Top Paying Jobs in Columbia, MO (2026)
Columbia, MO has 60 jobs across diverse industries. The highest-paying occupations include Dentists, General ($199,350), Nurse Anesthetists ($193,220), Chief Executives ($156,060). The cost of living index is 89.44 (national average = 100). Median 2-bedroom rent is $1,160/month.
$123K
Avg. median salary
89.44
Cost of living index
$1,160
Median 2BR rent
N/A
Population
Highest paying careers in Columbia
| Rank | Occupation | Category | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dentists, General | Healthcare | $199K | $95.84/hr |
| 2 | Nurse Anesthetists | Healthcare | $193K | $92.89/hr |
| 3 | Chief Executives | Management | $156K | $75.03/hr |
| 4 | Architectural and Engineering Managers | Management | $136K | $65.49/hr |
| 5 | Pharmacists | Healthcare | $135K | $64.68/hr |
| 6 | Physician Assistants | Healthcare | $131K | $62.88/hr |
| 7 | Human Resources Managers | Management | $128K | $61.32/hr |
| 8 | Computer and Information Systems Managers | Management | $126K | $60.71/hr |
| 9 | Natural Sciences Managers | Management | $122K | $58.74/hr |
| 10 | Financial Managers | Management | $122K | $58.52/hr |
| 11 | Managers, All Other | Management | $119K | $57.16/hr |
| 12 | Marketing Managers | Management | $113K | $54.41/hr |
| 13 | Database Architects | Technology | $111K | $53.14/hr |
| 14 | Nurse Practitioners | Healthcare | $110K | $52.82/hr |
| 15 | Veterinarians | Healthcare | $110K | $52.68/hr |
| 16 | Personal Financial Advisors | Business & Finance | $108K | $52.01/hr |
| 17 | Education Administrators, Postsecondary | Management | $108K | $51.93/hr |
| 18 | Medical and Health Services Managers | Management | $108K | $51.7/hr |
| 19 | Computer Science Teachers, Postsecondary | Education | $106K | $/hr |
| 20 | Fundraising Managers | Management | $106K | $50.99/hr |
| 21 | Computer Network Architects | Technology | $106K | $50.92/hr |
| 22 | Public Relations Managers | Management | $106K | $50.8/hr |
| 23 | Industrial Production Managers | Management | $105K | $50.56/hr |
| 24 | Industrial Engineers | Engineering | $105K | $50.45/hr |
| 25 | Administrative Services Managers | Management | $104K | $50.1/hr |
Affordability snapshot: Columbia
Cost of living vs. national average-10.6% less expensive
Studio apartment (FMR)$/mo
1-bedroom apartment (FMR)$/mo
2-bedroom apartment (FMR)$1,160/mo
3-bedroom apartment (FMR)$/mo
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Calculate take-home pay in Columbia
After federal and state taxes