Missouri's top 30 employing occupations account for more than 1.1 million of the state's workers, or 41.6 percent of total employment according to the May 2009 Occupational Employment Statistics data.
Hourly pay for the top 30 occupations ranges from $8.38 for combined food preparation and serving workers, including fast food, to $45.64 for general and operations managers.
The average hourly wage for all 2,700,450 Missouri jobs was $18.87 with an average annual wage of $39,250.
The education and training level for the top 30 Missouri occupations varies from short-term on-the-job training (cashiers, retail salespersons, etc.) to a Bachelor's degree or more (general and operations managers, accountants and auditors, etc.).
The data in the table is ordered according to number employed in each occupation in Missouri and includes average hourly wages and average annual wages.
Soc Codes |
Occupation Title |
Employment |
Average |
Average |
00-0000 |
All Occupations |
2,668,450 |
$18.87 |
$39,250 |
35-3021 |
Combined food preparation and serving workers, including fast food |
83,190 |
$8.38 |
$17,420 |
41-2031 |
Retail salespersons |
79,340 |
$11.70 |
$24,340 |
41-2011 |
Cashiers |
77,400 |
$8.92 |
$18,550 |
43-9061 |
Office clerks, general |
68,140 |
$13.74 |
$28,580 |
29-1111 |
Registered nurses |
62,130 |
$27.62 |
$57,460 |
35-3031 |
Waiters and waitresses |
49,900 |
$9.00 |
$18,720 |
43-4051 |
Customer service representatives |
45,630 |
$14.84 |
$30,870 |
53-3032 |
Truck drivers, heavy and tractor-trailer |
42,130 |
$18.66 |
$38,810 |
37-2011 |
Janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners |
42,000 |
$10.87 |
$22,610 |
31-1012 |
Nursing aides, orderlies, and attendants |
40,410 |
$10.53 |
$21,910 |
53-7062 |
Laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand |
36,540 |
$12.18 |
$25,340 |
11-1021 |
General and operations managers |
35,380 |
$45.64 |
$94,920 |
43-3031 |
Bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks |
34,490 |
$15.36 |
$31,950 |
43-5081 |
Stock clerks and order fillers |
34,010 |
$11.01 |
$22,900 |
41-4012 |
Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products |
32,830 |
$28.04 |
$58,310 |
43-6014 |
Secretaries, except legal, medical, and executive |
32,050 |
$13.49 |
$28,050 |
51-2092 |
Team assemblers |
29,950 |
$13.70 |
$28,500 |
25-2021 |
Elementary school teachers, except special education |
29,030 |
* |
$43,200 |
49-9042 |
Maintenance and repair workers, general |
27,740 |
$16.65 |
$34,630 |
13-2011 |
Accountants and auditors |
26,170 |
$28.27 |
$58,800 |
43-1011 |
First-line supervisors/managers of office and administrative support workers |
23,430 |
$23.05 |
$47,950 |
35-2014 |
Cooks, restaurant |
22,850 |
$10.05 |
$20,900 |
41-1011 |
First-line supervisors/managers of retail sales workers |
21,910 |
$18.16 |
$37,780 |
37-2012 |
Maids and housekeeping cleaners |
21,660 |
$9.44 |
$19,640 |
25-2031 |
Secondary school teachers, except special and vocational education |
21,150 |
* |
$42,540 |
25-9041 |
Teacher assistants |
19,380 |
* |
$22,000 |
29-2061 |
Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses |
18,880 |
$16.87 |
$35,100 |
43-6011 |
Executive secretaries and administrative assistants |
18,840 |
$19.69 |
$40,950 |
33-9032 |
Security guards |
17,740 |
$13.07 |
$27,180 |
47-2031 |
Carpenters |
17,090 |
$21.52 |
$44,760 |
*Occupation does not have reported hourly wage.
Updated June 7, 2010
