Tax Preparers Salary
In Missouri, tax preparers earn $62,780 at the median, or about $30.18 an hour. The range runs from $31K at the entry level to $124K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 88.97), which stretches that salary to about $70,563 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,097/month, or 26.6% 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 tax preparers
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What this looks like in Missouri
Missouri sits well above the national pay line for tax preparers, local pay runs about 14% higher than the U.S. median of $55K. Rent runs $1,097/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 26.2% 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. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Missouri
Entry-level tax preparers (10th percentile) start around $31K. Mid-career wages sit at $63K. Top earners bring in $124K or more, a $93K spread from bottom to top.
Tax Preparers salary by metro in Missouri
4 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kansas City | $79K | +26% | 560 |
| Jefferson City | $76K | +21% | 30 |
| St. Louis | $69K | +10% | 380 |
| Springfield | $57K | -9% | 160 |
Compare to other states
Track tax preparers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Missouri numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a tax preparer afford a 2BR apartment alone in Missouri?
Yes — at the median salary of $63K, rent takes 26.2% 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 tax preparers in Missouri?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new tax preparers typically earn — is $31K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,884/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 tax preparer a high-paying job in Missouri?
Local pay is 14% above the national median — $63K here vs. $55K nationally.
How does Missouri compare to the national average for tax preparers?
Missouri pays $63K median vs. the U.S. average of $55K — that’s +14%. 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 tax preparers make in Missouri?
The median is $62,780 a year, that works out to about $30 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $31,400, and experienced tax preparers can clear $124,300. 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 $4,190/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,097/month, which eats 26.2% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a tax preparers 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 tax preparers salary is worth about $70,563 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do tax preparers 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.