Human Resources Specialists Salary
In Missouri, human resources specialists earn $66,990 at the median, or about $32.21 an hour. The range runs from $45K at the entry level to $111K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 88.97), which stretches that salary to about $75,295 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,097/month, or 24.9% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Missouri. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $67K get you in Missouri?
About human resources specialists
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What this looks like in Missouri
Pay for human resources specialists in Missouri runs about 12% below the U.S. median of $76K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,097/month, 24.8% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 88.97 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 11% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Lower pay, lower costs, Missouri can be a reasonable trade-off for human resources specialistss who value affordability over top-dollar markets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Missouri
Entry-level human resources specialists (10th percentile) start around $45K. Mid-career wages sit at $67K. Top earners bring in $111K or more, a $66K spread from bottom to top.
Human Resources Specialists salary by metro in Missouri
8 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kansas City | $75K | +12% | 6,950 |
| St. Louis | $72K | +7% | 8,130 |
| St. Joseph | $64K | -4% | 250 |
| Columbia | $63K | -5% | 640 |
| Springfield | $63K | -6% | 1,270 |
| Jefferson City | $62K | -7% | 530 |
| Joplin | $61K | -9% | 390 |
| Cape Girardeau | $61K | -9% | 230 |
Compare to other states
Track human resources specialists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Missouri numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a human resources specialist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Missouri?
Yes — at the median salary of $67K, rent takes 24.8% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,097/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for human resources specialists in Missouri?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new human resources specialists typically earn — is $45K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,684/month. At HUD’s $1,097/month FMR, rent would take 41% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is human resources specialist a high-paying job in Missouri?
Local pay runs 12% below the national median — $67K here vs. $76K nationally. Cost of living is 11% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Missouri compare to the national average for human resources specialists?
Missouri pays $67K median vs. the U.S. average of $76K — that’s -12%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 88.97), the purchasing-power equivalent is $75K — below the national median.
How much do human resources specialists make in Missouri?
The median is $66,990 a year, that works out to about $32 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $44,730, and experienced human resources specialists can clear $110,660. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $67K enough to live in Missouri?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,426/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,097/month, which eats 24.8% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a human resources specialists salary go in Missouri?
Missouri has a Regional Price Parity of 88.97 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median human resources specialists salary is worth about $75,295 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do human resources specialists get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.