Nursing Assistants Salary
In Missouri, nursing assistants earn $37,680 at the median, or about $18.11 an hour. The range runs from $31K at the entry level to $45K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 88.97), which stretches that salary to about $42,351 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,097/month, about 42.7% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Missouri. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $38K get you in Missouri?
About nursing assistants
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What this looks like in Missouri
Pay for nursing assistants in Missouri runs about 11% below the U.S. median of $42K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,097/month, which is 42% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. 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. That combination, below-market pay with high housing costs, makes this a financially demanding market for nursing assistantss.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Missouri
Entry-level nursing assistants (10th percentile) start around $31K. Mid-career wages sit at $38K. Top earners bring in $45K or more, a $14K spread from bottom to top.
Nursing Assistants salary by metro in Missouri
8 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia | $41K | +10% | 2,040 |
| Kansas City | $40K | +5% | 13,370 |
| St. Louis | $39K | +4% | 14,620 |
| Cape Girardeau | $37K | -3% | 680 |
| Springfield | $36K | -4% | 3,150 |
| Jefferson City | $36K | -4% | 630 |
| St. Joseph | $36K | -5% | 620 |
| Joplin | $35K | -8% | 1,180 |
Compare to other states
Track nursing assistants salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Missouri numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a nursing assistant afford a 2BR apartment alone in Missouri?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $38K, rent takes 42% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,097/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $800/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for nursing assistants in Missouri?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new nursing assistants typically earn — is $31K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,881/month. At HUD’s $1,097/month FMR, rent would take 58% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is nursing assistant a high-paying job in Missouri?
Local pay runs 11% below the national median — $38K here vs. $42K 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 nursing assistants?
Missouri pays $38K median vs. the U.S. average of $42K — that’s -11%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 88.97), the purchasing-power equivalent is $42K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do nursing assistants make in Missouri?
The median is $37,680 a year, that works out to about $18 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $31,350, and experienced nursing assistants can clear $45,260. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $38K enough to live in Missouri?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,610/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,097/month, which eats 42% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a nursing assistants 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 nursing assistants salary is worth about $42,351 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do nursing assistants 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.