060
34Network and Computer Systems Administrators$80,870
Bachelor's degree
$52,190 – $129,6105,810
35Business Operations Specialists, All Other$80,420
Bachelor's degree
$49,150 – $135,03015,770
36Respiratory Therapists$78,390
Associate's degree
$60,950 – $95,7303,030
37Logisticians$78,350
Bachelor's degree
$49,040 – $124,3903,440
38Accountants and Auditors$76,590
Bachelor's degree
$49,290 – $128,30028,000
39Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary$75,960
Master's degree
$46,730 – $126,5201,450
40Financial Specialists, All Other$75,800
Bachelor's degree
$42,110 – $125,1002,710
41Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$73,080
Associate's degree
$50,810 – $97,1505,170
42English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary$73,070
Doctoral or professional degree
$47,310 – $111,0201,040
43Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians$72,120
Associate's degree
$49,480 – $103,2401,390
44Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians$71,470
Postsecondary nondegree award
$45,620 – $97,1601,700
45Web and Digital Interface Designers$70,970
Bachelor's degree
$43,680 – $132,5501,210
46Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists$70,140
Bachelor's degree
$37,970 – $129,14014,890
47Human Resources Specialists$66,990
Bachelor's degree
$44,730 – $110,66017,650
48Occupational Therapy Assistants$66,070
Associate's degree
$50,990 – $80,9301,470
49Credit Analysts$65,350
Bachelor's degree
$50,020 – $113,2801,160
50Fundraisers$63,860
Bachelor's degree
$44,290 – $100,0901,670

Bars run from the 10th to the 90th percentile; the middle half is shaded darker, and the tick is the median.

#	Occupation	MedianMissouri	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Employed
1	Nurse AnesthetistsMaster's degree	$242,630	$177,900 – $362,800	1,550
2	Dentists, GeneralDoctoral or professional degree	$204,960	$95,610 – $427,970	2,440
3	PharmacistsDoctoral or professional degree	$137,610	$107,530 – $166,840	6,740
4	Physician AssistantsMaster's degree	$135,130	$82,690 – $169,650	2,300
5	LawyersDoctoral or professional degree	$133,450	$67,020 – $299,990	11,560
6	Nurse PractitionersMaster's degree	$129,930	$100,650 – $162,060	7,710
7	Software DevelopersBachelor's degree	$126,120	$72,570 – $169,340	20,020
8	Electrical EngineersBachelor's degree	$118,670	$77,620 – $166,710	2,410
9	VeterinariansDoctoral or professional degree	$114,660	$61,270 – $193,860	1,920
10	Web DevelopersBachelor's degree	$103,750	$58,140 – $186,260	1,160
11	Engineers, All OtherBachelor's degree	$102,980	$63,170 – $168,530	1,850
12	Medical Scientists, Except EpidemiologistsDoctoral or professional degree	$102,540	$64,160 – $173,480	3,650
13	Computer Occupations, All OtherBachelor's degree	$101,040	$52,590 – $165,360	14,340
14	Financial Risk SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$100,620	$60,850 – $162,140	1,070
15	Business Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$100,310	$49,640 – $280,710	1,720
16	Database AdministratorsBachelor's degree	$100,270	$57,730 – $150,490	1,140
17	Diagnostic Medical SonographersAssociate's degree	$100,130	$76,820 – $106,090	1,930
18	Mechanical EngineersBachelor's degree	$99,330	$64,750 – $142,100	4,870
19	Physical TherapistsDoctoral or professional degree	$99,310	$76,110 – $124,530	4,900
20	Industrial EngineersBachelor's degree	$99,290	$65,880 – $143,950	5,070
21	Financial and Investment AnalystsBachelor's degree	$98,420	$60,500 – $160,540	4,430
22	Occupational TherapistsMaster's degree	$97,290	$71,880 – $120,130	3,400
23	Data ScientistsBachelor's degree	$97,090	$58,960 – $151,380	4,730
24	Project Management SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$94,660	$56,660 – $157,650	21,460
25	Civil EngineersBachelor's degree	$92,750	$64,950 – $139,210	5,760
26	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$92,750	$59,880 – $99,400	3,810
27	Computer Systems AnalystsBachelor's degree	$92,060	$59,600 – $145,590	7,730
28	Computer ProgrammersBachelor's degree	$90,420	$54,760 – $126,590	1,520
29	Software Quality Assurance Analysts and TestersBachelor's degree	$85,530	$55,030 – $141,350	2,930
30	Occupational Health and Safety SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$83,090	$43,330 – $130,110	2,660
31	ChemistsBachelor's degree	$82,800	$48,240 – $134,940	1,640
32	Registered NursesBachelor's degree	$81,780	$63,230 – $104,390	76,310
33	Biological Science Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$80,970	$52,700 – $174,850	1,060
34	Network and Computer Systems AdministratorsBachelor's degree	$80,870	$52,190 – $129,610	5,810
35	Business Operations Specialists, All OtherBachelor's degree	$80,420	$49,150 – $135,030	15,770
36	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$78,390	$60,950 – $95,730	3,030
37	LogisticiansBachelor's degree	$78,350	$49,040 – $124,390	3,440
38	Accountants and AuditorsBachelor's degree	$76,590	$49,290 – $128,300	28,000
39	Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, PostsecondaryMaster's degree	$75,960	$46,730 – $126,520	1,450
40	Financial Specialists, All OtherBachelor's degree	$75,800	$42,110 – $125,100	2,710
41	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$73,080	$50,810 – $97,150	5,170
42	English Language and Literature Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$73,070	$47,310 – $111,020	1,040
43	Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$72,120	$49,480 – $103,240	1,390
44	Aircraft Mechanics and Service TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$71,470	$45,620 – $97,160	1,700
45	Web and Digital Interface DesignersBachelor's degree	$70,970	$43,680 – $132,550	1,210
46	Market Research Analysts and Marketing SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$70,140	$37,970 – $129,140	14,890
47	Human Resources SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$66,990	$44,730 – $110,660	17,650
48	Occupational Therapy AssistantsAssociate's degree	$66,070	$50,990 – $80,930	1,470
49	Credit AnalystsBachelor's degree	$65,350	$50,020 – $113,280	1,160
50	FundraisersBachelor's degree	$63,860	$44,290 – $100,090	1,670

Ranked among the occupations common enough to employ roughly one in every three thousand workers in Missouri. The rarer ones are real jobs — but a 1,190-person occupation at the top of a list answers a different question than the one most readers are asking.

More for Missouri

Metro areas in Missouri

Pay varies more between metros than between states — the spread inside one state is often wider than the gap between two.

By field in Missouri

Without a degree

The same fields, narrowed to what you can enter without one. Fields missing here have too few such occupations in Missouri to rank honestly.

High paying entry level jobs in Missouri

More for Missouri

Metro areas in Missouri

By field in Missouri

Without a degree

High paying entry level jobs in each state