Finance · St. Louis, MO

Bookkeeper Salary in St. Louis, MO (2026)

Median Bookkeeper salary in St. Louis is approximately $42,800/year — 9.0% below the US national average.

Salary breakdown — St. Louis

$42,800
median annual salary
Hourly (40 hr/week, 52 wk)
2,080 hours/year
$21
Biweekly (26 paychecks)
$1,646
Monthly
$3,567
Annual (gross)
$42,800
vs Missouri state average
State avg: $42,300
+$500
vs US national
National median: $47,000
-$4,200

After-tax estimate

$30,966
estimated take-home/year
Gross salary
$42,800
Federal tax (~14%)
−$5,992
FICA (7.65%)
−$3,274
Missouri state tax
~5% effective
−$2,140
St. Louis local tax (1.00%)
−$428
Estimated take-home
$30,966
Monthly take-home
$2,580
For exact take-home, use our St. Louis Paycheck Calculator.
Bookkeeper salary in similar-cost cities
CityCost mult.Estimated annualvs St. Louis
El Paso, TX0.91×$42,800+$0
Cleveland, OH0.91×$42,800+$0
Winston-Salem, NC0.91×$42,800+$0
Columbus, OH0.92×$43,200+$400
Indianapolis, IN0.90×$42,300-$500

Bookkeeper salaries in St. Louis, MO

The estimated median Bookkeeper salary in St. Louis, Missouri is $42,800/year, working out to approximately $21/hour at full-time, $1,646 per biweekly paycheck, or $3,567/month before taxes. St. Louis's cost-of-living multiplier of 0.91× national reflects local prices, housing costs, and employer concentration in this metro area.

Take-home pay in St. Louis

Of the gross $42,800, you take home roughly $30,966 after:

  • Federal income tax (~14% effective at this income)
  • FICA — Social Security 6.2% + Medicare 1.45% = 7.65%
  • Missouri state income tax (~5% effective)
  • St. Louis local tax: 1.00% — significant for St. Louis workers

That works out to about $2,580/month after-tax — useful for budgeting rent (typically 25–35% of net income), savings (15–20% target), and other expenses. For an exact calculation including 401(k), HSA, and your filing status, use our St. Louis Paycheck Calculator.

What affects your actual pay

  • Experience: entry-level often 25–35% below median; senior roles 40–60%+ above.
  • Specific employer: top-tier employers in St. Louis pay 10–25% above market for the same role.
  • Industry: a Software Engineer at a tech company in St. Louis typically out-earns one at a non-tech employer.
  • Negotiation: simply negotiating an offer can shift comp by 5–15%.
  • Education and credentials: degrees and licenses (especially for healthcare, legal, engineering) can move comp by 15–30%.
  • Remote vs in-office: many St. Louis employers now base pay on cost of living, with remote workers in cheaper metros paid less.

Related calculators

Bookkeeper Salary in Missouri — state-level average. Salary Calculator — convert hourly ↔ annual. St. Louis Paycheck Calculator — exact take-home. Income Tax Calculator — federal tax with brackets. Investment Calculator — long-term portfolio growth.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the median Bookkeeper salary in St. Louis?
The estimated median Bookkeeper salary in St. Louis, Missouri is $42,800 per year, or approximately $21/hour at standard full-time. St. Louis sits 9.0% below the US national average for this role.
St. Louis vs Missouri state — what's the salary difference?
St. Louis: $42,800. Missouri state average for Bookkeeper: $42,300. Difference: +$500 (1.2%). City-level pay typically reflects the metro area's cost of living and concentration of employers.
Does St. Louis have a city income tax?
Yes — St. Louis levies a local income tax of approximately 1.00% on top of federal and Missouri state taxes. This affects take-home pay calculations significantly.
Does this account for cost-of-living differences?
Yes — the city multiplier reflects St. Louis's cost of living relative to the US average. St. Louis's multiplier is 0.91× national. For comparison: San Francisco ~1.45×, NYC ~1.32×, mid-tier metros ~1.00×, low-cost metros ~0.85–0.90×. Higher local cost generally means employers pay more to attract talent.
What's the after-tax take-home for Bookkeeper in St. Louis?
Estimate: $30,966/year after federal income tax (~14% effective), FICA (7.65%), Missouri state tax (~5.0% effective), and St. Louis local tax (1.00%). For exact numbers, use the St. Louis Paycheck Calculator with your specific 401(k) and deductions.