Lawyer Salary in St. Louis, MO
Lawyers in the St. Louis, MO-IL metro area earn a median $142,690 a year — 11% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $103,026 take-home, or $8,585 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median lawyer salary in St. Louis, MO. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$22,980
- Social Security (6.2%)$8,847
- Medicare (1.45%)$2,069
- Missouri income tax$5,769
- Take-home pay$103,026
Marginal rate: 24% federal + 4.70% state
Living in St. Louis? City residents also pay St. Louis’s Earnings Tax — about $1,427 a year on this salary — which lowers take-home pay to $101,599 ($8,467 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 →
Lawyer pay by experience in St. Louis, MO
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $67,600 | $32.50 | $54,147 | $4,512 |
| 25th percentile | $95,300 | $45.82 | $72,332 | $6,028 |
| Median (50th) | $142,690 | $68.60 | $103,026 | $8,585 |
| 75th percentile | $208,070 | $100.03 | $146,029 | $12,169 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $306,650+ | $147.43 | $205,868 | $17,156 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Missouri resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $142,690 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 lawyer's $103,026 take-home pay has the buying power of $108,348 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Lawyer jobs are about as common in St. Louis, MO as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.94).
Best-paying cities for lawyers, adjusted for cost of living
St. Louis, MO ranks #21 of 47 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose, CA | $239,200+ | $188,293 | $170,520 |
| 2 | Birmingham, AL | $170,230 | $119,372 | $130,256 |
| 3 | New York, NY | $208,880 | $144,183 | $128,091 |
| 4 | Dallas, TX | $168,510 | $126,443 | $122,653 |
| 5 | Washington, DC | $195,190 | $131,718 | $120,971 |
| 6 | San Francisco, CA | $212,500 | $139,838 | $120,953 |
| 7 | Houston, TX | $157,980 | $119,245 | $120,903 |
| 8 | Philadelphia, PA | $170,660 | $122,673 | $119,618 |
| 21 | St. Louis, MO | $142,690 | $103,026 | $108,348 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 47 metros →
About the job: lawyers
Represent clients in criminal and civil litigation and other legal proceedings, draw up legal documents, or manage or advise clients on legal transactions. May specialize in a single area or may practice broadly in many areas of law.
- Typical education
- Doctoral or professional degree
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- None
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +4.7% (about average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Lawyer salaries elsewhere in Missouri
- Kansas City, MO — $134,640
Frequently asked questions
How much does a lawyer make in St. Louis, MO?
The median lawyer salary in the St. Louis, MO-IL metro area is $142,690 a year, or about $68.60 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $95,300 and $208,070.
What is a lawyer’s take-home pay in St. Louis, MO?
On the median $142,690 salary, a single filer living in Missouri takes home about $103,026 a year ($8,585 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $5,769 in Missouri taxes in 2026.
Is St. Louis, MO a good place to work as a lawyer?
Pay here is 11% below the national median of $159,670. Local prices are 4.9% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $108,348 would in a typical U.S. city. St. Louis, MO ranks #21 of 47 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a lawyer 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) — 12% of a median lawyer’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in St. Louis, MO
- Paralegal and Legal Assistant — $61,970