Jobs that lost the most to inflation in Missouri

Every occupation here is paid more in dollars than it was in 2019 and less in what those dollars buy. Prices rose about 26% over the period; these wages did not keep up. Limited to occupations employing at least 50,000 people.

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 · Real change since 2019

1Operations Research Analysts$62,380
Bachelor's degree
$49,180 – $116,980-34.6%-17.7% nominal
2Real Estate Sales Agents$43,960
High school diploma or equivalent
$30,160 – $104,770-31.9%-14.3% nominal
3Legal Secretaries and Administrative Assistants$38,560
High school diploma or equivalent
$31,090 – $76,640-31.5%-13.8% nominal
4Biological Scientists, All Other$63,290
Bachelor's degree
$42,540 – $122,050-29.6%-11.4% nominal
5Sales Managers$115,370
Bachelor's degree
$60,920 – $223,340-26.4%-7.3% nominal
6Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers$54,620
High school diploma or equivalent
$41,560 – $75,550-25.4%-6.1% nominal
7Sheet Metal Workers$63,560
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,090 – $110,580-24.7%-5.2% nominal
8Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators$57,430
No formal educational credential
$42,600 – $75,280-24.2%-4.5% nominal
9Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and Daycare$47,940
Bachelor's degree
$29,950 – $85,770-23.4%-3.5% nominal
10Credit Analysts$65,350
Bachelor's degree
$50,020 – $113,280-23.1%-3.2% nominal
11Network and Computer Systems Administrators$80,870
Bachelor's degree
$52,190 – $129,610-22.9%-2.9% nominal
12Healthcare Support Workers, All Other$39,940
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,780 – $58,710-22.8%-2.8% nominal
13First-Line Supervisors of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping Workers$48,710
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,040 – $74,470-22.0%-1.8% nominal
14First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers$75,970
Postsecondary nondegree award
$45,210 – $125,940-21.6%-1.2% nominal
15General and Operations Managers$79,300
Bachelor's degree
$42,460 – $188,820-21.0%-0.6% nominal
16First-Line Supervisors of Correctional Officers$46,840
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,840 – $73,030-20.9%-0.4% nominal
17Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters$68,030
High school diploma or equivalent
$59,990 – $68,590-20.9%-0.5% nominal
18Firefighters$49,080
Postsecondary nondegree award
$31,140 – $79,360-20.3%+0.3% nominal
19Motor Vehicle Operators, All Other$32,330
No formal educational credential
$28,600 – $49,740-19.3%+1.7% nominal
20Education Teachers, Postsecondary$65,910
Doctoral or professional degree
$40,620 – $104,210-18.9%+2.1% nominal
21Locomotive Engineers$78,820
High school diploma or equivalent
$78,750 – $79,040-18.7%+2.4% nominal
22Brickmasons and Blockmasons$72,370
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,610 – $85,630-18.4%+2.8% nominal
23Roofers$48,570
No formal educational credential
$38,470 – $78,710-17.8%+3.5% nominal
24Umpires, Referees, and Other Sports Officials$33,140
High school diploma or equivalent
$28,600 – $50,320-17.2%+4.3% nominal
25Electricians$65,410
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,860 – $104,060-17.2%+4.2% nominal
26Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers$57,610
Postsecondary nondegree award
$36,590 – $86,790-16.9%+4.6% nominal
27Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$66,790
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,780 – $117,180-16.8%+4.7% nominal
28Financial Examiners$79,990
Bachelor's degree
$48,140 – $148,400-16.7%+4.9% nominal
29Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School$57,260
Bachelor's degree
$43,880 – $83,330-16.2%+5.5% nominal
30Pharmacists$137,610
Doctoral or professional degree
$107,530 – $166,840-16.1%+5.7% nominal
31Bill and Account Collectors$41,760
High school diploma or equivalent
$28,600 – $63,000-16.0%+5.7% nominal
32Medical Equipment Repairers$57,340
Associate's degree
$37,320 – $99,420-15.8%+6.0% nominal
33Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians$72,120
Associate's degree
$49,480 – $103,240-15.8%+6.0% nominal
34Medical and Health Services Managers$104,370
Bachelor's degree
$64,620 – $186,430-15.8%+6.0% nominal
35Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$61,940
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,110 – $125,280-15.1%+7.0% nominal
36Loan Officers$73,660
Bachelor's degree
$38,910 – $136,130-14.9%+7.2% nominal
37Special Education Teachers, Middle School$50,370
Bachelor's degree
$39,990 – $81,110-14.4%+7.8% nominal
38Detectives and Criminal Investigators$75,650
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,190 – $151,720-13.8%+8.5% nominal
39Buyers and Purchasing Agents$65,650
Bachelor's degree
$45,280 – $111,070-13.7%+8.6% nominal
40First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors$60,370
High school diploma or equivalent
$41,590 – $96,110-13.7%+8.6% nominal
41Carpenters$60,840
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,700 – $96,310-13.6%+8.8% nominal
42Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary School$59,300
Bachelor's degree
$45,890 – $81,130-13.3%+9.2% nominal
43Marketing Managers$130,550
Bachelor's degree
$76,160 – $226,700-13.1%+9.5% nominal
44Compliance Officers$67,270
Bachelor's degree
$44,060 – $118,850-12.7%+10.0% nominal
45Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education$50,910
Bachelor's degree
$39,980 – $78,820-12.7%+9.9% nominal
46First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers$79,440
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,570 – $160,460-12.4%+10.4% nominal
47Computer Network Architects$103,130
Bachelor's degree
$62,080 – $168,820-12.3%+10.4% nominal
48Reservation and Transportation Ticket Agents and Travel Clerks$40,560
High school diploma or equivalent
$28,600 – $76,910-12.0%+10.8% nominal
49Chief Executives$172,320
Bachelor's degree
$75,040 – $416,060-11.9%+10.9% nominal
50First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers$63,050
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,090 – $100,300-11.4%+11.6% nominal

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	Real change since 2019
1	Operations Research AnalystsBachelor's degree	$62,380	$49,180 – $116,980	-34.6%-17.7% nominal
2	Real Estate Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$43,960	$30,160 – $104,770	-31.9%-14.3% nominal
3	Legal Secretaries and Administrative AssistantsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$38,560	$31,090 – $76,640	-31.5%-13.8% nominal
4	Biological Scientists, All OtherBachelor's degree	$63,290	$42,540 – $122,050	-29.6%-11.4% nominal
5	Sales ManagersBachelor's degree	$115,370	$60,920 – $223,340	-26.4%-7.3% nominal
6	Security and Fire Alarm Systems InstallersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$54,620	$41,560 – $75,550	-25.4%-6.1% nominal
7	Sheet Metal WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,560	$38,090 – $110,580	-24.7%-5.2% nominal
8	Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine OperatorsNo formal educational credential	$57,430	$42,600 – $75,280	-24.2%-4.5% nominal
9	Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and DaycareBachelor's degree	$47,940	$29,950 – $85,770	-23.4%-3.5% nominal
10	Credit AnalystsBachelor's degree	$65,350	$50,020 – $113,280	-23.1%-3.2% nominal
11	Network and Computer Systems AdministratorsBachelor's degree	$80,870	$52,190 – $129,610	-22.9%-2.9% nominal
12	Healthcare Support Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$39,940	$35,780 – $58,710	-22.8%-2.8% nominal
13	First-Line Supervisors of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$48,710	$40,040 – $74,470	-22.0%-1.8% nominal
14	First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention WorkersPostsecondary nondegree award	$75,970	$45,210 – $125,940	-21.6%-1.2% nominal
15	General and Operations ManagersBachelor's degree	$79,300	$42,460 – $188,820	-21.0%-0.6% nominal
16	First-Line Supervisors of Correctional OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$46,840	$46,840 – $73,030	-20.9%-0.4% nominal
17	Railroad Conductors and YardmastersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$68,030	$59,990 – $68,590	-20.9%-0.5% nominal
18	FirefightersPostsecondary nondegree award	$49,080	$31,140 – $79,360	-20.3%+0.3% nominal
19	Motor Vehicle Operators, All OtherNo formal educational credential	$32,330	$28,600 – $49,740	-19.3%+1.7% nominal
20	Education Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$65,910	$40,620 – $104,210	-18.9%+2.1% nominal
21	Locomotive EngineersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$78,820	$78,750 – $79,040	-18.7%+2.4% nominal
22	Brickmasons and BlockmasonsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$72,370	$47,610 – $85,630	-18.4%+2.8% nominal
23	RoofersNo formal educational credential	$48,570	$38,470 – $78,710	-17.8%+3.5% nominal
24	Umpires, Referees, and Other Sports OfficialsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$33,140	$28,600 – $50,320	-17.2%+4.3% nominal
25	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$65,410	$43,860 – $104,060	-17.2%+4.2% nominal
26	Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$57,610	$36,590 – $86,790	-16.9%+4.6% nominal
27	Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$66,790	$44,780 – $117,180	-16.8%+4.7% nominal
28	Financial ExaminersBachelor's degree	$79,990	$48,140 – $148,400	-16.7%+4.9% nominal
29	Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary SchoolBachelor's degree	$57,260	$43,880 – $83,330	-16.2%+5.5% nominal
30	PharmacistsDoctoral or professional degree	$137,610	$107,530 – $166,840	-16.1%+5.7% nominal
31	Bill and Account CollectorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$41,760	$28,600 – $63,000	-16.0%+5.7% nominal
32	Medical Equipment RepairersAssociate's degree	$57,340	$37,320 – $99,420	-15.8%+6.0% nominal
33	Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$72,120	$49,480 – $103,240	-15.8%+6.0% nominal
34	Medical and Health Services ManagersBachelor's degree	$104,370	$64,620 – $186,430	-15.8%+6.0% nominal
35	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific ProductsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,940	$35,110 – $125,280	-15.1%+7.0% nominal
36	Loan OfficersBachelor's degree	$73,660	$38,910 – $136,130	-14.9%+7.2% nominal
37	Special Education Teachers, Middle SchoolBachelor's degree	$50,370	$39,990 – $81,110	-14.4%+7.8% nominal
38	Detectives and Criminal InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$75,650	$49,190 – $151,720	-13.8%+8.5% nominal
39	Buyers and Purchasing AgentsBachelor's degree	$65,650	$45,280 – $111,070	-13.7%+8.6% nominal
40	First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling SupervisorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,370	$41,590 – $96,110	-13.7%+8.6% nominal
41	CarpentersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,840	$38,700 – $96,310	-13.6%+8.8% nominal
42	Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary SchoolBachelor's degree	$59,300	$45,890 – $81,130	-13.3%+9.2% nominal
43	Marketing ManagersBachelor's degree	$130,550	$76,160 – $226,700	-13.1%+9.5% nominal
44	Compliance OfficersBachelor's degree	$67,270	$44,060 – $118,850	-12.7%+10.0% nominal
45	Elementary School Teachers, Except Special EducationBachelor's degree	$50,910	$39,980 – $78,820	-12.7%+9.9% nominal
46	First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$79,440	$47,570 – $160,460	-12.4%+10.4% nominal
47	Computer Network ArchitectsBachelor's degree	$103,130	$62,080 – $168,820	-12.3%+10.4% nominal
48	Reservation and Transportation Ticket Agents and Travel ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$40,560	$28,600 – $76,910	-12.0%+10.8% nominal
49	Chief ExecutivesBachelor's degree	$172,320	$75,040 – $416,060	-11.9%+10.9% nominal
50	First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,050	$42,090 – $100,300	-11.4%+11.6% nominal

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.

Jobs that lost the most to inflation in Missouri

More for Missouri

Metro areas in Missouri

By field in Missouri

Without a degree

Jobs that lost the most to inflation in each state