Lawyer Salary

Raytown vs St. Louis: Lawyer Salary (2026)

Compare lawyer salaries between Raytown, MO and St. Louis, MO. All figures are 2026 estimates projected from BLS 2025 data.

Raytown, MO
$101,646
$48.86/hr
St. Louis, MO
$149,396
$71.82/hr

Side-by-Side Comparison

MetricRaytown, MOSt. Louis, MO
Median Salary$101,646$149,396
Hourly Rate$48.86$71.82
Entry Level (P10)$58,954$70,777
25th Percentile$73,185$99,779
75th Percentile$130,107$217,849
Top Earner (P90)$157,552$321,063
Total Employed46,100
Side-by-side bar chart comparing Raytown ($101,646) and St. Louis ($149,396) lawyer salaries.RaytownSt. LouisMedian Salary$101,646$149,396Entry Level (P10)$58,954$70,777Top Earner (P90)$157,552$321,063US Median $167,174

Verdict

St. Louis, MO offers better overall compensation for lawyers, winning 4 out of 4 metrics compared to Raytown.

The salary gap between Raytown and St. Louis is $47,750 (46.98%). St. Louis's median is -10.63% compared to the US national median of $167,174.

Salary Range Comparison

The full salary range (10th to 90th percentile) in Raytown spans $98,598,St. Louis spans $250,286. St. Louis has a wider pay range, suggesting more variation in pay between entry-level and experienced lawyers.

Raytown
P10 (Entry)$58,954
P25$73,185
Median$101,646
P75$130,107
P90 (Top)$157,552
St. Louis
P10 (Entry)$70,777
P25$99,779
Median$149,396
P75$217,849
P90 (Top)$321,063

Cost-of-Living Adjusted Comparison

After cost-of-living adjustment, St. Louis ($157,113 effective) pays 38.49% more than Raytown ($113,444 effective).

Raytown
Nominal: $101,646
CoL Index: 89.6
Adjusted: $113,444
St. Louis
Nominal: $149,396
CoL Index: 95.088
Adjusted: $157,113

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

Which City Is Right for You?

Choose Raytown if…

  • You prefer the Missouri area and lifestyle

Choose St. Louis if…

  • Higher median salary ($149,396/year)
  • Better top-earner potential ($321,063)
  • Larger job market (6,100 employed)
  • Better purchasing power (CoL-adjusted: $157,113)
  • You prefer the Missouri area and lifestyle

Historical Salary Growth Comparison

Based on BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, lawyer salaries in Raytown grew -12.3% from 2024 to 2025, compared to 45.5% growth in St. Louis over the same period.

Raytown, MO

+-12.3%

$110,700 (2024) → $97,083 (2025)

St. Louis, MO

+45.5%

$98,050 (2019) → $142,690 (2025)

View Full Salary Data

Frequently Asked Questions

Which city pays lawyers more: Raytown or St. Louis?

St. Louis has a higher median lawyer salary at $149,396/year, compared to Raytown at $101,646/year — a difference of $47,750 (46.98%).

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

Raytown lawyers earn $48.86/hr while St. Louis hygienists earn $71.82/hr (2026 est.).

Should I relocate from Raytown to St. Louis as a lawyer?

Consider more than just salary when comparing Raytown and St. Louis. Factor in cost of living (CoL-adjusted: Raytown = $113,444, St. Louis = $157,113), job availability (4 vs 6,100 employed), commute, and career growth potential.

What do entry-level lawyers earn in Raytown vs St. Louis?

Entry-level (10th percentile) lawyers earn $58,954 in Raytown and $70,777 in St. Louis. The St. Louis area offers higher starting salaries.

Related Comparisons

AC

Written by Alexandra Chen, JD

Career Analyst

Alexandra has 10 years of experience in corporate law. She specializes in mergers and acquisitions. Alexandra works at a mid-sized law firm in New York City.

Clinically reviewed by Daniel Martinez, JDData verified by Priya Patel, JD

Methodology & Data Source

All salary figures are 2026 projections based on BLS OEWS May 2025 data. A 4.70% 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 Alexandra Chen, JD, a licensed lawyer with 10+ years of clinical experience. · View source data at BLS.gov