Chief Executive Salary in St. Louis, MO
Chief Executives in the St. Louis, MO-IL metro area earn a median $202,840 a year — 5% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $142,423 take-home, or $11,869 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median chief executive salary in St. Louis, MO. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$37,416
- Social Security (6.2%)$11,439
- Medicare (1.45%)$2,967
- Missouri income tax$8,596
- Take-home pay$142,423
Marginal rate: 24% federal + 4.70% state
The St. Louis, MO-IL metro spans Missouri, Illinois. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Chief Executive pay by experience in St. Louis, MO
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $93,620 | $45.01 | $71,229 | $5,936 |
| 25th percentile | $136,840 | $65.79 | $99,302 | $8,275 |
| Median (50th) | $202,840 | $97.52 | $142,423 | $11,869 |
| 75th percentile | $317,990+ | $152.88 | $212,439 | $17,703 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $504,140+ | $242.38 | $320,313 | $26,693 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Missouri resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $202,840 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 chief executive's $142,423 take-home pay has the buying power of $149,780 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Chief Executive jobs are less concentrated in St. Louis, MO than nationally (location quotient 0.64), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for chief executives, adjusted for cost of living
St. Louis, MO ranks #36 of 55 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seattle, WA | $239,200+ | $259,032 | $233,083 |
| 2 | Bridgeport, CT | $239,200+ | $247,855 | $231,935 |
| 3 | Charlotte, NC | $239,200+ | $220,744 | $226,758 |
| 4 | Dallas, TX | $239,200+ | $227,744 | $220,918 |
| 5 | Chicago, IL | $239,200+ | $226,413 | $218,556 |
| 6 | Richmond, VA | $239,200+ | $213,626 | $218,302 |
| 7 | Des Moines, IA | $239,200+ | $199,056 | $217,070 |
| 8 | Portland, OR | $239,200+ | $227,767 | $216,055 |
| 36 | St. Louis, MO | $202,840 | $142,423 | $149,780 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 55 metros →
Chief Executive salaries elsewhere in Missouri
- Kansas City, MO — $221,640
Frequently asked questions
How much does a chief executive make in St. Louis, MO?
The median chief executive salary in the St. Louis, MO-IL metro area is $202,840 a year, or about $97.52 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $136,840 and $239,200+.
What is a chief executive’s take-home pay in St. Louis, MO?
On the median $202,840 salary, a single filer living in Missouri takes home about $142,423 a year ($11,869 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $8,596 in Missouri taxes in 2026.
Is St. Louis, MO a good place to work as a chief executive?
Pay here is 5% below the national median of $213,990. Local prices are 4.9% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $149,780 would in a typical U.S. city. St. Louis, MO ranks #36 of 55 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a chief executive 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) — 8% of a median chief executive’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in St. Louis, MO
- Computer and Information Systems Manager — $167,130
- Architectural and Engineering Manager — $162,660
- Natural Sciences Manager — $158,820
- Financial Manager — $158,780
- Marketing Manager — $137,900
- Purchasing Manager — $135,400
- Human Resources Manager — $133,880
- Managers, All Other — $130,590
- Public Relations Manager — $130,280
- Sales Manager — $123,870
- Industrial Production Manager — $122,860
- Construction Manager — $116,680