Human Resources Specialist Salary in St. Louis, MO
Human Resources Specialists in the St. Louis, MO-IL metro area earn a median $71,670 a year — 6% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $56,819 take-home, or $4,735 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median human resources specialist salary in St. Louis, MO. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$6,937
- Social Security (6.2%)$4,444
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,039
- Missouri income tax$2,431
- Take-home pay$56,819
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 4.70% state
Living in St. Louis? City residents also pay St. Louis’s Earnings Tax — about $717 a year on this salary — which lowers take-home pay to $56,102 ($4,675 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 →
Human Resources Specialist pay by experience in St. Louis, MO
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $47,230 | $22.71 | $38,847 | $3,237 |
| 25th percentile | $54,770 | $26.33 | $44,551 | $3,713 |
| Median (50th) | $71,670 | $34.46 | $56,819 | $4,735 |
| 75th percentile | $93,950 | $45.17 | $71,446 | $5,954 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $116,290 | $55.91 | $86,112 | $7,176 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Missouri resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $71,670 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 human resources specialist's $56,819 take-home pay has the buying power of $59,754 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Human Resources Specialist jobs are about as common in St. Louis, MO as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.03).
Best-paying cities for human resources specialists, adjusted for cost of living
St. Louis, MO ranks #30 of 62 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose, CA | $112,140 | $80,063 | $72,506 |
| 2 | Washington, DC | $100,830 | $74,162 | $68,111 |
| 3 | Seattle, WA | $92,770 | $74,094 | $66,671 |
| 4 | Durham, NC | $81,100 | $63,157 | $64,728 |
| 5 | San Francisco, CA | $103,140 | $74,686 | $64,600 |
| 6 | Kansas City, MO | $75,190 | $59,130 | $63,894 |
| 7 | San Antonio, TX | $72,930 | $60,136 | $63,491 |
| 8 | Columbus, OH | $75,440 | $60,610 | $63,486 |
| 30 | St. Louis, MO | $71,670 | $56,819 | $59,754 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 62 metros →
About the job: human resources specialists
Recruit, screen, interview, or place individuals within an organization. May perform other activities in multiple human resources areas.
- Typical education
- Bachelor's degree
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- None
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +6.4% (faster than average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Human Resources Specialist salaries elsewhere in Missouri
- Kansas City, MO — $75,190
Frequently asked questions
How much does a human resources specialist make in St. Louis, MO?
The median human resources specialist salary in the St. Louis, MO-IL metro area is $71,670 a year, or about $34.46 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $54,770 and $93,950.
What is a human resources specialist’s take-home pay in St. Louis, MO?
On the median $71,670 salary, a single filer living in Missouri takes home about $56,819 a year ($4,735 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $2,431 in Missouri taxes in 2026.
Is St. Louis, MO a good place to work as a human resources specialist?
Pay here is 6% below the national median of $75,940. Local prices are 4.9% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $59,754 would in a typical U.S. city. St. Louis, MO ranks #30 of 62 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a human resources specialist 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) — 21% of a median human resources specialist’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
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