St. Louis County, Missouri Income Statistics
St. Louis County Wealth Score
The wealth index reflects the overall economic prosperity and financial well-being of a county's residents based on income levels, employment rates, and income inequality metrics.
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B
St. Louis County Around averageAmong the top 3 wealthiest counties in Missouri
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | St. Louis County | Missouri Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $83,558 | $70,801 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $65,581 | $54,686 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 4.0% | 4.6% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 16.8% | 10.5% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 15.5% | 8.7% | 13.2% |
The median household income in St. Louis County is about 18% higher than in Missouri. Income has been growing slower in St. Louis County (4.0%/yr) than in Missouri (4.6%/yr).
About 17% of adults in St. Louis County earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, higher than the Missouri average of 11%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in St. Louis County, Missouri grew by 44.7% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $83,558 in 2024. That's an average of about 4.0% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in St. Louis County
| Metric | St. Louis County | Missouri Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.530 | 0.532 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $78,644 | $64,288 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $59,648 | $51,060 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 24.2% | 20.6% | 18.4% |
The Gini coefficient measures how evenly income is shared between richer and poorer households, from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns nearly everything). The lower the number, the more equally income is distributed. In St. Louis County, it is 0.530, about the same as Missouri's 0.532, so income here is about as evenly distributed as there, and lower than the US's 0.552, so income is more evenly distributed here than there.
Men's income is about 32% more than women's income in St. Louis County, Missouri. Over a 35-year career, a 32% wage gap accumulates to roughly $664,860 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in St. Louis County, Missouri has narrowed from about 29% to 24% in 2024. Over that period the gap was narrowest at 24% in 2023. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $2,547 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | St. Louis County | Missouri Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 4.3% | 4.0% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 18.3% | 13.0% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 21 | 20 | 22 |
Approximately 22,587 people are unemployed in St. Louis County, Missouri.
The average commute time in St. Louis County is 21 minutes, longer than the 20 minutes in Missouri.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in St. Louis County, Missouri has fallen from 7.8% to 4.3% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 8.6% in 2013 and fell as low as 4.2% in 2023.
St. Louis County, MO Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
St. Louis County, MO is the largest of the 5 counties compared here, 995,111 residents against a local median of 132,240. The measure that sets St. Louis County, MO apart most is unemployment: 4.3%, 42% above the local median of 3.1%. That is the weaker end of the local range on this measure.
The counties themselves spread 1.5% on unemployment, so St. Louis County, MO sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. St. Louis County, MO has the 5th lowest unemployment of the 5 areas compared here.
| Area | Population | Median household income | Income growthAverage yearly change in median household income since 2016. Each year is measured in its own dollars, so this is growth before inflation. | Unemployment | Income inequalityGini coefficient: 0 would mean every household earns the same, 1 that a single household earns everything. The lower the number, the more equally income is shared here. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| St. Louis County, MO | 995,111 | $83,558 #3/5 | 4.0%/yr #5/5 | 4.3% #5/5 | 0.530 #5/5 |
| St. Charles County, MO | 414,008 | $105,635 | 4.3%/yr | 2.9% | 0.501 |
| Jefferson County, MO | 229,447 | $82,868 | 4.5%/yr | 3.2% | 0.505 |
| Monroe County, IL | 35,033 | $103,327 | 4.4%/yr | 1.9% | 0.478 |
| Jersey County, IL | 21,266 | $78,198 | 5.0%/yr | 3.4% | 0.520 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, St. Louis County, Missouri has an overall wealth index grade of B, making it somewhat better than Missouri, and somewhat better than the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in St. Louis County, Missouri.
How Rich Is St. Louis County, Missouri?
St. Louis County has a wealth index grade of B. The wealth index grades areas from A+ (best) to F- by combining income levels, employment rates, and income inequality; a B grade means residents are quite well off compared to the U.S. average. The median household income is $83,558, about 18% higher than the Missouri average of $70,801.
How has median household income changed in St. Louis County, Missouri?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in St. Louis County, Missouri rose 45%, from $57,738 to $83,558. Over the same years, income here lagged behind Missouri as a whole: +45% against +54%.
What was the median household income in St. Louis County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in St. Louis County, Missouri was $81,813, up 4% from $78,492 in 2022. The Missouri median that year was $69,047.
What was the median household income in St. Louis County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in St. Louis County, Missouri was $69,341. By 2024 it had risen 21% to $83,558.
Is St. Louis County, Missouri a high-income area?
Yes. 17% of adults in St. Louis County, Missouri earn $100,000 or more a year (about 1 in 6), against 11% (about 1 in 9) in Missouri. 15% of households have a combined income of $200,000 or more, compared with 9% in Missouri.
What is the Gini coefficient in St. Louis County, Missouri?
The Gini coefficient in St. Louis County is 0.530. It measures income inequality on a scale from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns everything). That is lower than the US average of 0.552, so income is distributed more equally than in the country overall.
How has the income gap between men and women changed in St. Louis County, Missouri?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in St. Louis County, Missouri has narrowed from about 29% to 24% in 2024. Over that period the gap was narrowest at 24% in 2023. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $2,547 since 2009.
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