Registered Nurse Hourly Pay in St. Joseph, MO: $39.10 (2026)
Quick Answer:Hourly pay for a registered nurse working in St. Joseph, MO runs $39.10 at the median for 2026 — annualizing to $81,341 at a standard 2,080-hour year. Figures projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-1141). Weighted against St. Joseph's regional price level (BEA RPP 86.4, 14% below national), each hour of work buys what $45.27 nationally would. A 24-hour part-time schedule grosses $48,799 per year.
Official BLS data · View source
In St. Joseph, Missouri, registered nursing professionals can anticipate a median hourly pay of $39.10, which falls significantly below the national hourly median of $49.39. This hourly rate varies considerably based on experience and position within healthcare settings. For those working part-time, like three days a week, this translates into earning potential that can still support financial stability, especially when working in hospitals, ICUs, or outpatient clinics. Additionally, the hourly pay range spans from $30.55 for entry-level positions to up to $48.39 for top earners, illustrating a robust market for experienced nurses across diverse clinical settings such as emergency departments, operating rooms, and home health visits. These insights are derived from 2026 estimates based on 2025 BLS OEWS data, providing a reliable perspective on the regional nursing workforce.
Registered Nurse Hourly Wage Breakdown
| Percentile | Hourly Rate | Per 8hr Shift |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $30.55 | $244.40 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $37.77 | $302.20 |
| Median (P50) | $39.10 | $312.81 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $47.53 | $380.21 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $48.39 | $387.12 |
Estimated Annual Income by Work Schedule in St. Joseph
Based on $39.10/hr median hourly rate · 2026 est.
At $39.10/hr, a registered nurse working full-time (40 hr/wk) in St. Joseph, MO can expect to earn approximately $81,331 per year (2026 est.). Part-time hygienists working 24 hours per week would earn around $46,922. With a cost-of-living index of 86.38 (below the national average), these earnings stretch further in St. Joseph.
Hourly Rate Calculator
Schedule Comparison in St. Joseph
| Schedule | Weekly | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-Time (40 hrs) | $1,564.06 | $6,778 | $81,331 |
| Part-Time (24 hrs) | $938.44 | $4,067 | $48,799 |
| Per Diem (16 hrs) | $625.63 | $2,711 | $32,533 |
Compare RN Wages With Similar Roles
| Role | Median Hourly |
|---|---|
| Registered Nurse (St. Joseph) | $39.10 |
| Licensed Practical Nurse (National Avg) | $29.34 |
| Nursing Assistant (CNA) (National Avg) | $18.60 |
| Nurse Practitioner (National Avg) | $63.50 |
| Medical Assistant (National Avg) | $19.70 |
Registered Nurses in St. Joseph, MO earn a median of $81,341 per year (2026 est.), which is 20.82% lower than the national median of $102,730 and 6.80% below the Missouri state average of $87,276.
Registered Nurse Hourly Pay vs. Cost of Living
Working 24h/week at $39.10/hr = $48,799/year (purchasing power: $56,492).
Working 40h/week (full-time) = $81,331/year (purchasing power: $94,153).
CoL index: 86.382 (100 = national average). Your dollars stretch further here.
2019 BLS Actual
$29.45/hr
2025 BLS Actual
$37.13/hr
2026 Current Est.
$39.10/hr
2019–2027 Growth
+39.8%
Hourly Rate Trajectory for Registered Nurses in St. Joseph (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 5.31% projection.
| Year | Hourly Rate | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $29.45/hr | Actual |
| 2020 | $30.54/hr | Actual |
| 2021 | $30.00/hr | Actual |
| 2022 | $31.93/hr | Actual |
| 2023 | $38.20/hr | Actual |
| 2024 | $35.94/hr | Actual |
| 2025 | $37.13/hr | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $39.10/hr | Estimated |
| 2027 | $41.18/hr | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, the median hourly rate for registered nurses in St. Joseph grew 26.1% from $29.45/hr (2019) to $37.13/hr (2025). At a 5.31% projected growth rate, hourly pay is expected to reach $41.18/hr by 2027. Part-time and per-diem registered nurses can use this multi-year trend to benchmark future contract negotiations.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the St. Joseph metropolitan area, sourced from annual Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys. 2026–2026 figures are current estimates, and 2027 values are projections, calculated using a 5.31% CAGR derived from 7-year BLS historical data. Actual salaries may vary based on employer, experience, certifications, and local market conditions.
Working as an Hourly Registered Nurse in St. Joseph
In terms of annual income, part-time registered nurses working 24 hours a week can expect their yearly earnings to reflect the number of shifts worked, considerably less than full-time counterparts. For many, the allure of per diem registered nurse pay in St. Joseph brings flexibility, with billing rates often ranging from $50 to $80 per hour depending on the specialty. Travel nurses navigating the high-demand landscape can secure contracts that yield $2,000 to $4,500 per week, with crisis-rate ICU work commanding figures as high as $5,000 to $8,000 in shortage markets. However, the hourly rates can differ based on employer types, whether in hospital systems, surgical centers, or home health agencies. Nurses often face a trade-off between higher hourly wages with no benefits and lower rates that include health insurance. For those considering positions in St. Joseph, strong negotiation skills can help enhance overall compensation through allowances for shift differentials or specialty certifications valued by Magnet-status hospitals.
More salary data for St. Joseph, MO:
Frequently Asked Questions
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Written by Jordan Lee, RN, BSN
Career Analyst
Jordan Lee has 10 years of experience as a registered nurse. Their specialty is pediatric nursing in a community hospital. They analyze nursing workforce trends and salary data.
Methodology & Data Source
Hourly wage figures on this page are 2026 projections based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2026 release. A 5.31% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), derived from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to estimate current 2026 hourly rates for registered nurses in St. Joseph. Part-time and full-time income estimates assume consistent weekly hours and do not account for overtime, benefits, or seasonal variation.
Data Sources & Methodology
Source: BLS, OEWS, 7-year dataset (–). Per-city data from annual BLS metropolitan area surveys.
2026 figures are projected from 2025 BLS data using a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.31%, derived from historical BLS wage trends for registered nurses (SOC 29-1141).
Compiled and verified by Jordan Lee, RN, BSN, a licensed registered nurse with 10+ years of clinical experience. · View source data at BLS.gov