Jobs that pay the biggest premium in Cape Girardeau, MO-IL

Each occupation's median wage in Cape Girardeau, MO-IL compared against the national median for the same occupation. Unlike a cost-of-living adjustment — which scales every job in a state by the same constant and so cannot change their order — this genuinely re-ranks, and it shows where Cape Girardeau, MO-IL pays a real premium. Limited to occupations with at least 1,000 workers in the state.

Cost of living: prices in Cape Girardeau, MO-IL run 13.9% below the national average (2024), so a Cape Girardeau, MO-IL salary is worth about 1.16× 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 Cape Girardeau, MO-IL

OccupationMedian, Cape Girardeau, MO-IL · vs. national

1Construction Laborers$58,140
No formal educational credential
$36,780 – $77,090+23.4%
2Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers$57,140
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,750 – $75,140+17.6%
3Painters, Construction and Maintenance$58,010
No formal educational credential
$37,940 – $71,350+17.4%
4First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers$88,150
High school diploma or equivalent
$58,470 – $115,670+10.3%
5Coaches and Scouts$51,960
Bachelor's degree
$33,060 – $84,810+9.8%
6Printing Press Operators$48,610
High school diploma or equivalent
$33,630 – $75,490+6.2%
7Industrial Production Managers$133,110
Bachelor's degree
$64,100 – $160,770+5.6%
8Carpenters$63,740
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,160 – $90,980+5.2%
9Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers$99,650
High school diploma or equivalent
$66,330 – $104,740+4.5%
10Physician Assistants$141,080
Master's degree
$111,210 – $169,650+3.8%
11Industrial Machinery Mechanics$66,530
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,040 – $78,550+3.1%
12Postal Service Mail Carriers$62,330
No formal educational credential
$42,390 – $81,040+2.9%
13Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators$61,480
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,980 – $89,880+2.7%
14Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$65,180
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,100 – $104,070+2.2%
15Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers$58,180
No formal educational credential
$42,680 – $74,920+2.0%
16Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining$57,640
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,520 – $79,540+0.4%
17Pharmacists$141,250
Doctoral or professional degree
$124,110 – $177,470+0.2%
18Speech-Language Pathologists$97,900
Master's degree
$63,450 – $113,3600.0%
19Medical Records Specialists$51,090
Postsecondary nondegree award
$36,450 – $76,770-0.1%
20Loan Officers$76,400
Bachelor's degree
$44,030 – $128,180-0.4%
21Bus Drivers, School$47,550
High school diploma or equivalent
$28,600 – $61,560-0.8%
22Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance$49,790
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,540 – $83,270-1.1%
23Cost Estimators$77,770
Bachelor's degree
$48,020 – $106,750-1.2%
24Occupational Therapists$98,990
Master's degree
$71,990 – $118,410-1.3%
25Maintenance and Repair Workers, General$48,830
High school diploma or equivalent
$33,570 – $76,440-1.5%
26Packers and Packagers, Hand$35,740
No formal educational credential
$30,720 – $51,150-1.5%
27Nurse Practitioners$130,000
Master's degree
$97,350 – $149,020-1.7%
28Physical Therapists$100,420
Doctoral or professional degree
$41,710 – $129,120-2.3%
29Parts Salespersons$37,560
No formal educational credential
$29,110 – $49,850-2.8%
30Production Workers, All Other$38,740
High school diploma or equivalent
$33,280 – $50,800-3.4%
31Industrial Engineers$98,650
Bachelor's degree
$72,440 – $165,480-3.7%
32Security Guards$36,630
High school diploma or equivalent
$29,330 – $46,870-3.7%
33Tire Repairers and Changers$36,260
High school diploma or equivalent
$28,600 – $42,700-3.8%
34Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics$48,690
Postsecondary nondegree award
$32,600 – $75,860-3.8%
35First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers$46,570
High school diploma or equivalent
$31,690 – $69,010-4.0%
36Computer Network Support Specialists$72,950
Associate's degree
$40,440 – $118,800-4.3%
37Fast Food and Counter Workers$29,810
No formal educational credential
$28,600 – $35,360-4.5%
38Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners$35,130
No formal educational credential
$29,440 – $43,090-4.6%
39Highway Maintenance Workers$47,930
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,960 – $77,570-4.6%
40Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators$44,150
No formal educational credential
$33,800 – $66,820-4.9%
41First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers$75,830
High school diploma or equivalent
$51,290 – $116,210-5.0%
42Home Health and Personal Care Aides$33,940
High school diploma or equivalent
$28,600 – $38,010-5.2%
43Library Assistants, Clerical$34,970
High school diploma or equivalent
$31,200 – $42,340-5.3%
44Electricians$59,720
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,550 – $99,400-5.5%
45Insurance Sales Agents$58,730
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,510 – $125,420-5.7%
46Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers, All Other$46,410
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,100 – $78,850-5.7%
47Hotel, Motel, and Resort Desk Clerks$33,020
High school diploma or equivalent
$28,990 – $35,790-5.8%
48Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines$61,670
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,550 – $84,270-5.9%
49Counter and Rental Clerks$38,870
No formal educational credential
$30,040 – $58,490-5.9%
50Driver/Sales Workers$36,480
High school diploma or equivalent
$28,600 – $58,390-5.9%

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

#	Occupation	MedianCape Girardeau, MO-IL	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	vs. national
1	Construction LaborersNo formal educational credential	$58,140	$36,780 – $77,090	+23.4%
2	Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and WeighersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$57,140	$38,750 – $75,140	+17.6%
3	Painters, Construction and MaintenanceNo formal educational credential	$58,010	$37,940 – $71,350	+17.4%
4	First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$88,150	$58,470 – $115,670	+10.3%
5	Coaches and ScoutsBachelor's degree	$51,960	$33,060 – $84,810	+9.8%
6	Printing Press OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$48,610	$33,630 – $75,490	+6.2%
7	Industrial Production ManagersBachelor's degree	$133,110	$64,100 – $160,770	+5.6%
8	CarpentersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,740	$43,160 – $90,980	+5.2%
9	Electrical Power-Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$99,650	$66,330 – $104,740	+4.5%
10	Physician AssistantsMaster's degree	$141,080	$111,210 – $169,650	+3.8%
11	Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$66,530	$46,040 – $78,550	+3.1%
12	Postal Service Mail CarriersNo formal educational credential	$62,330	$42,390 – $81,040	+2.9%
13	Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,480	$38,980 – $89,880	+2.7%
14	Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$65,180	$40,100 – $104,070	+2.2%
15	Cement Masons and Concrete FinishersNo formal educational credential	$58,180	$42,680 – $74,920	+2.0%
16	Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface MiningHigh school diploma or equivalent	$57,640	$50,520 – $79,540	+0.4%
17	PharmacistsDoctoral or professional degree	$141,250	$124,110 – $177,470	+0.2%
18	Speech-Language PathologistsMaster's degree	$97,900	$63,450 – $113,360	0.0%
19	Medical Records SpecialistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$51,090	$36,450 – $76,770	-0.1%
20	Loan OfficersBachelor's degree	$76,400	$44,030 – $128,180	-0.4%
21	Bus Drivers, SchoolHigh school diploma or equivalent	$47,550	$28,600 – $61,560	-0.8%
22	Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and AmbulanceHigh school diploma or equivalent	$49,790	$34,540 – $83,270	-1.1%
23	Cost EstimatorsBachelor's degree	$77,770	$48,020 – $106,750	-1.2%
24	Occupational TherapistsMaster's degree	$98,990	$71,990 – $118,410	-1.3%
25	Maintenance and Repair Workers, GeneralHigh school diploma or equivalent	$48,830	$33,570 – $76,440	-1.5%
26	Packers and Packagers, HandNo formal educational credential	$35,740	$30,720 – $51,150	-1.5%
27	Nurse PractitionersMaster's degree	$130,000	$97,350 – $149,020	-1.7%
28	Physical TherapistsDoctoral or professional degree	$100,420	$41,710 – $129,120	-2.3%
29	Parts SalespersonsNo formal educational credential	$37,560	$29,110 – $49,850	-2.8%
30	Production Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$38,740	$33,280 – $50,800	-3.4%
31	Industrial EngineersBachelor's degree	$98,650	$72,440 – $165,480	-3.7%
32	Security GuardsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$36,630	$29,330 – $46,870	-3.7%
33	Tire Repairers and ChangersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$36,260	$28,600 – $42,700	-3.8%
34	Automotive Service Technicians and MechanicsPostsecondary nondegree award	$48,690	$32,600 – $75,860	-3.8%
35	First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$46,570	$31,690 – $69,010	-4.0%
36	Computer Network Support SpecialistsAssociate's degree	$72,950	$40,440 – $118,800	-4.3%
37	Fast Food and Counter WorkersNo formal educational credential	$29,810	$28,600 – $35,360	-4.5%
38	Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping CleanersNo formal educational credential	$35,130	$29,440 – $43,090	-4.6%
39	Highway Maintenance WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$47,930	$40,960 – $77,570	-4.6%
40	Industrial Truck and Tractor OperatorsNo formal educational credential	$44,150	$33,800 – $66,820	-4.9%
41	First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$75,830	$51,290 – $116,210	-5.0%
42	Home Health and Personal Care AidesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$33,940	$28,600 – $38,010	-5.2%
43	Library Assistants, ClericalHigh school diploma or equivalent	$34,970	$31,200 – $42,340	-5.3%
44	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,720	$44,550 – $99,400	-5.5%
45	Insurance Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,730	$38,510 – $125,420	-5.7%
46	Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$46,410	$38,100 – $78,850	-5.7%
47	Hotel, Motel, and Resort Desk ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$33,020	$28,990 – $35,790	-5.8%
48	Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except EnginesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,670	$46,550 – $84,270	-5.9%
49	Counter and Rental ClerksNo formal educational credential	$38,870	$30,040 – $58,490	-5.9%
50	Driver/Sales WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$36,480	$28,600 – $58,390	-5.9%

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

Jobs that pay the biggest premium in Cape Girardeau, MO-IL

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