Accountant salary and cost of hiring in Missouri
The median accountant in Missouri earned $76,590 a year in May 2025[1], 8.5% below the US median of $83,680. That puts Missouri at #39 of 51 states for this job.
BLS occupation 13-2011. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Salary range
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Missouri | $49,290 | $76,590 | $128,300 | |
| United States | $56,020 | $83,680 | $144,090 |
The middle half of accountants in Missouri earns $60,370–$99,580; the top tenth earns $128,300 or more, 2.6 times the bottom tenth.
What a hire really costs
Benefits and payroll taxes are 30.0% of total compensation in US private industry[2]. At the Missouri median that makes about $109,414 a year before recruiting, equipment and office space. 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 fee[3]; Deel's contractor plan is the default payroll tool[4].
Pay by metro area in Missouri
| Area | Median | 75th percentile | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kansas City, MO-KS | $102,950 | 11,260 | |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $101,410 | 13,610 | |
| Columbia, MO | $83,780 | 930 | |
| Springfield, MO | $93,720 | 2,070 | |
| Joplin, MO-KS | $94,430 | 560 | |
| St. Joseph, MO-KS | $84,790 | 340 | |
| Central Missouri nonmetropolitan area | $89,840 | 780 | |
| North Missouri nonmetropolitan area | $89,850 | 570 | |
| Southeast Missouri nonmetropolitan area | $86,220 | 770 | |
| Jefferson City, MO | $80,060 | 1,120 | |
| Cape Girardeau, MO-IL | $80,170 | 320 | |
| Southwest Missouri nonmetropolitan area | $78,860 | 390 |
Kansas City, MO-KS pays the most ($80,040) and Southwest Missouri nonmetropolitan area the least ($62,490): $17,550 a year apart for the same job.
What an accountant does
An accountant goes beyond bookkeeping: month-end close, financial statements, budgets, management reports and support for audits and tax filings.
Neighbours in the ranking
| State | Median | vs Missouri |
|---|---|---|
| Iowa | +1.1% | |
| Tennessee | +0.3% | |
| Missouri | +0.0% | |
| South Carolina | -0.0% | |
| Montana | -1.0% |
Questions
How much does an accountant earn in Missouri?
The median was $76,590 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey; the middle half earned $60,370 to $99,580.
What does it cost to employ an accountant in Missouri?
About $109,414 a year at the median wage once benefits are added, using the 30% benefits share of US private industry (June 2026).
Where in Missouri do accountants earn the most?
Kansas City, MO-KS, with a median of $80,040 a year.
Sources
- BLS OEWS May 2025, 13-2011: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes132011.htm
- BLS Employer Costs for Employee Compensation, private industry, June 2026: https://www.bls.gov/news.release/ecec.nr0.htm
- Silkstaff pricing: https://silkstaff.com/#pricing
- Deel pricing, contractor management: https://www.deel.com/pricing/
How these pages are built: methodology and data sources. Last updated 2026-11-05.