High paying entry level jobs in St. Louis, MO-IL

These occupations in St. Louis, MO-IL 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 St. Louis, MO-IL run 4.9% below the national average (2024), so a St. Louis, MO-IL salary is worth about 1.05× its face value in national terms. That scales every wage here by the same factor — it changes what the numbers mean, not their order.

Local wage estimates are suppressed more often than state ones — BLS withholds any figure too few local employers report — so an occupation missing here simply has no published local estimate.

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

Find high paying jobs in St. Louis, MO-IL

OccupationMedian, St. Louis, MO-IL · Employed

1Nurse Anesthetists$232,300
Master's degree
$214,980 – $332,800650
2Dentists, General$210,430
Doctoral or professional degree
$96,300 – $559,2601,250
3Lawyers$142,690
Doctoral or professional degree
$67,600 – $306,6506,100
4Pharmacists$138,530
Doctoral or professional degree
$111,110 – $166,8402,910
5Physician Assistants$136,120
Master's degree
$77,620 – $170,9601,260
6Nurse Practitioners$131,580
Master's degree
$108,340 – $164,2803,430
7Software Developers$129,030
Bachelor's degree
$77,730 – $169,0309,820
8Electrical Engineers$123,960
Bachelor's degree
$77,770 – $165,1201,290
9Veterinarians$122,460
Doctoral or professional degree
$74,680 – $195,480810
10Computer Hardware Engineers$112,490
Bachelor's degree
$61,290 – $150,100540
11Computer Occupations, All Other$108,450
Bachelor's degree
$58,100 – $166,6607,330
12Web Developers$106,360
Bachelor's degree
$68,940 – $129,080490
13Database Administrators$104,650
Bachelor's degree
$62,320 – $154,280550
14Engineers, All Other$103,880
Bachelor's degree
$62,900 – $155,130680
15Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists$103,410
Doctoral or professional degree
$76,750 – $173,4802,560
16Industrial Engineers$102,230
Bachelor's degree
$71,320 – $156,7302,580
17Business Teachers, Postsecondary$101,730
Doctoral or professional degree
$48,210 – $331,940910
18Physical Therapists$100,600
Doctoral or professional degree
$77,390 – $124,1902,480
19Project Management Specialists$100,510
Bachelor's degree
$60,200 – $162,00010,450
20Mechanical Engineers$100,340
Bachelor's degree
$65,900 – $149,0602,190
21Financial and Investment Analysts$99,950
Bachelor's degree
$61,970 – $166,3902,650
22Data Scientists$99,600
Bachelor's degree
$59,500 – $158,3102,640
23Diagnostic Medical Sonographers$98,990
Associate's degree
$79,320 – $107,330730
24Financial Risk Specialists$97,920
Bachelor's degree
$59,420 – $158,250480
25Dental Hygienists$97,650
Associate's degree
$78,760 – $99,4002,150
26Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary$97,120
Doctoral or professional degree
$58,960 – $213,660470
27Computer Programmers$96,920
Bachelor's degree
$63,230 – $132,120660
28Civil Engineers$96,830
Bachelor's degree
$67,510 – $140,4603,150
29Computer Systems Analysts$96,290
Bachelor's degree
$61,840 – $145,5903,920
30Occupational Therapists$95,770
Master's degree
$73,720 – $117,4601,860
31Business Operations Specialists, All Other$95,470
Bachelor's degree
$54,290 – $157,3507,320
32Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers$94,590
Bachelor's degree
$59,600 – $169,8201,360
33Occupational Health and Safety Specialists$94,010
Bachelor's degree
$56,630 – $145,7701,160
34Network and Computer Systems Administrators$88,940
Bachelor's degree
$59,450 – $129,4102,840
35Logisticians$88,880
Bachelor's degree
$54,980 – $130,1702,430
36Chemists$86,690
Bachelor's degree
$53,430 – $151,2901,040
37Financial Specialists, All Other$85,240
Bachelor's degree
$47,120 – $131,5801,300
38Registered Nurses$83,180
Bachelor's degree
$63,440 – $104,46035,200
39Respiratory Therapists$79,210
Associate's degree
$62,230 – $95,7301,260
40Accountants and Auditors$78,880
Bachelor's degree
$51,040 – $130,34013,610
41Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary$78,510
Master's degree
$47,010 – $128,680720
42Biological Scientists, All Other$78,330
Bachelor's degree
$47,840 – $136,700480
43English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary$78,300
Doctoral or professional degree
$48,930 – $128,780460
44Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians$77,600
Postsecondary nondegree award
$47,980 – $106,890890
45Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$76,390
Associate's degree
$59,600 – $97,2902,190
46Web and Digital Interface Designers$74,780
Bachelor's degree
$48,310 – $136,380650
47Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists$74,130
Bachelor's degree
$39,520 – $133,1406,980
48Credit Analysts$73,850
Bachelor's degree
$53,890 – $124,970520
49Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians$71,900
Associate's degree
$46,350 – $108,410480
50Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language Instructors$71,810
Bachelor's degree
$37,880 – $80,840430

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

#	Occupation	MedianSt. Louis, MO-IL	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Employed
1	Nurse AnesthetistsMaster's degree	$232,300	$214,980 – $332,800	650
2	Dentists, GeneralDoctoral or professional degree	$210,430	$96,300 – $559,260	1,250
3	LawyersDoctoral or professional degree	$142,690	$67,600 – $306,650	6,100
4	PharmacistsDoctoral or professional degree	$138,530	$111,110 – $166,840	2,910
5	Physician AssistantsMaster's degree	$136,120	$77,620 – $170,960	1,260
6	Nurse PractitionersMaster's degree	$131,580	$108,340 – $164,280	3,430
7	Software DevelopersBachelor's degree	$129,030	$77,730 – $169,030	9,820
8	Electrical EngineersBachelor's degree	$123,960	$77,770 – $165,120	1,290
9	VeterinariansDoctoral or professional degree	$122,460	$74,680 – $195,480	810
10	Computer Hardware EngineersBachelor's degree	$112,490	$61,290 – $150,100	540
11	Computer Occupations, All OtherBachelor's degree	$108,450	$58,100 – $166,660	7,330
12	Web DevelopersBachelor's degree	$106,360	$68,940 – $129,080	490
13	Database AdministratorsBachelor's degree	$104,650	$62,320 – $154,280	550
14	Engineers, All OtherBachelor's degree	$103,880	$62,900 – $155,130	680
15	Medical Scientists, Except EpidemiologistsDoctoral or professional degree	$103,410	$76,750 – $173,480	2,560
16	Industrial EngineersBachelor's degree	$102,230	$71,320 – $156,730	2,580
17	Business Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$101,730	$48,210 – $331,940	910
18	Physical TherapistsDoctoral or professional degree	$100,600	$77,390 – $124,190	2,480
19	Project Management SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$100,510	$60,200 – $162,000	10,450
20	Mechanical EngineersBachelor's degree	$100,340	$65,900 – $149,060	2,190
21	Financial and Investment AnalystsBachelor's degree	$99,950	$61,970 – $166,390	2,650
22	Data ScientistsBachelor's degree	$99,600	$59,500 – $158,310	2,640
23	Diagnostic Medical SonographersAssociate's degree	$98,990	$79,320 – $107,330	730
24	Financial Risk SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$97,920	$59,420 – $158,250	480
25	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$97,650	$78,760 – $99,400	2,150
26	Biological Science Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$97,120	$58,960 – $213,660	470
27	Computer ProgrammersBachelor's degree	$96,920	$63,230 – $132,120	660
28	Civil EngineersBachelor's degree	$96,830	$67,510 – $140,460	3,150
29	Computer Systems AnalystsBachelor's degree	$96,290	$61,840 – $145,590	3,920
30	Occupational TherapistsMaster's degree	$95,770	$73,720 – $117,460	1,860
31	Business Operations Specialists, All OtherBachelor's degree	$95,470	$54,290 – $157,350	7,320
32	Software Quality Assurance Analysts and TestersBachelor's degree	$94,590	$59,600 – $169,820	1,360
33	Occupational Health and Safety SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$94,010	$56,630 – $145,770	1,160
34	Network and Computer Systems AdministratorsBachelor's degree	$88,940	$59,450 – $129,410	2,840
35	LogisticiansBachelor's degree	$88,880	$54,980 – $130,170	2,430
36	ChemistsBachelor's degree	$86,690	$53,430 – $151,290	1,040
37	Financial Specialists, All OtherBachelor's degree	$85,240	$47,120 – $131,580	1,300
38	Registered NursesBachelor's degree	$83,180	$63,440 – $104,460	35,200
39	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$79,210	$62,230 – $95,730	1,260
40	Accountants and AuditorsBachelor's degree	$78,880	$51,040 – $130,340	13,610
41	Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, PostsecondaryMaster's degree	$78,510	$47,010 – $128,680	720
42	Biological Scientists, All OtherBachelor's degree	$78,330	$47,840 – $136,700	480
43	English Language and Literature Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$78,300	$48,930 – $128,780	460
44	Aircraft Mechanics and Service TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$77,600	$47,980 – $106,890	890
45	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$76,390	$59,600 – $97,290	2,190
46	Web and Digital Interface DesignersBachelor's degree	$74,780	$48,310 – $136,380	650
47	Market Research Analysts and Marketing SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$74,130	$39,520 – $133,140	6,980
48	Credit AnalystsBachelor's degree	$73,850	$53,890 – $124,970	520
49	Industrial Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$71,900	$46,350 – $108,410	480
50	Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language InstructorsBachelor's degree	$71,810	$37,880 – $80,840	430

Ranked among the occupations common enough to employ roughly one in every three thousand workers in St. Louis, MO-IL. 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.

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

High paying entry level jobs in St. Louis, MO-IL

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