Computer Programmer Salary in St. Louis, MO
Computer Programmers in the St. Louis, MO-IL metro area earn a median $96,920 a year — 3% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $73,395 take-home, or $6,116 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median computer programmer salary in St. Louis, MO. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$12,492
- Social Security (6.2%)$6,009
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,405
- Missouri income tax$3,618
- Take-home pay$73,395
Marginal rate: 22% 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.
Computer Programmer pay by experience in St. Louis, MO
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $63,230 | $30.40 | $50,951 | $4,246 |
| 25th percentile | $80,110 | $38.51 | $62,360 | $5,197 |
| Median (50th) | $96,920 | $46.60 | $73,395 | $6,116 |
| 75th percentile | $117,110 | $56.30 | $86,650 | $7,221 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $132,120 | $63.52 | $96,298 | $8,025 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Missouri resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $96,920 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 computer programmer's $73,395 take-home pay has the buying power of $77,187 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Computer Programmer jobs are about as common in St. Louis, MO as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.83).
Best-paying cities for computer programmers, adjusted for cost of living
St. Louis, MO ranks #18 of 34 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fayetteville, AR | $136,880 | $99,698 | $109,135 |
| 2 | Hartford, CT | $141,920 | $101,903 | $99,180 |
| 3 | San Jose, CA | $154,920 | $104,962 | $95,054 |
| 4 | Boston, MA | $128,900 | $93,144 | $86,033 |
| 5 | Washington, DC | $130,390 | $92,273 | $84,744 |
| 6 | San Diego, CA | $134,130 | $92,956 | $83,080 |
| 7 | Kansas City, MO | $101,830 | $76,619 | $82,793 |
| 8 | Minneapolis, MN | $118,000 | $85,342 | $81,416 |
| 18 | St. Louis, MO | $96,920 | $73,395 | $77,187 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 34 metros →
Computer Programmer salaries elsewhere in Missouri
- Kansas City, MO — $101,830
Frequently asked questions
How much does a computer programmer make in St. Louis, MO?
The median computer programmer salary in the St. Louis, MO-IL metro area is $96,920 a year, or about $46.60 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $80,110 and $117,110.
What is a computer programmer’s take-home pay in St. Louis, MO?
On the median $96,920 salary, a single filer living in Missouri takes home about $73,395 a year ($6,116 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $3,618 in Missouri taxes in 2026.
Is St. Louis, MO a good place to work as a computer programmer?
Pay here is 3% below the national median of $100,390. Local prices are 4.9% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $77,187 would in a typical U.S. city. St. Louis, MO ranks #18 of 34 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a computer programmer 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) — 16% of a median computer programmer’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in St. Louis, MO
- Software Developer — $129,030
- Database Architect — $122,310
- Computer Occupations, All Other — $108,450
- Information Security Analyst — $106,420
- Web Developer — $106,360
- Database Administrator — $104,650
- Computer Network Architect — $103,370
- Data Scientist — $99,600
- Computer Systems Analyst — $96,290
- Software Quality Assurance Analyst and Tester — $94,590
- Network and Computer Systems Administrator — $88,940
- Computer Network Support Specialist — $75,060