Nursing Assistant Salary in St. Louis, MO
Nursing Assistants in the St. Louis, MO-IL metro area earn a median $39,110 a year — 7% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $32,704 take-home, or $2,725 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median nursing assistant salary in St. Louis, MO. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,513
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,425
- Medicare (1.45%)$567
- Missouri income tax$901
- Take-home pay$32,704
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.70% state
Living in St. Louis? City residents also pay St. Louis’s Earnings Tax — about $391 a year on this salary — which lowers take-home pay to $32,313 ($2,693 a month). Choose “St. Louis” under City income tax in the calculator. Suburban residents usually don’t pay it.
The St. Louis, MO-IL metro spans Missouri, Illinois. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Nursing Assistant pay by experience in St. Louis, MO
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $35,300 | $16.97 | $29,822 | $2,485 |
| 25th percentile | $37,180 | $17.88 | $31,244 | $2,604 |
| Median (50th) | $39,110 | $18.80 | $32,704 | $2,725 |
| 75th percentile | $44,630 | $21.46 | $36,880 | $3,073 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $46,890 | $22.54 | $38,590 | $3,216 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Missouri resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $39,110 buys in St. Louis, MO
Prices in St. Louis, MO are 4.9% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 21% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median nursing assistant's $32,704 take-home pay has the buying power of $34,393 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Nursing Assistant jobs are about as common in St. Louis, MO as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.17).
Best-paying cities for nursing assistants, adjusted for cost of living
St. Louis, MO ranks #65 of 113 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose, CA | $56,840 | $45,652 | $41,343 |
| 2 | Spokane, WA | $47,240 | $40,137 | $39,999 |
| 3 | Des Moines, IA | $43,940 | $36,468 | $39,768 |
| 4 | Seattle, WA | $51,990 | $43,954 | $39,551 |
| 5 | San Francisco, CA | $56,080 | $45,097 | $39,007 |
| 6 | Milwaukee, WI | $45,690 | $37,663 | $38,853 |
| 7 | Scranton, PA | $43,980 | $36,168 | $38,659 |
| 8 | Las Vegas, NV | $45,350 | $38,619 | $38,536 |
| 65 | St. Louis, MO | $39,110 | $32,704 | $34,393 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 113 metros →
About the job: nursing assistants
Provide or assist with basic care or support under the direction of onsite licensed nursing staff. Perform duties such as monitoring of health status, feeding, bathing, dressing, grooming, toileting, or ambulation of patients in a health or nursing facility. May include medication administration and other health-related tasks.
- Typical education
- Postsecondary nondegree award
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- None
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +2.6% (about average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Nursing Assistant salaries elsewhere in Missouri
- Kansas City, MO — $39,710
- Springfield, MO — $36,180
Frequently asked questions
How much does a nursing assistant make in St. Louis, MO?
The median nursing assistant salary in the St. Louis, MO-IL metro area is $39,110 a year, or about $18.80 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $37,180 and $44,630.
What is a nursing assistant’s take-home pay in St. Louis, MO?
On the median $39,110 salary, a single filer living in Missouri takes home about $32,704 a year ($2,725 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $901 in Missouri taxes in 2026.
Is St. Louis, MO a good place to work as a nursing assistant?
Pay here is 7% below the national median of $42,260. Local prices are 4.9% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $34,393 would in a typical U.S. city. St. Louis, MO ranks #65 of 113 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a nursing assistant afford rent in St. Louis, MO?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in St. Louis, MO is $989 a month ($1,211 for two bedrooms) — 36% of a median nursing assistant’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in St. Louis, MO
- Dental Assistant — $48,120
- Medical Assistant — $44,710
- Home Health and Personal Care Aide — $34,490