Office Manager salary in Columbia, MO
Columbia is a lower-cost market for office managers: the median of $61,670 a year1 is 2.2% below the Missouri statewide median of $63,050, and 11.3% below the US median of $69,500. Nationally it ranks #299 of 519 areas. About 930 office managers work here, 4% of the Missouri total.
BLS occupation 43-1011, area Columbia, MO. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in Columbia against Missouri and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia, MO | $42,340 | $61,670 | $91,560 | |
| Missouri | $42,090 | $63,050 | $100,300 | |
| United States | $45,610 | $69,500 | $104,710 |
Office managers at the 90th percentile earn $91,560, 2.2 times the 10th percentile; the US ratio is 2.3. The middle half of office managers in Columbia earns $49,280–$74,710. From the 25th to the 75th percentile, the local range is only $25,430 wide, against $30,230 across Missouri and $29,140 nationally: employers in Columbia pay within a narrower band.
What to budget for an office manager here
| Point in the local range | Per year | Per month | Per hour | Employer cost per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $42,340 | $3,528 | $20.36 | $54,632 |
| 25th percentile | $49,280 | $4,107 | $23.69 | $63,587 |
| Median | $61,670 | $5,139 | $29.65 | $79,574 |
| 75th percentile | $74,710 | $6,226 | $35.92 | $96,400 |
| 90th percentile | $91,560 | $7,630 | $44.02 | $118,142 |
An offer at the 75th percentile instead of the median adds $13,040 a year in pay and about $16,826 in employer cost. Going down to the 25th percentile saves $12,390 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.
For scale, the US median of $69,500 falls between the median and the 75th percentile in Columbia, and the Missouri statewide median of $63,050 falls there too.
What a hire really costs in Columbia
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 $17,904 to the $61,670 median and brings it to $79,574 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 office managers 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 Columbia
Of the 16 roles we track in Columbia, this one ranks #5 by median pay, between recruiters ($63,360) and executive assistants ($61,500). Project Coordinator is the highest at $80,870.
| Role | Median | vs office manager | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marketing Specialist | +4.9% | 600 | |
| Recruiter | +2.7% | 640 | |
| Office Manager | this role | 930 | |
| Executive Assistant | -0.3% | 390 | |
| Paralegal | -19.9% | 230 |
Measured against the US median, office managers rank #6 of the 16 roles we track in Columbia (-11.3%), between virtual receptionists (-10.5%) and accountants (-12.7%). The typical role here is at -16.5%, so, measured against the US, office managers cost more in Columbia than the area's general pay level would suggest. Office managers hold 9.1% of the jobs in these 16 roles in Columbia, 8.1% across Missouri and 9.1% 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 $47,020 in the North Missouri nonmetro area to $68,590 in St. Louis, a gap of $21,570 a year. Of the 4 areas in Missouri with more office managers than Columbia, 2 pay less: Springfield, MO ($60,560) and the Southeast Missouri nonmetro area ($50,620).
| Area | Median | vs Columbia | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| St. Louis, MO-IL | +11.2% | 9,840 | |
| Kansas City, MO-KS | +8.3% | 8,860 | |
| Columbia, MO | this area | 930 | |
| St. Joseph, MO-KS | -1.0% | 360 | |
| Springfield, MO | -1.8% | 1,660 | |
| Cape Girardeau, MO-IL | -4.8% | 320 | |
| Joplin, MO-KS | -7.9% | 590 |
Columbia against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, Columbia is #256 of 517 US areas for this job. Both its size and its pay sit in the middle half of US areas. Outside Missouri, Baton Rouge and Florence pay just above Columbia and Flagstaff and Muskegon-Norton Shores just below. All four are within $80 a year of the median in Columbia. Of the three markets with about as many office managers, all three pay more.
| Metro area | Median | vs Columbia | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bellingham, WA | +24.1% | 920 | jobs | |
| Rochester, MN | +18.3% | 940 | jobs | |
| Flint, MI | +4.8% | 920 | jobs | |
| Florence, SC | +0.1% | 1,010 | pay | |
| Baton Rouge, LA | +0.1% | 4,060 | pay | |
| Columbia, MO | this area | 930 | ||
| Flagstaff, AZ | -0.0% | 630 | pay | |
| Muskegon-Norton Shores, MI | -0.0% | 300 | pay |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire an office manager in Columbia, MO?
About $79,574 a year at the median, or $6,631 a month: $61,670 in pay plus about $17,904 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What is the pay range for office managers in Columbia?
The median was $61,670 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $42,340, the 90th $91,560, and the middle half earned $49,280 to $74,710.
Is Columbia cheaper than the rest of Missouri for office managers?
Yes, it costs less: a median of $61,670 against $63,050 statewide. The next area up in Missouri is Kansas City at $66,780, the next down St. Joseph at $61,070.
How many office managers work in Columbia?
BLS counts about 930 in the May 2025 survey. That is 4% of the Missouri total of 22,360. 4 areas in Missouri have more; the closest in size is the Southeast Missouri nonmetro area, with about 1,000.
Does an office manager cost more than an executive assistant in Columbia?
Yes: $170 a year more at the median. The medians are $61,670 and $61,500.
Sources
4 sources, with links
- BLS OEWS May 2025, 43-1011: 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.