StateRates

Columbia salaries

The median worker in the Columbia, MO metro area earned $45,670 a year in 2024, about $21.96 an hour. That ranks #234 of the 391 metro areas published here, 7.7% below the national median.

Missouri

Median pay $45,670 $21.96 per hour
Vs national -7.7% U.S. $49,500
Workers 105,740 wage and salary
Metro rank #234 of 391 by median pay

What this labour market looks like

Columbia pays 1.6% less than Missouri as a whole. Metros usually run ahead of their states because they concentrate higher-paying industries, and the gap is a rough measure of how much of a state's economy sits in its cities.

Unusually concentrated here

Occupations against their national share, 2024
Occupation Concentration Employed Median
Teaching Assistants, Postsecondary 18.08× 1,920 $30,820
Family Medicine Physicians 10.21× 760 $67,150
Cooks, Fast Food 4.84× 2,220 $28,200
Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors 3.22× 760 $52,190
Loan Officers 2.54× 510 $78,110
Bus Drivers, School 2.26× 600 $37,020
Nursing Assistants 1.99× 1,900 $40,120
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria 1.76× 540 $31,360
Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses 1.69× 730 $59,700
Registered Nurses 1.62× 3,640 $81,370
Waiters and Waitresses 1.43× 2,260 $25,950
Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers 1.43× 920 $36,020

Best paid occupations

Highest median pay in Columbia
Occupation Median Hourly Employed
Pharmacists $134,540 $64.68 260
Computer and Information Systems Managers $126,270 $60.71 320
Financial Managers $121,720 $58.52 650
Managers, All Other $118,890 $57.16 230
Nurse Practitioners $109,870 $52.82 250
Education Administrators, Postsecondary $108,020 $51.93 340
Medical and Health Services Managers $107,540 $51.70 480
Administrative Services Managers $104,210 $50.10 240
Lawyers $102,510 $49.28 410
Software Developers $100,680 $48.40 530
Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary $93,190 n/a 220
Sales Managers $92,890 $44.66 250
Network and Computer Systems Administrators $87,870 $42.25 200
Computer Occupations, All Other $87,610 $42.12 390
Management Analysts $84,620 $40.68 500
Project Management Specialists $83,670 $40.22 530
Registered Nurses $81,370 $39.12 3,640
Physical Therapists $79,870 $38.40 220
Loan Officers $78,110 $37.55 510
First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers $78,010 $37.50 260
Business Operations Specialists, All Other $77,940 $37.47 460
General and Operations Managers $75,300 $36.20 3,500
Insurance Sales Agents $73,480 $35.33 250
First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers $72,530 $34.87 250
First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers $71,050 $34.16 320
Accountants and Auditors $68,170 $32.77 790
Family Medicine Physicians $67,150 $32.28 760
Human Resources Specialists $65,610 $31.55 600
Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians $65,040 $31.27 250
Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators $64,410 $30.97 400
Radiologic Technologists and Technicians $64,260 $30.90 210
Compliance Officers $63,560 $30.56 230
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers $62,820 $30.20 260
First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers $62,560 $30.08 1,030
Insurance Underwriters $62,510 $30.06 260
Training and Development Specialists $60,750 $29.21 290
Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters $60,630 $29.15 260
Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists $60,470 $29.07 390
Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses $59,700 $28.70 730
Buyers and Purchasing Agents $59,200 $28.46 260
Construction Laborers $59,180 $28.45 500
Electricians $58,680 $28.21 300
Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers $58,660 $28.20 370
Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors $57,860 $27.82 300
Postal Service Mail Carriers $56,330 $27.08 220
Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products $56,170 $27.01 640
First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors $55,870 $26.86 270
Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators $55,520 $26.69 240
Public Relations Specialists $54,830 $26.36 350
Medical Records Specialists $54,020 $25.97 230
Computer User Support Specialists $53,980 $25.95 410
Carpenters $53,890 $25.91 490
Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants $53,670 $25.80 350
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers $53,540 $25.74 830
Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors $52,190 $25.09 760
Paralegals and Legal Assistants $52,170 $25.08 200
Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education $50,490 n/a 280
Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers $48,860 $23.49 290
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education $48,630 n/a 620
Insurance Claims and Policy Processing Clerks $47,840 $23.00 260

Where most people work

Largest occupations in Columbia by employment
Occupation Employed Median Hourly
Registered Nurses 3,640 $81,370 $39.12
General and Operations Managers 3,500 $75,300 $36.20
Home Health and Personal Care Aides 2,820 $36,300 $17.45
Retail Salespersons 2,410 $30,480 $14.66
Office Clerks, General 2,340 $41,060 $19.74
Cashiers 2,280 $28,770 $13.83
Waiters and Waitresses 2,260 $25,950 $12.48
Cooks, Fast Food 2,220 $28,200 $13.56
Teaching Assistants, Postsecondary 1,920 $30,820 n/a
Customer Service Representatives 1,910 $40,040 $19.25
Nursing Assistants 1,900 $40,120 $19.29
Stockers and Order Fillers 1,830 $33,880 $16.29
Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive 1,370 $42,800 $20.58
Fast Food and Counter Workers 1,300 $28,090 $13.50
Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners 1,280 $34,100 $16.39
Maintenance and Repair Workers, General 1,270 $45,260 $21.76
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand 1,230 $36,140 $17.38
Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education 1,200 $47,640 n/a
Cooks, Restaurant 1,200 $33,850 $16.27
First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers 1,030 $62,560 $30.08

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024 state estimates. Wage and salary workers only, excluding the self-employed.

Other Missouri metro areas

Columbia pay: common questions

What is the average salary in Columbia?

The median across all occupations is $45,670, or $21.96 an hour, covering 105,740 wage and salary workers. The mean is $58,210, higher because a small number of very large salaries pull an average upward.

Does Columbia pay more than the rest of Missouri?

No. The metro median of $45,670 is 1.6% below the Missouri median of $46,390. Metropolitan areas usually pay more than their states because they concentrate higher-paying industries, and usually cost more to live in for the same reason.

Which jobs pay best in Columbia?

Pharmacists ($134,540), Computer and Information Systems Managers ($126,270), Financial Managers ($121,720). Medical specialities top nearly every metro list, which reflects how the occupations are classified more than local conditions.

What is Columbia unusually full of?

Teaching Assistants, Postsecondary, at 18.08× the national concentration. Location quotient is a better description of a local economy than its biggest employers, which are retail and food service almost everywhere.