Accountant salary in Joplin, MO-KS
Hiring an accountant costs less in Joplin than in Missouri or the country as a whole. The median is $72,560 a year1: 5.3% below the Missouri statewide median of $76,590 and 13.3% below the US median of $83,680. That is in the bottom quarter of US areas (#396 of 521). BLS counts about 560 people in this job here.
BLS occupation 13-2011, area Joplin, MO-KS. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in Joplin against Missouri and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Joplin, MO-KS | $45,730 | $72,560 | $121,010 | |
| Missouri | $49,290 | $76,590 | $128,300 | |
| United States | $56,020 | $83,680 | $144,090 |
The middle half of accountants in Joplin earns $56,960–$94,430. The top tenth earns $121,010 or more, 2.6 times the bottom tenth, close to the US pattern of 2.6 times. From the 25th to the 75th percentile, the local range is only $37,470 wide, against $39,210 across Missouri and $42,790 nationally: employers in Joplin pay within a narrower band.
What to budget for an accountant here
| Point in the local range | Per year | Per month | Per hour | Employer cost per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $45,730 | $3,811 | $21.99 | $59,006 |
| 25th percentile | $56,960 | $4,747 | $27.38 | $73,497 |
| Median | $72,560 | $6,047 | $34.88 | $93,626 |
| 75th percentile | $94,430 | $7,869 | $45.40 | $121,845 |
| 90th percentile | $121,010 | $10,084 | $58.18 | $156,142 |
The step from the 25th percentile to the median is $15,600 a year; from the median to the 75th it is $21,870, or about $28,219 once benefits are added. These percentiles describe what people in the job earn locally, not experience levels, so place your offer by the tasks and seniority you need.
For scale, the US median of $83,680 falls between the median and the 75th percentile in Joplin, and the Missouri statewide median of $76,590 falls there too.
What a hire really costs in Joplin
Pay is only part of it. Benefits and payroll taxes other than paid leave are 22.5% of total compensation in US private industry2, which adds about $21,066 to the $72,560 median and brings it to $93,626 a year. Recruiting, equipment and office space come on top. Benefit levels vary by employer, so treat this as an estimate.
We place executive assistants, customer support and e-commerce staff today; for accountants we answer within one business day whether we can help. Enter the monthly pay you have in mind to compare it with a local hire. The fee field shows our standard fee3; Deel's contractor plan is the default payroll tool4.
Other roles in Joplin
Of the 14 roles we track in Joplin, this one ranks #2 by median pay, after project coordinators ($77,760); recruiters come next at $61,240.
| Role | Median | vs accountant | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Project Coordinator | +7.2% | 330 | |
| Accountant | this role | 560 | |
| Recruiter | -15.6% | 390 | |
| Office Manager | -21.7% | 590 | |
| Marketing Specialist | -24.1% | 270 |
Measured against the US median, accountants rank #4 of the 14 roles we track in Joplin (-13.3%), between bookkeepers (-10.8%) and medical administrative assistants (-16.0%). The typical role here is at -18.6%, so, measured against the US, accountants cost more in Joplin than the area's general pay level would suggest. Accountants hold 9.1% of the jobs in these 14 roles in Joplin, 10.2% across Missouri and 9.3% nationally. That is close to the national mix.
Other areas in Missouri
Across the 12 areas of Missouri with data for this job, the median runs from $62,490 in the Southwest Missouri nonmetro area to $80,040 in Kansas City, a gap of $17,550 a year. Of the 8 areas in Missouri with more accountants than Joplin, 4 pay less, the largest of them Jefferson City, MO ($64,040), the Central Missouri nonmetro area ($66,030) and the Southeast Missouri nonmetro area ($64,090).
| Area | Median | vs Joplin | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| St. Louis, MO-IL | +8.7% | 13,610 | |
| Columbia, MO | +0.7% | 930 | |
| Springfield, MO | +0.6% | 2,070 | |
| Joplin, MO-KS | this area | 560 | |
| St. Joseph, MO-KS | -7.0% | 340 | |
| Central Missouri (Nonmetro) | -9.0% | 780 | |
| North Missouri (Nonmetro) | -9.5% | 570 |
Joplin against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, Joplin is #324 of 521 US areas for this job. It is a mid-sized market, and its pay is in the bottom quarter of US areas. Outside Missouri, Auburn-Opelika and Homosassa Springs pay just above Joplin and Michigan City-La Porte and Great Falls just below. All four are within $50 a year of the median in Joplin. Of the three markets with about as many accountants, two pay more.
| Metro area | Median | vs Joplin | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kenosha, WI | +8.7% | 570 | jobs | |
| Athens-Clarke County, GA | +4.6% | 570 | jobs | |
| Homosassa Springs, FL | +0.1% | 200 | pay | |
| Auburn-Opelika, AL | +0.0% | 680 | pay | |
| Joplin, MO-KS | this area | 560 | ||
| Michigan City-La Porte, IN | -0.0% | 310 | pay | |
| Great Falls, MT | -0.1% | 280 | pay | |
| Panama City-Panama City Beach, FL | -1.0% | 560 | jobs |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire an accountant in Joplin, MO-KS?
About $93,626 a year at the median, or $7,802 a month: $72,560 in pay plus about $21,066 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What do accountants earn in Joplin?
Pay here is lower than in three quarters of US areas. The median was $72,560 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $45,730, the 90th $121,010, and the middle half earned $56,960 to $94,430.
Is Joplin cheaper than the rest of Missouri for accountants?
Yes, it costs less: a median of $72,560 against $76,590 statewide. The next area up in Missouri is Springfield at $73,020, the next down St. Joseph at $67,480.
How many accountants work in Joplin?
BLS counts about 560 in the May 2025 survey. 8 areas in Missouri have more; the closest in size is the North Missouri nonmetro area, with about 570.
Does an accountant cost more than a recruiter in Joplin?
Yes: $11,320 a year more at the median. The medians are $72,560 and $61,240.
Sources
4 sources, with links
- BLS OEWS May 2025, 13-2011: bls.gov
- BLS Employer Costs for Employee Compensation, private industry, June 2026: bls.gov
- Stafka pricing: stafka.com
- Deel pricing, contractor management: deel.com
How these pages are built: methodology and data sources. Last updated 2026-11-12.