Travel Nurse Pay in Missouri (2026)
Missouri packs two major metro hospital markets, a strong per-capita RN base and a moderate tax burden into one compact state. Here are the verified BLS numbers, hedged package ranges, and the St. Louis versus Kansas City pay picture.
By the NursePayLab editorial team · Updated $1
Key numbers at a glance
| Measure | Figure | What it means for travelers |
|---|---|---|
| RN employment (Missouri) | 76,310 | Highest RN-per-capita density in this series (per BLS OEWS, May 2025) |
| Median RN wage | $81,780/yr ($39.32/hr) | Moderate staff baseline — bill rates float above it |
| Mean RN wage | $85,900/yr ($41.30/hr) | Includes the experienced-nurse band travelers replace |
| Entry RN (10th pct) | $63,230/yr | Floor of the market |
Travel nurse pay in Missouri: the numbers
Missouri employed 76,310 registered nurses as of May 2025, per the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey. That is about 26.0 RN jobs per 1,000 — the highest RN density of the ten states in this batch and well above the national share. The median RN wage was $81,780/year ($39.32/hr) with a mean of $85,900 ($41.30/hr), a 10th percentile of $63,230 and a 90th percentile of $104,390.
Density plus moderate wages is the Missouri pattern: plenty of nursing jobs (BLS, May 2025) at pay levels that trail the coasts by $15,000–$25,000 at the median. For travelers that mix is productive — large systems in St. Louis and Kansas City run big specialty units with real coverage gaps, and their bill rates float meaningfully above a staff median of $81,780, with the experienced band ($98,560 at the 75th percentile) marking where hospital stretch begins. Note also the compressed top end: the 90th percentile at $104,390 means Missouri hospitals rarely win bidding wars with sheer staff pay, which is exactly the condition that keeps traveler demand steady.
The hedged range below splits the difference between the two big metros and the rest of the state. Verify live offers with your recruiter — Kansas City assignments can sit on either side of the state line, which changes the tax filing.
| Measure | Figure | What it means for travelers |
|---|---|---|
| RN employment (Missouri) | 76,310 | Highest RN-per-capita density in this series (per BLS OEWS, May 2025) |
| Median RN wage | $81,780/yr ($39.32/hr) | Moderate staff baseline — bill rates float above it |
| Mean RN wage | $85,900/yr ($41.30/hr) | Includes the experienced-nurse band travelers replace |
| Entry RN (10th pct) | $63,230/yr | Floor of the market |
| Experienced RN (75th–90th pct) | $98,560–$104,390/yr | Where staff stretch tops out; travel sits above |
| Typical travel package (hedged) | roughly $1,900–$2,600/week gross | Taxable wage + stipends; varies by specialty and season — verify with recruiters |
| State income tax (2026) | Graduated, top 4.7% (2025 year) | Applies to taxable wages only, not stipends |
| Nurse Licensure Compact | Yes — member since Jan. 19, 2018 | Multistate license works; fast starts possible |
All BLS figures on this page: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 release (bls.gov/oes). Wage figures are for staff registered nurses (SOC 29-1141), all industries — travel packages are quoted separately and are inherently variable. See the full list on our travel nurse pay by state hub.
How stipends change the math in Missouri
Stipend caps follow the federal GSA per-diem tables, and Missouri's two metros sit in comfortable middle territory — St. Louis and Kansas City lodging caps are neither coastal nor rural-cheap, and Springfield and Columbia run lower (current tables at gsa.gov/perdiem). Because Missouri rents behave the same way, a mid-range housing stipend covers a genuinely decent apartment in both metros — one of the better stipend-to-rent ratios in this series, and the reason a Missouri take-home stretches further than its gross suggests.
Illustrative math: $25/hr × 36 guaranteed hours = $900/week taxable. Subtract roughly $103 federal and $69 FICA, then about $25 for Missouri tax (the top rate of 4.7% applies above roughly $9,200 of income, so the weekly effective bite at traveler pay levels is closer to 2.5–3%), leaving about $703. Add $1,150 housing plus $400 M&IE — $1,550 tax-free — for a take-home near $2,250/week, about $63/hour blended, roughly $29,300 over 13 weeks. Run your actual offer through the take-home calculator and compare candidates by blended rate — especially when one is Missouri-side and one is Kansas-side of Kansas City.
The standing rule travels with you: stipends are tax-free only with a valid tax home and duplicated living expenses. The tax home guide covers what to keep proof of while you work the Show-Me State.
Missouri income tax: graduated, top 4.7% and possibly falling
Missouri taxes income on a graduated schedule with a top rate of 4.7% for the 2025 tax year — the bracket above $9,191 of taxable income for a single filer — per the Missouri Department of Revenue. State law includes revenue triggers that can reduce the rate in later years, so check the department's current-year page before modeling. Missouri also holds reciprocity with Illinois, Kansas, Nebraska, Oklahoma and a handful of other states — residents of those states working in Missouri generally keep paying home-state tax instead. Stipends stay outside state tax under the federal accountable-plan rules. Verify your filing position with the department and a CPA who handles multistate healthcare workers.
Tax figures here are 2026 planning rates from official state sources — confirm your own filing position with the relevant state revenue department or a CPA; this page is not tax advice.
Licensure in Missouri: compact member since 2018
Missouri is a full member of the Nurse Licensure Compact — implemented January 19, 2018, per the NCSBN map. A multistate RN license from your compact home state covers Missouri assignments with no separate application, which keeps St. Louis and Kansas City offers fast to start. Two planning notes: Kansas is also a compact member, so a Kansas City assignment on either side of the line is licensure-easy but tax-different; and if Missouri becomes your residence mid-contract, you must apply for licensure in your new primary state within 60 days under compact rules. Verify current status at nursecompact.com.
Where the demand is in Missouri
St. Louis leads: BJC HealthCare's Washington University-affiliated hospitals (Barnes-Jewish above all), Mercy and SSM Health together generate deep ICU, OR, NICU and ED traveler demand. Kansas City answers with Saint Luke's, Truman Medical Centers and the University of Kansas system just across the line. Springfield's CoxHealth and Mercy run the biggest southwest-Missouri operations, and Columbia's MU Health Care adds academic lines in a college-town rental market. Below the metros, rural and critical-access hospitals across the Ozarks use travelers steadily for leave coverage. Housing is the quiet advantage in all four markets — the housing stipend versus agency housing decision in St. Louis or Kansas City usually favors the stipend.
Stipend ceilings everywhere follow the federal per-diem tables for your assignment location — gsa.gov/perdiem.
FAQ
How much do travel nurses make in Missouri?
Per BLS OEWS (May 2025), the median staff RN in Missouri earns $81,780/year. Travel packages typically quote $1,900–$2,600/week gross, with St. Louis and Kansas City academic and mega-system hospitals at the top — verify offers with recruiters.
Is Missouri a Nurse Licensure Compact state?
Yes — Missouri has been a compact member since January 19, 2018, per NCSBN. A multistate license from your compact home state covers Missouri assignments with no separate application.
What is Missouri's income tax for travelers?
Graduated rates with a top rate of 4.7% for the 2025 tax year (income above $9,191), per the Missouri Department of Revenue; statutory triggers can cut it further. Most travelers owe roughly 3–4% effective.
Are stipends taxed in Missouri?
No — stipends are tax-free when you maintain a valid tax home and duplicated living expenses. Missouri's income tax applies only to your taxable hourly wages.
Why does Missouri have so many RN jobs per capita?
At about 26.0 RN jobs per 1,000, Missouri is the most RN-dense state in this series (BLS, May 2025) — big hospital systems in St. Louis, Kansas City, Springfield and Columbia sit atop a wide rural network that hires nurses at every level.
What is a good blended rate in Missouri?
An illustrative $2,250/week take-home over 36 hours is about $63/hour blended. Midwest quotes look modest next to coasts, but rents are too — judge the package after tax and after housing.