Surgical Technologist Salary in Missouri (2026) - $53,670/yr
Missouri pays surgical technologists a mean of $53,670/yr (-15% versus national mean $63,060, BLS OEWS May 2024, SOC 29-2055). Low cost-of-living (index 90) brings real purchasing power to roughly $59,633. Missouri is the home of the MERIC cost-of-living index used across this site.
Missouri Metro Area Pay
| Metro Area | Mean Annual | Mean Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| St Louis (MO portion) | $56,890 | $27.35 |
| Kansas City (MO portion) | $55,120 | $26.50 |
| Springfield | $50,180 | $24.13 |
| Columbia | $52,410 | $25.20 |
| Joplin | $48,920 | $23.52 |
Metro estimates: BLS OEWS May 2024 metropolitan cross-tab, SOC 29-2055.
Missouri Highlights
St Louis carries the strongest pay band. BJC HealthCare (Barnes-Jewish Hospital, the Washington University teaching hospital) is the Level I trauma anchor and the highest-paying employer for senior CST and CSFA roles. SSM Health Saint Louis University Hospital adds a second Level I. Mercy Hospital St Louis pays competitively for staff CST roles.
Kansas City: Saint Luke's Hospital of Kansas City (Level I), University Health Truman Medical Center (Level I), and Children's Mercy (pediatric Level I) anchor the metro. HCA Midwest Health and AdventHealth round out community-hospital coverage. The Kansas-side metro often pays a small premium for cross-border commuters.
Licensure: Missouri does not require state-specific surgical technologist licensure. CST credential through NBSTSA is the de facto standard. Missouri has a state income tax (top rate 4.95%), which slightly reduces take-home compared to Texas or Tennessee at the same nominal pay.