Tapers Salary
In Missouri, tapers earn $63,020 at the median, or about $30.3 an hour. The range runs from $48K at the entry level to $83K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 88.97), which stretches that salary to about $70,833 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,097/month, or 26.5% 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 $63K get you in Missouri?
About tapers
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What this looks like in Missouri
Tapers pay in Missouri tracks closely to the national median, $63K locally vs. $68K nationwide, a 8% difference. Rent runs $1,097/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 26.1% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. 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. Pay and costs are both near average, leaving limited margin for savings at the median wage.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Missouri
Entry-level tapers (10th percentile) start around $48K. Mid-career wages sit at $63K. Top earners bring in $83K or more, a $35K spread from bottom to top.
Tapers salary by metro in Missouri
2 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| St. Louis | $81K | +29% | 130 |
| Kansas City | $81K | +29% | 50 |
Compare to other states
Track tapers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Missouri numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a taper afford a 2BR apartment alone in Missouri?
Yes — at the median salary of $63K, rent takes 26.1% 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 tapers in Missouri?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new tapers typically earn — is $48K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,894/month. At HUD’s $1,097/month FMR, rent would take 38% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is taper a high-paying job in Missouri?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $63K locally vs. $68K nationally, a 8% difference.
How does Missouri compare to the national average for tapers?
Missouri pays $63K median vs. the U.S. average of $68K — that’s -8%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 88.97), the purchasing-power equivalent is $71K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do tapers make in Missouri?
The median is $63,020 a year, that works out to about $30 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $48,230, and experienced tapers can clear $83,330. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $63K enough to live in Missouri?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,205/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,097/month, which eats 26.1% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a tapers 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 tapers salary is worth about $70,833 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do tapers 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.