StateRates

Joplin salaries

The median worker in the Joplin, MO-KS metro area earned $43,610 a year in 2024, about $20.97 an hour. That ranks #305 of the 391 metro areas published here, 11.9% below the national median.

Missouri Kansas

Median pay $43,610 $20.97 per hour
Vs national -11.9% U.S. $49,500
Workers 86,790 wage and salary
Metro rank #305 of 391 by median pay

What this labour market looks like

Joplin pays 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
Helpers--Production Workers 5.92× 560 $40,020
Cooks, Fast Food 5.11× 1,920 $27,930
Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders 4.59× 990 $53,930
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers 2.9× 3,380 $47,830
Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators 2.19× 990 $45,160
Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers 2.16× 520 $47,760
First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers 1.98× 770 $63,180
Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers 1.78× 590 $47,430
Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics 1.57× 610 $41,060
Stockers and Order Fillers 1.56× 2,430 $34,710
Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education 1.53× 1,200 $48,130
Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks 1.51× 730 $40,300

Best paid occupations

Highest median pay in Joplin
Occupation Median Hourly Employed
Postsecondary Teachers, All Other $176,930 n/a 250
Financial Managers $121,790 $58.55 280
Industrial Production Managers $99,620 $47.89 220
Sales Managers $95,660 $45.99 250
Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary $92,040 n/a 220
Industrial Engineers $80,380 $38.64 240
Project Management Specialists $76,240 $36.66 320
First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers $76,170 $36.62 390
Business Operations Specialists, All Other $73,880 $35.52 220
Registered Nurses $73,190 $35.19 2,470
First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers $71,860 $34.55 360
General and Operations Managers $71,100 $34.18 2,670
Accountants and Auditors $68,580 $32.97 550
Electricians $65,220 $31.36 410
First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers $63,180 $30.38 770
Radiologic Technologists and Technicians $62,250 $29.93 200
First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors $60,780 $29.22 390
Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors $60,710 $29.19 220
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education $60,530 n/a 770
Industrial Machinery Mechanics $60,250 $28.97 220
Buyers and Purchasing Agents $59,740 $28.72 240
Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors $58,430 $28.09 260
Postal Service Mail Carriers $58,390 $28.07 220
Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products $58,170 $27.97 860
Food Batchmakers $57,700 $27.74 360
Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists $57,670 $27.73 270
Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education $57,600 n/a 410
Human Resources Specialists $57,530 $27.66 390
First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers $57,310 $27.55 600
Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists $57,290 $27.54 390
Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses $56,800 $27.31 380
Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders $53,930 $25.93 990
Carpenters $53,710 $25.82 370
Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks $52,350 $25.17 290
Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers $52,100 $25.05 240
Computer User Support Specialists $51,320 $24.67 300
Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators $50,720 $24.38 300
Maintenance and Repair Workers, General $49,020 $23.57 1,230
Machinists $48,960 $23.54 360
Construction Laborers $48,830 $23.48 560
Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education $48,130 n/a 1,200
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers $47,830 $23.00 3,380
Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers $47,760 $22.96 520
Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers $47,430 $22.80 590
Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians $47,100 $22.65 270
Child, Family, and School Social Workers $46,720 $22.46 280
Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel $46,060 $22.15 290
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers $45,690 $21.97 320
Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators $45,160 $21.71 990
First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers $44,870 $21.57 630
Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks $43,830 $21.07 590
Packers and Packagers, Hand $43,120 $20.73 460
Highway Maintenance Workers $42,860 $20.61 200
Billing and Posting Clerks $42,660 $20.51 210
Bus Drivers, School $41,420 $19.91 230
Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics $41,060 $19.74 610
Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators $40,670 $19.55 1,090
Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks $40,300 $19.38 730
Helpers--Production Workers $40,020 $19.24 560
Light Truck Drivers $39,030 $18.76 650

Where most people work

Largest occupations in Joplin by employment
Occupation Employed Median Hourly
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers 3,380 $47,830 $23.00
Home Health and Personal Care Aides 2,720 $30,330 $14.58
General and Operations Managers 2,670 $71,100 $34.18
Registered Nurses 2,470 $73,190 $35.19
Cashiers 2,440 $28,300 $13.61
Stockers and Order Fillers 2,430 $34,710 $16.69
Retail Salespersons 2,180 $30,750 $14.79
Cooks, Fast Food 1,920 $27,930 $13.43
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand 1,690 $38,900 $18.70
Office Clerks, General 1,390 $38,120 $18.33
Waiters and Waitresses 1,320 $25,580 $12.30
Customer Service Representatives 1,230 $38,380 $18.45
Maintenance and Repair Workers, General 1,230 $49,020 $23.57
Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education 1,200 $48,130 n/a
Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners 1,200 $33,340 $16.03
Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive 1,150 $36,970 $17.78
Nursing Assistants 1,110 $34,660 $16.66
Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators 1,090 $40,670 $19.55
Fast Food and Counter Workers 1,020 $27,520 $13.23
Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders 990 $53,930 $25.93

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

Joplin pay: common questions

What is the average salary in Joplin?

The median across all occupations is $43,610, or $20.97 an hour, covering 86,790 wage and salary workers. The mean is $52,440, higher because a small number of very large salaries pull an average upward.

Does Joplin pay more than the rest of Missouri?

No. The metro median of $43,610 is 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 Joplin?

Postsecondary Teachers, All Other ($176,930), Financial Managers ($121,790), Industrial Production Managers ($99,620). Medical specialities top nearly every metro list, which reflects how the occupations are classified more than local conditions.

What is Joplin unusually full of?

Helpers--Production Workers, at 5.92× 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.