Cost of hiring a customer support specialist in St. Louis, MO-IL
St. Louis is the most expensive place in Missouri to hire a customer support specialist. The median is $45,800 a year[1], 3.6% above the Missouri statewide median of $44,190 and 2.3% above the US median of $44,770. That is in the top quarter of US areas (#105 of 520). It is the largest market for the job in Missouri: about 23,760 people.
BLS occupation 43-4051, area St. Louis, MO-IL. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in St. Louis against Missouri and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $34,160 | $45,800 | $65,620 | |
| Missouri | $31,980 | $44,190 | $63,890 | |
| United States | $31,750 | $44,770 | $63,590 |
The middle half of customer support specialists in St. Louis earns $37,710–$56,640. The top tenth earns $65,620 or more, 1.9 times the bottom tenth, close to the US pattern of 2.0 times.
What to budget for a customer support specialist here
| Point in the local range | Per year | Per month | Per hour | Employer cost per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $34,160 | $2,847 | $16.42 | $48,800 |
| 25th percentile | $37,710 | $3,142 | $18.13 | $53,871 |
| Median | $45,800 | $3,817 | $22.02 | $65,429 |
| 75th percentile | $56,640 | $4,720 | $27.23 | $80,914 |
| 90th percentile | $65,620 | $5,468 | $31.55 | $93,743 |
An offer at the 75th percentile instead of the median adds $10,840 a year in pay and about $15,486 in employer cost. Going down to the 25th percentile saves $8,090 in pay. These percentiles describe what people in the job earn locally, not experience levels, so place your offer by the tasks and seniority you need.
What a hire really costs in St. Louis
Pay is only part of it. Benefits and payroll taxes are 30.0% of total compensation in US private industry[2], which adds about $19,629 to the $45,800 median and brings it to $65,429 a year. Recruiting, equipment and office space come on top. Benefit levels vary by employer, so treat this as an estimate.
Our open customer support specialist roles pay $700–$1,000 a month under a direct contract. The one-time fee is $2,500–$3,000[3] with a 180-day replacement; paying through Deel adds $49 a month[4]. Change any number below to match your plan.
For the $65,429 a local hire costs here, you could cover about 4.9 remote hires in year one at the midpoint of our range. From year two the fee drops out and the remote figure is $10,788. About the candidates: most apply through our Telegram bot with a written and a voice English task; each profile shows the English level (B1–C2); Silkstaff checks English on a live call before any client interview.
Other roles in St. Louis
Of the 17 roles we track in St. Louis, this one ranks #13 by median pay. Project Coordinator is the highest at $100,510 and Virtual Receptionist the lowest at $36,470.
| Role | Median | vs customer support specialist | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Project Coordinator | +119.5% | 10,450 | |
| Accountant | +72.2% | 13,610 | |
| Marketing Specialist | +61.9% | 6,980 | |
| Recruiter | +56.5% | 8,130 | |
| Office Manager | +49.8% | 9,840 | |
| Executive Assistant | +38.6% | 3,990 | |
| Paralegal | +35.3% | 4,030 | |
| Sales Development Representative | +32.9% | 7,750 | |
| Payroll Specialist | +29.2% | 1,530 | |
| Bookkeeper | +9.1% | 9,950 | |
| HR Assistant | +4.7% | 490 | |
| Administrative Assistant | +0.9% | 15,000 | |
| Customer Support Specialist | this role | 23,760 | |
| Medical Administrative Assistant | -0.4% | 6,570 | |
| E-commerce Order Specialist | -1.6% | 450 | |
| Data Entry Specialist | -14.6% | 910 | |
| Virtual Receptionist | -20.4% | 8,700 |
Other areas in Missouri
Across the 12 areas of Missouri with data for this job, the median runs from $36,060 in the North Missouri nonmetro area to $45,800 in St. Louis, a gap of $9,740 a year.
| Area | Median | vs St. Louis | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| St. Louis, MO-IL | this area | 23,760 | |
| Kansas City, MO-KS | -3.2% | 22,240 | |
| St. Joseph, MO-KS | -6.5% | 780 | |
| Joplin, MO-KS | -8.6% | 1,080 | |
| Columbia, MO | -10.0% | 1,870 | |
| Jefferson City, MO | -14.9% | 1,360 | |
| Springfield, MO | -14.9% | 4,120 |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire a customer support specialist in St. Louis, MO-IL?
About $65,429 a year at the median, or $5,452 a month: $45,800 in pay plus benefits and payroll taxes at the 30% share of total compensation in US private industry (June 2026). Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What do customer support specialists earn in St. Louis?
The median was $45,800 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $34,160, the 90th $65,620, and the middle half earned $37,710 to $56,640.
Is St. Louis the most expensive area in Missouri for customer support specialists?
Yes. Its median of $45,800 is the highest of 12 areas in Missouri. Kansas City comes next at $44,350.
How many customer support specialists work in St. Louis?
BLS counts about 23,760 in the May 2025 survey.
Does a customer support specialist cost more than a medical administrative assistant in St. Louis?
Yes: $180 a year more at the median. The medians are $45,800 and $45,620.
What does a remote customer support specialist cost compared with St. Louis?
Our open roles pay $700–$1,000 a month. At the midpoint, with the one-time fee and Deel, year one comes to $13,288, against about $65,429 for a local hire at the median.
Sources
- BLS OEWS May 2025, 43-4051: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes434051.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 2026-11-06.