Healthcare Resource
Registered Nurse Salary in Missouri 2026: City-by-City Pay Data
In brief
RN salary data for Missouri in 2026: average $62K, St. Louis vs Kansas City breakdown, BJC/SSM/Saint Luke's pay rates, top employers, highest-paying specialties.
In this article
The average registered nurse salary in Missouri in 2026 is $62,100/year ($29.86/hour). St. Louis commands the highest rates in the state, driven by BJC HealthCare and Washington University Medical School affiliation. Kansas City is a competitive secondary market.
RN Salary by City in Missouri
| City / Metro | Avg Annual Salary | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| St. Louis Metro | $67,200 | BJC HealthCare (Barnes-Jewish/WUSM affiliation), academic premium |
| Kansas City Metro | $65,500 | Saint Luke's Health, Children's Mercy, HCA Midwest, active market |
| Springfield | $59,000 | CoxHealth, Mercy, SW Missouri regional market |
| Columbia | $61,500 | University of Missouri Health Care, academic system, mid-MO |
| Joplin | $57,000 | Freeman Health, Mercy, SW corner; serves 4-state region |
Top Missouri Healthcare Employers for RNs
- BJC HealthCare (St. Louis), Barnes-Jewish Hospital academic premium; transplant, oncology (Siteman), NICU top-paid specialties
- SSM Health, large Catholic regional system across MO; consistent statewide demand
- Saint Luke's Health System (Kansas City), Mid-America Heart Institute drives cardiac RN demand
- Children's Mercy (Kansas City), pediatric specialty; NICU and PICU premium pay
Compact License Status
Missouri is an NLC compact state. RNs with a multistate license from another compact state can practice in Missouri without a separate endorsement.
Missouri RN Job Market Outlook
St. Louis academic market is active with BJC's continued expansion. Kansas City demand is growing driven by population growth and healthcare sector expansion. Travel RN rates in St. Louis run $1,600-$2,100/week. Rural MO Ozarks and Bootheel have significant nursing shortages with geographic premiums.
Related: RN Salary Illinois 2026, RN Salary Ohio 2026, Missouri RN License Guide.
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