Jobs that pay the biggest premium in Columbia, MO

Each occupation's median wage in Columbia, MO 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 Columbia, MO pays a real premium. Limited to occupations with at least 1,000 workers in the state.

Cost of living: prices in Columbia, MO run 10.6% below the national average (2024), so a Columbia, MO salary is worth about 1.12× 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 Columbia, MO

OccupationMedian, Columbia, MO · vs. national

1Production Workers, All Other$53,510
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,260 – $78,070+33.4%
2Nurse Anesthetists$310,170
Master's degree
$215,420 – $310,170+31.1%
3Mathematical Science Teachers, Postsecondary$100,800
Doctoral or professional degree
$48,290 – $121,820+26.1%
4Structural Iron and Steel Workers$79,100
High school diploma or equivalent
$58,550 – $79,100+26.0%
5Business Teachers, Postsecondary$120,590
Doctoral or professional degree
$50,640 – $294,100+21.7%
6Dentists, General$207,450
Doctoral or professional degree
$88,610 – $352,760+21.4%
7Construction Laborers$56,810
No formal educational credential
$37,570 – $84,540+20.6%
8Medical Records Specialists$60,960
Postsecondary nondegree award
$43,910 – $74,080+19.2%
9Residential Advisors$49,630
High school diploma or equivalent
$31,080 – $58,120+17.5%
10Physicians, All Other$312,080
Doctoral or professional degree
$149,990 – $393,700+17.4%
11Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines$76,120
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,920 – $81,820+16.2%
12Education Administrators, Postsecondary$117,570
Master's degree
$77,490 – $314,130+12.4%
13Chemical Technicians$67,760
Associate's degree
$38,060 – $108,750+12.2%
14Social Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary, All Other$81,240
Doctoral or professional degree
$49,040 – $125,580+11.3%
15Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders$48,070
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,600 – $54,980+11.2%
16Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$53,370
High school diploma or equivalent
$29,700 – $64,970+10.6%
17Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$51,080
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,290 – $51,820+10.3%
18Teaching Assistants, Postsecondary$47,220
Bachelor's degree
$37,340 – $60,190+10.0%
19Chemistry Teachers, Postsecondary$102,400
Doctoral or professional degree
$50,110 – $210,260+9.8%
20Packers and Packagers, Hand$39,520
No formal educational credential
$28,600 – $45,030+8.9%
21Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers$52,810
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,710 – $67,010+8.7%
22Office and Administrative Support Workers, All Other$49,440
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,380 – $62,170+8.3%
23Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement Teachers, Postsecondary$82,000
Doctoral or professional degree
$57,020 – $169,170+7.1%
24Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians$67,400
Bachelor's degree
$39,010 – $91,350+7.1%
25Rehabilitation Counselors$50,050
Master's degree
$37,490 – $61,630+6.8%
26Loan Officers$81,850
Bachelor's degree
$47,770 – $131,610+6.7%
27Maintenance Workers, Machinery$64,670
High school diploma or equivalent
$59,430 – $73,640+6.3%
28Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse$37,820
No formal educational credential
$29,900 – $50,640+6.1%
29Farm Equipment Mechanics and Service Technicians$59,690
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,480 – $75,230+5.6%
30Property Appraisers and Assessors$71,300
Bachelor's degree
$38,270 – $160,140+4.9%
31Social Science Research Assistants$65,050
Bachelor's degree
$50,390 – $80,850+4.9%
32Helpers--Production Workers$40,550
High school diploma or equivalent
$31,140 – $50,130+3.8%
33Education Teachers, Postsecondary$78,160
Doctoral or professional degree
$38,810 – $99,220+3.7%
34Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers$59,090
No formal educational credential
$37,970 – $98,810+3.6%
35Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers, All Other$50,930
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,810 – $77,060+3.5%
36Home Health and Personal Care Aides$36,860
High school diploma or equivalent
$28,600 – $45,280+3.0%
37Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers$35,870
No formal educational credential
$28,600 – $38,750+2.8%
38Postal Service Mail Carriers$62,070
No formal educational credential
$44,160 – $81,040+2.5%
39Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$48,310
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,630 – $49,570+2.4%
40Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers$97,390
High school diploma or equivalent
$58,730 – $102,660+2.2%
41Coaches and Scouts$48,290
Bachelor's degree
$28,600 – $168,140+2.0%
42English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary$80,250
Doctoral or professional degree
$46,460 – $109,450+1.9%
43Tree Trimmers and Pruners$51,470
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,310 – $65,280+1.0%
44Interior Designers$67,780
Bachelor's degree
$44,150 – $74,290+0.9%
45Information and Record Clerks, All Other$49,940
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,600 – $61,610+0.9%
46Recreation Workers$36,860
High school diploma or equivalent
$29,360 – $50,000+0.8%
47Financial Specialists, All Other$81,600
Bachelor's degree
$36,260 – $123,460+0.6%
48Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators$58,780
No formal educational credential
$47,440 – $75,030+0.5%
49Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondary$80,590
Doctoral or professional degree
$58,100 – $124,560+0.4%
50Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists$35,900
Postsecondary nondegree award
$28,600 – $55,410+0.3%

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

#	Occupation	MedianColumbia, MO	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	vs. national
1	Production Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$53,510	$35,260 – $78,070	+33.4%
2	Nurse AnesthetistsMaster's degree	$310,170	$215,420 – $310,170	+31.1%
3	Mathematical Science Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$100,800	$48,290 – $121,820	+26.1%
4	Structural Iron and Steel WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$79,100	$58,550 – $79,100	+26.0%
5	Business Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$120,590	$50,640 – $294,100	+21.7%
6	Dentists, GeneralDoctoral or professional degree	$207,450	$88,610 – $352,760	+21.4%
7	Construction LaborersNo formal educational credential	$56,810	$37,570 – $84,540	+20.6%
8	Medical Records SpecialistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$60,960	$43,910 – $74,080	+19.2%
9	Residential AdvisorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$49,630	$31,080 – $58,120	+17.5%
10	Physicians, All OtherDoctoral or professional degree	$312,080	$149,990 – $393,700	+17.4%
11	Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except EnginesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$76,120	$46,920 – $81,820	+16.2%
12	Education Administrators, PostsecondaryMaster's degree	$117,570	$77,490 – $314,130	+12.4%
13	Chemical TechniciansAssociate's degree	$67,760	$38,060 – $108,750	+12.2%
14	Social Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary, All OtherDoctoral or professional degree	$81,240	$49,040 – $125,580	+11.3%
15	Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$48,070	$38,600 – $54,980	+11.2%
16	Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$53,370	$29,700 – $64,970	+10.6%
17	Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$51,080	$37,290 – $51,820	+10.3%
18	Teaching Assistants, PostsecondaryBachelor's degree	$47,220	$37,340 – $60,190	+10.0%
19	Chemistry Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$102,400	$50,110 – $210,260	+9.8%
20	Packers and Packagers, HandNo formal educational credential	$39,520	$28,600 – $45,030	+8.9%
21	Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and WeighersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$52,810	$36,710 – $67,010	+8.7%
22	Office and Administrative Support Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$49,440	$35,380 – $62,170	+8.3%
23	Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$82,000	$57,020 – $169,170	+7.1%
24	Clinical Laboratory Technologists and TechniciansBachelor's degree	$67,400	$39,010 – $91,350	+7.1%
25	Rehabilitation CounselorsMaster's degree	$50,050	$37,490 – $61,630	+6.8%
26	Loan OfficersBachelor's degree	$81,850	$47,770 – $131,610	+6.7%
27	Maintenance Workers, MachineryHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,670	$59,430 – $73,640	+6.3%
28	Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and GreenhouseNo formal educational credential	$37,820	$29,900 – $50,640	+6.1%
29	Farm Equipment Mechanics and Service TechniciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,690	$38,480 – $75,230	+5.6%
30	Property Appraisers and AssessorsBachelor's degree	$71,300	$38,270 – $160,140	+4.9%
31	Social Science Research AssistantsBachelor's degree	$65,050	$50,390 – $80,850	+4.9%
32	Helpers--Production WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$40,550	$31,140 – $50,130	+3.8%
33	Education Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$78,160	$38,810 – $99,220	+3.7%
34	Cement Masons and Concrete FinishersNo formal educational credential	$59,090	$37,970 – $98,810	+3.6%
35	Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$50,930	$42,810 – $77,060	+3.5%
36	Home Health and Personal Care AidesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$36,860	$28,600 – $45,280	+3.0%
37	Laundry and Dry-Cleaning WorkersNo formal educational credential	$35,870	$28,600 – $38,750	+2.8%
38	Postal Service Mail CarriersNo formal educational credential	$62,070	$44,160 – $81,040	+2.5%
39	Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$48,310	$38,630 – $49,570	+2.4%
40	Electrical Power-Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$97,390	$58,730 – $102,660	+2.2%
41	Coaches and ScoutsBachelor's degree	$48,290	$28,600 – $168,140	+2.0%
42	English Language and Literature Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$80,250	$46,460 – $109,450	+1.9%
43	Tree Trimmers and PrunersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$51,470	$37,310 – $65,280	+1.0%
44	Interior DesignersBachelor's degree	$67,780	$44,150 – $74,290	+0.9%
45	Information and Record Clerks, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$49,940	$39,600 – $61,610	+0.9%
46	Recreation WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$36,860	$29,360 – $50,000	+0.8%
47	Financial Specialists, All OtherBachelor's degree	$81,600	$36,260 – $123,460	+0.6%
48	Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine OperatorsNo formal educational credential	$58,780	$47,440 – $75,030	+0.5%
49	Nursing Instructors and Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$80,590	$58,100 – $124,560	+0.4%
50	Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and CosmetologistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$35,900	$28,600 – $55,410	+0.3%

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

Jobs that pay the biggest premium in Columbia, MO

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