Payroll Specialist salary and cost of hiring in Missouri
The median payroll specialist in Missouri earned $54,080 a year in May 2025[1], 7.2% below the US median of $58,260. That puts Missouri at #34 of 51 states for this job.
BLS occupation 43-3051. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Salary range
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Missouri | $37,030 | $54,080 | $79,470 | |
| United States | $39,500 | $58,260 | $81,350 |
The middle half of payroll specialists in Missouri earns $43,080–$64,120; the top tenth earns $79,470 or more, 2.1 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 $77,257 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 payroll specialists 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $68,490 | 1,530 | |
| St. Joseph, MO-KS | $75,330 | 50 | |
| Kansas City, MO-KS | $68,070 | 1,260 | |
| Jefferson City, MO | $61,780 | 70 | |
| Joplin, MO-KS | $60,520 | 100 | |
| Southeast Missouri nonmetropolitan area | $53,550 | 190 | |
| Springfield, MO | $61,150 | 280 | |
| Columbia, MO | $60,740 | 100 | |
| North Missouri nonmetropolitan area | $54,080 | 100 | |
| Central Missouri nonmetropolitan area | $57,110 | 180 | |
| Southwest Missouri nonmetropolitan area | $55,560 | 90 | |
| Cape Girardeau, MO-IL | $56,430 | 40 |
St. Louis, MO-IL pays the most ($59,190) and Cape Girardeau, MO-IL the least ($43,610): $15,580 a year apart for the same job.
What a payroll specialist does
A payroll specialist prepares payroll runs, checks hours and deductions, keeps employee pay records and answers staff questions about their pay.
Neighbours in the ranking
| State | Median | vs Missouri |
|---|---|---|
| Texas | +0.0% | |
| Iowa | +0.0% | |
| Missouri | +0.0% | |
| Indiana | -0.6% | |
| North Carolina | -1.0% |
Questions
How much does a payroll specialist earn in Missouri?
The median was $54,080 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey; the middle half earned $43,080 to $64,120.
What does it cost to employ a payroll specialist in Missouri?
About $77,257 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 payroll specialists earn the most?
St. Louis, MO-IL, with a median of $59,190 a year.
Sources
- BLS OEWS May 2025, 43-3051: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes433051.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.