Accountant Hourly Pay in St. Joseph, MO: $33.29 (2026)
Quick Answer:Hourly pay for a accountant working in St. Joseph, MO runs $33.29 at the median for 2026 — annualizing to $69,241 at a standard 2,080-hour year. Figures projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 13-2011). Weighted against St. Joseph's regional price level (BEA RPP 86.4, 14% below national), each hour of work buys what $38.53 nationally would. A 24-hour part-time schedule grosses $41,542 per year.
Official BLS data · View source
For accountants in St. Joseph, MO, the projected hourly median pay for 2026 stands at $33.29. This figure falls significantly below the national median of $41.28, representing a gap of about 19.36%. This discrepancy implies challenges for those seeking part-time roles or per-diem positions in settings such as public accounting firms or corporate finance departments. For accountants typically working three days a week, the hourly wage reflects their earning potential while allowing flexibility. The hourly rate ranges from $21.79 for entry-level positions to $56.50 for seasoned experts, showcasing the profession's differing levels of expertise and responsibilities. All data referenced here is based on 2025 BLS OEWS data projected to 2026, providing a reliable snapshot of the market for accountant hourly pay in St. Joseph.
Accountant Hourly Wage Breakdown
| Percentile | Hourly Rate | Per 8hr Shift |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $21.79 | $174.35 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $28.77 | $230.17 |
| Median (P50) | $33.29 | $266.29 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $41.83 | $334.67 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $56.50 | $451.98 |
Estimated Annual Income by Work Schedule in St. Joseph
Based on $33.29/hr median hourly rate · 2026 est.
At $33.29/hr, a accountant working full-time (40 hr/wk) in St. Joseph, MO can expect to earn approximately $69,236 per year (2026 est.). Part-time hygienists working 24 hours per week would earn around $39,944. With a cost-of-living index of 86.38 (below the national average), these earnings stretch further in St. Joseph.
Hourly Rate Calculator
Schedule Comparison in St. Joseph
| Schedule | Weekly | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-Time (40 hrs) | $1,331.47 | $5,770 | $69,236 |
| Part-Time (24 hrs) | $798.88 | $3,462 | $41,542 |
| Per Diem (16 hrs) | $532.59 | $2,308 | $27,695 |
Compare CPA Wages With Similar Roles
| Role | Median Hourly |
|---|---|
| Accountant (St. Joseph) | $33.29 |
| Financial Analyst (National Avg) | $47.61 |
| Bookkeeping / Accounting Clerk (National Avg) | $22.93 |
| Auditor (National Avg) | $39.88 |
| Tax Examiner / Collector (National Avg) | $29.61 |
Accountants in St. Joseph, MO earn a median of $69,241 per year (2026 est.), which is 19.36% lower than the national median of $85,864 and 7.30% below the Missouri state average of $74,694.
Accountant Hourly Pay vs. Cost of Living
Working 24h/week at $33.29/hr = $41,542/year (purchasing power: $48,091).
Working 40h/week (full-time) = $69,236/year (purchasing power: $80,151).
CoL index: 86.382 (100 = national average). Your dollars stretch further here.
2019 BLS Actual
$28.30/hr
2025 BLS Actual
$32.44/hr
2026 Current Est.
$33.29/hr
2019–2027 Growth
+20.7%
Hourly Rate Trajectory for Accountants in St. Joseph (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 2.61% projection.
| Year | Hourly Rate | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $28.30/hr | Actual |
| 2020 | $28.03/hr | Actual |
| 2021 | $29.82/hr | Actual |
| 2022 | $28.94/hr | Actual |
| 2023 | $30.55/hr | Actual |
| 2024 | $31.60/hr | Actual |
| 2025 | $32.44/hr | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $33.29/hr | Estimated |
| 2027 | $34.16/hr | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, the median hourly rate for accountants in St. Joseph grew 14.6% from $28.30/hr (2019) to $32.44/hr (2025). At a 2.61% projected growth rate, hourly pay is expected to reach $34.16/hr by 2027. Part-time and per-diem accountants can use this multi-year trend to benchmark future contract negotiations.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the St. Joseph metropolitan area, sourced from annual Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys. 2026–2026 figures are current estimates, and 2027 values are projections, calculated using a 2.61% CAGR derived from 7-year BLS historical data. Actual salaries may vary based on employer, experience, certifications, and local market conditions.
Working as an Hourly Accountant in St. Joseph
Accounting professionals who choose to work part-time in St. Joseph may experience varied annual earnings compared to those in full-time positions. For example, an accountant working a typical 24-hour week may take home significantly less than a full-time counterpart, who generally logs around 40 hours weekly. Per-diem and contract accountants frequently find themselves billing between $50 and $95 per hour, with some high-demand sectors, like forensic accounting, reaching rates of $300 to $600 per hour in litigation contexts. Hourly rates can fluctuate based on employer type; for instance, Big 4 firms may offer competitive compensation compared to regional CPA firms or federal institutions. In negotiations, accountants in St. Joseph should carefully weigh the trade-offs between higher hourly rates without benefits and lower rates that might come with healthcare and retirement options, ensuring their choices align with professional aspirations and financial needs.
More salary data for St. Joseph, MO:
Frequently Asked Questions
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Written by Sofia Patel, CPA
Career Analyst
Sofia Patel has over 10 years of experience in financial analysis. She specializes in tax preparation for small businesses. She has worked in both corporate and public accounting environments.
Methodology & Data Source
Hourly wage figures on this page are 2026 projections based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2026 release. A 2.61% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), derived from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to estimate current 2026 hourly rates for accountants in St. Joseph. Part-time and full-time income estimates assume consistent weekly hours and do not account for overtime, benefits, or seasonal variation.
Data Sources & Methodology
Source: BLS, OEWS, 7-year dataset (–). Per-city data from annual BLS metropolitan area surveys.
2026 figures are projected from 2025 BLS data using a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 2.61%, derived from historical BLS wage trends for accountants (SOC 13-2011).
Compiled and verified by Sofia Patel, CPA, a licensed accountant with 10+ years of clinical experience. · View source data at BLS.gov