Word Processors and Typists Salary
In Missouri, word processors and typists earn $37,440 at the median, or about $18 an hour. The range runs from $35K at the entry level to $56K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 88.97), which stretches that salary to about $42,082 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,097/month, about 43% 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 $37K get you in Missouri?
About word processors and typists
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What this looks like in Missouri
Pay for word processors and typists in Missouri runs about 24% below the U.S. median of $49K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,097/month, which is 42.3% 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 word processors and typistss.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Missouri
Entry-level word processors and typists (10th percentile) start around $35K. Mid-career wages sit at $37K. Top earners bring in $56K or more, a $21K spread from bottom to top.
Word Processors and Typists salary by metro in Missouri
3 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kansas City | $54K | +45% | 30 |
| St. Louis | $37K | +0% | 190 |
| Jefferson City | $35K | -6% | 40 |
Compare to other states
Track word processors and typists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Missouri numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a word processors and typist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Missouri?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $37K, rent takes 42.3% 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 word processors and typists in Missouri?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new word processors and typists typically earn — is $35K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,102/month. At HUD’s $1,097/month FMR, rent would take 52% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is word processors and typist a high-paying job in Missouri?
Local pay runs 24% below the national median — $37K here vs. $49K 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 word processors and typists?
Missouri pays $37K median vs. the U.S. average of $49K — that’s -24%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 88.97), the purchasing-power equivalent is $42K — below the national median.
How much do word processors and typists make in Missouri?
The median is $37,440 a year, that works out to about $18 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $35,030, and experienced word processors and typists can clear $55,690. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $37K enough to live in Missouri?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,595/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,097/month, which eats 42.3% 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 word processors and typists 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 word processors and typists salary is worth about $42,082 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do word processors and typists 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.