The minimum wage in Saint Louis is $12.30/hour in 2026. See how it compares to the MIT living wage of $19.00/hour and local cost of living.
Last updated: May 2026 · Data: MIT Living Wage Calculator, C2ER, U.S. Census, BLS, IRS, state and city sources
Calculate annual, monthly, and weekly income at any hourly wage in Saint Louis.
The minimum wage in Saint Louis is the Missouri statewide minimum of $12.30/hour. Saint Louis does not set a separate city minimum wage, so the Missouri statewide minimum of $12.30/hour applies; Missouri adjusts the rate for inflation each January. The bigger question for most workers is how that compares to what it actually costs to live in Saint Louis. With average 1-bedroom rent near $1,100/month and a cost-of-living index of 86 (US average = 100), the gap between the minimum wage and a true living wage is significant.
| Benchmark (Saint Louis, 2026) | Hourly | Annual (full-time) |
|---|---|---|
| Applicable minimum wage | $12.30 | $25,584 |
| MIT living wage (single adult) | $19.00 | $39,520 |
| MIT living wage (family of four, one earner) | $38.50 | $80,080 |
| Federal minimum wage | $7.25 | $15,080 |
| Average rent (1-bedroom, annual) | - | $13,200 |
Living wage figures: MIT Living Wage Calculator for the City of St. Louis. Minimum wage reflects the rate applicable to most private employers in Saint Louis.
St. Louis sits at the confluence of the Missouri and Mississippi rivers, with an economy built on healthcare and bioscience (including a major plant-science cluster), financial services, aerospace and defense led by Boeing, brewing, and higher education at Washington University.
| Local Metric | Saint Louis (2026 estimate) |
|---|---|
| Metro population | 300,000 |
| County / jurisdiction | the City of St. Louis |
| Cost of living index (US avg = 100) | 86 |
| MIT living wage, single adult | $19.00/hour |
| MIT living wage, one earner supporting a family of four | $38.50/hour |
| Applicable minimum wage | $12.30/hour |
| Average rent, 1-bedroom | $1,100/month |
| Average rent, 2-bedroom | $1,350/month |
| Median home price | $230,000 |
| Median household income | $52,000/year |
| Combined sales tax rate | 9.679% |
| Effective property tax rate | 1.2% of value/year |
Local figures are 2026 estimates compiled from the MIT Living Wage Calculator, the C2ER Cost of Living Index, U.S. Census and Zillow housing data, and city and county sources. Verify current figures before relying on them.
The minimum wage in Saint Louis is the Missouri statewide minimum of $12.30/hour. Saint Louis does not set a separate city minimum wage, so the Missouri statewide minimum of $12.30/hour applies; Missouri adjusts the rate for inflation each January. A full-time worker (40 hours/week, 52 weeks) earns about $25,584 per year gross before taxes at that rate.
Not for a single adult. The MIT Living Wage Calculator estimates a single adult in the City of St. Louis needs about $19.00/hour (roughly $39,520/year) to cover basic costs. That is $6.70/hour above the applicable minimum wage, and a one-earner family of four needs closer to $38.50/hour.
At $12.30/hour, full-time work (2,080 hours/year) produces about $25,584 gross. Part-time at 30 hours/week is roughly $19,188/year. Average 1-bedroom rent in Saint Louis is about $1,100/month, or $13,200/year.
Saint Louis does not set a separate city minimum wage, so the Missouri statewide minimum of $12.30/hour applies; Missouri adjusts the rate for inflation each January.
The federal minimum wage is $7.25/hour and has not changed since 2009. Missouri sets a state minimum wage above the federal floor and adjusts it for inflation, so the state rate of $12.30/hour applies in Saint Louis.