Nurse Practitioner Pay

Springfield vs St. Louis: Nurse Practitioner Salary (2026)

Compare nurse practitioner salaries between Springfield, MO and St. Louis, MO. All figures are 2026 estimates projected from BLS 2025 data.

Springfield, MO
$129,964
$62.48/hr
St. Louis, MO
$136,120
$65.44/hr

Side-by-Side Comparison

MetricSpringfield, MOSt. Louis, MO
Median Salary$129,964$136,120
Hourly Rate$62.48$65.44
Entry Level (P10)$98,578$112,078
25th Percentile$112,336$131,857
75th Percentile$135,364$159,830
Top Earner (P90)$158,237$169,948
Total Employed6603,430
Side-by-side bar chart comparing Springfield ($129,964) and St. Louis ($136,120) nurse practitioner salaries.SpringfieldSt. LouisMedian Salary$129,964$136,120Entry Level (P10)$98,578$112,078Top Earner (P90)$158,237$169,948US Median $136,864

Verdict

St. Louis, MO offers better overall compensation for nurse practitioners, winning 4 out of 4 metrics compared to Springfield.

The salary gap between Springfield and St. Louis is $6,156 (4.74%). St. Louis's median is -0.54% compared to the US national median of $136,864.

Salary Range Comparison

The full salary range (10th to 90th percentile) in Springfield spans $59,659,St. Louis spans $57,870. Springfield has a wider pay range, meaning more potential for high earners but also more variation.

Springfield
P10 (Entry)$98,578
P25$112,336
Median$129,964
P75$135,364
P90 (Top)$158,237
St. Louis
P10 (Entry)$112,078
P25$131,857
Median$136,120
P75$159,830
P90 (Top)$169,948

Cost-of-Living Adjusted Comparison

After cost-of-living adjustment, Springfield ($146,711 effective) pays 2.49% more than St. Louis ($143,152 effective).

Springfield
Nominal: $129,964
CoL Index: 88.585
Adjusted: $146,711
St. Louis
Nominal: $136,120
CoL Index: 95.088
Adjusted: $143,152

Cost-of-living adjustment: salary × (100 / CoL index). Index of 100 = national average.

Which City Is Right for You?

Choose Springfield if…

  • Better purchasing power (CoL-adjusted: $146,711)
  • You prefer the Missouri area and lifestyle

Choose St. Louis if…

  • Higher median salary ($136,120/year)
  • Better top-earner potential ($169,948)
  • Larger job market (3,430 employed)
  • You prefer the Missouri area and lifestyle

Historical Salary Growth Comparison

Based on BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, nurse practitioner salaries in Springfield grew 37.1% from 2019 to 2025, compared to 31.1% growth in St. Louis over the same period.

Springfield, MO

+37.1%

$91,660 (2019) → $125,630 (2025)

St. Louis, MO

+31.1%

$100,340 (2019) → $131,580 (2025)

View Full Salary Data

Frequently Asked Questions

Which city pays nurse practitioners more: Springfield or St. Louis?

St. Louis has a higher median nurse practitioner salary at $136,120/year, compared to Springfield at $129,964/year — a difference of $6,156 (4.74%).

What is the hourly rate difference between Springfield and St. Louis?

Springfield nurse practitioners earn $62.48/hr while St. Louis hygienists earn $65.44/hr (2026 est.).

Should I relocate from Springfield to St. Louis as a nurse practitioner?

Consider more than just salary when comparing Springfield and St. Louis. Factor in cost of living (CoL-adjusted: Springfield = $146,711, St. Louis = $143,152), job availability (660 vs 3,430 employed), commute, and career growth potential.

What do entry-level nurse practitioners earn in Springfield vs St. Louis?

Entry-level (10th percentile) nurse practitioners earn $98,578 in Springfield and $112,078 in St. Louis. The St. Louis area offers higher starting salaries.

Related Comparisons

MG

Written by Maria Gonzalez, MSN, NP-C

Career Analyst

Maria has 10 years of experience in adult healthcare. She works in a community health clinic. Her specialty is chronic disease management.

Clinically reviewed by James Patel, DNP, APRNData verified by Aisha Khan, MSN, FNP-BC

Methodology & Data Source

All salary figures are 2026 projections based on BLS OEWS May 2025 data. A 3.45% CAGR (derived from 6-year national BLS trends) was applied to estimate current compensation. Cost-of-living adjustments use BEA Regional Price Parity data. Actual salaries vary by employer, certifications, and experience.

Data Sources & Methodology

Source: BLS, OEWS , released .

Compiled and verified by Maria Gonzalez, MSN, NP-C, a licensed nurse practitioner with 10+ years of clinical experience. · View source data at BLS.gov