Lawyers in Missouri. BLS OES + DOL OFLC + reader-reported submissions. How this is built →
What the numbers say
Missouri lawyers earned a median of $124,210 in 2024, about 17% below the national median of $149,496. That gap is real, but it does not tell the whole story.
Missouri's cost of living runs roughly 9% below the national average. After adjusting for what the money actually buys, the in-state median lands closer to $137,100 in national-baseline dollars. That closes most of the headline gap.
The spread within the state is wide. The bottom tenth of lawyers earned around $57,560, while the 25th percentile was $80,220 and the 75th reached $168,090. That bottom-to-three-quarters range of more than $110,000 reflects how sharply pay varies by practice area, firm size, and seniority. A solo practitioner handling family law in rural Missouri and a partner at a St. Louis corporate firm are both counted in this number.
The mean wage of $158,200 sits well above the median, which tells us a smaller group of higher earners pull the average up. The median is the more useful reference point for most working lawyers in the state.
BLS projects employment for lawyers to grow 4.2% between 2024 and 2034, in line with the average for all occupations. Missouri's 11,950 employed lawyers make it a mid-sized legal market by national standards.
Salary distribution
Where Missouri lawyers fall on the wage curve.
Shaded band = interquartile range (where most full-time workers fall)
The middle 50% of workers earn between $89,900 and $197,110, with a median of $133,450.
Lawyers in Missouri: actual employer-disclosed pay
Public records from 6 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. Median offered wage: $119,750. Every figure below is an actual offered salary an employer attested to under federal law.
By DOL wage level
DOL classifies every offer into one of four wage levels based on the role's experience and skill requirements.
| Level | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|
| Level I — entry | 5 | $69,500 |
| Level II — qualified | 1 | $195,000 |
Top employers filing for this role
Companies with the most certified filings for Lawyers in Missouri. Median offer is across all of that employer's filings.
| Employer | Most-filed title | Filings | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ott Law Firm, LLC | Attorney | 2 | $69,500 |
| Armstrong Teasdale LLP | Law Clerk | 1 | $170,000 |
| Dentons US LLP | Associate | 1 | $195,000 |
| Dove Holdings, LLC | Legal Research Associate | 1 | $69,264 |
| Husch Blackwell LLP | Labor and Employment Associate Attorney | 1 | $205,200 |
Recent sample filings
A snapshot of recent certified offers. Each line is a real, public, verifiable record.
- Labor and Employment Associate Attorney at Husch Blackwell LLP$205,200Kansas CityWage Level IDecided Aug 8, 2025I-200-25213-216729
- Attorney at Ott Law Firm, LLC$69,500MaplewoodWage Level IDecided Jul 7, 2025I-200-25178-135112
- Legal Research Associate at Dove Holdings, LLC$69,264St. LouisWage Level IDecided Jun 12, 2025I-200-25156-056914
- Law Clerk at Armstrong Teasdale LLP$170,000St. LouisWage Level IDecided Jun 11, 2025I-200-25155-050797
- Associate at Dentons US LLP$195,000St. LouisWage Level IIDecided Apr 17, 2025I-200-25100-850807
- Attorney at Ott Law Firm, LLC$69,500MaplewoodWage Level IDecided Jun 20, 2025I-200-25163-087612
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Foreign Labor Certification. Disclosed wages reflect what employers attested to pay; actual paid wages may differ. Only certified filings are shown — denied and withdrawn cases are excluded.
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Lawyers pay by experience level in Missouri
Each band reflects DOL Wage Levels I-IV mapped onto a four-step ladder. Click a level to see the disclosed-wage range for that segment.
Wage trend
Median annual wage in Missouri over the past 3 BLS OES releases. Real values are CPI-adjusted to 2025 dollars.
Typical entry
Education
Doctoral or professional degree
Experience
None
On-the-job training
None
Top skills (O*NET)
- 4.9 / 5
Oral Expression
Ability
- 4.7 / 5
Law and Government
Knowledge
- 4.6 / 5
Speaking
Basic skill
- 4.6 / 5
Active Listening
Basic skill
- 4.5 / 5
Written Comprehension
Ability
- 4.5 / 5
Oral Comprehension
Ability
- 4.5 / 5
English Language
Knowledge
- 4.4 / 5
Reading Comprehension
Basic skill
Common tasks (O*NET)
- 01
Analyze the probable outcomes of cases, using knowledge of legal precedents.
- 02
Advise clients concerning business transactions, claim liability, advisability of prosecuting or defending lawsuits, or legal rights and obligations.
- 03
Select jurors, argue motions, meet with judges, and question witnesses during the course of a trial.
- 04
Interpret laws, rulings and regulations for individuals and businesses.
- 05
Present evidence to defend clients or prosecute defendants in criminal or civil litigation.
- 06
Represent clients in court or before government agencies.
- 07
Work in environmental law, representing public interest groups, waste disposal companies, or construction firms in their dealings with state and federal agencies.
- 08
Present and summarize cases to judges and juries.
10-year outlook
Growth 2024 → 2034
+4.2%
Projected annual openings
—
BLS outlook
Average growth
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034 cycle.
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Explore coursesTop metros in Missouri
Metro-level salary data for lawyers in major Missouri metropolitan areas.
- St. Louis$142,690
- Kansas City$134,640
Compare Lawyers pay across nearby states
Considering a move? Compare Missouri with another state
Frequently asked questions
- What is the median salary for Lawyers in Missouri?
- According to BLS Occupational Employment Statistics, the median annual wage for Lawyers in Missouri is $133,450.
- How does Missouri compare to the national median for Lawyers?
- The Missouri median is -16.2% versus the BLS national figure of $159,328.
- What is the salary range for Lawyers in Missouri?
- BLS reports the 10th-percentile annual wage at $67,020 and the 90th-percentile at $299,990, which captures most full-time workers in the role.
- Is Lawyers a growing field?
- BLS Employment Projections show employment growing by 4.2% over the projection cycle. See the 10-year outlook section above for details.
- What education is required for Lawyers?
- BLS lists the typical entry-level education as Doctoral or professional degree. Many employers also weigh prior experience and credentials.
Information on this page is for general educational purposes only. It is not career, financial, or tax advice. Wage data reflects BLS estimates for the reference year shown and may not match individual offers, employer-specific ranges, or current market conditions. Confirm with a licensed professional before making career or compensation decisions.