St. Louis: Economy & Jobs
$56,160 is the median household income in St. Louis (about the same as St. Louis city median $56,160; 1.3× below Missouri median $72,119), with homes at a median value of $197,500. The surrounding county supports 221,464 jobs (avg $79,002).
- $63,224 avg taxable income per return — similar than the median household income.
Income & Affordability
Median household income $56,160 — below the Missouri median ($72,118). Poverty rate 20.6% (U.S. average ~12.5%). 38% of renters spend more than half their income on rent ("severely cost-burdened" by HUD definition; U.S. ~24%).
| Affordability · Home Price To Income | 3.5× |
|---|---|
| Affordability · Home Affordability | moderate |
| Affordability · Rent Pct Income | 20.9% |
| Affordability · Rent Affordability | affordable |
| Affordability · Pct Severely Rent Burdened | 38.1% |
| Affordability · Poverty Rate | 20.6% |
| Affordability · Property Tax Pct Income | 3.6% |
| Irs Income · IRS tax returns filed | $133,780 |
| Irs Income · Total Adjusted Gross Income (thousands) | $8,458,075 |
| Irs Income · Average AGI per return | $63,224 |
| Irs Income · Year | 2022 |
| Income Estimate | $62,991 |
| Median Household Income | $56,160 (vs Missouri $72,119) |
| Poverty Rate | 20.6% |
Sources: IRS SOI 2022 · Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Economic Character
Qualitative classification derived from Census occupation, industry, and income data — workforce composition (white-collar/blue-collar), top employing sector, and income tier.
| Economic Character · Workforce | white_collar |
|---|---|
| Economic Character · Top Industry | Education Healthcare |
| Economic Character · Income Level | middle-class |
| Economic Character · Median Income | $56,160 |
Employment & Workforce
Employment + workforce stats. The county-level employment count covers all jobs within the county, not just town residents. Unemployment rate 3.3% — below the U.S. average of ~4%. 17% work from home (U.S. average ~15%).
| Commuter Profile · Mean Commute Min | 22.10 |
|---|---|
| Commuter Profile · Work From Home Pct | 17.0% |
| Commuter Profile · Profile | short commute |
| Employment · Avg annual employment (county) | 221,464 |
| Employment · Total annual wages (county) | $17,496,031,203 |
| Employment · Average annual pay | $79,002 |
| Employment · Year | 2024 |
| State Occupation Wages · Year | 2023 |
| State Occupation Wages · All Occupations · Soc Code | 00-0000 |
| State Occupation Wages · All Occupations · Title | All Occupations |
| State Occupation Wages · All Occupations · Employment | 2,876,400 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.3% (vs Missouri 4.3%) |
Sources: BLS QCEW 2023 · BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES) · Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Industry Sectors
Major industries by establishment count from Census County Business Patterns (2022). Sectors are NAICS-coded; counts are county-wide employer establishments.
| Business Patterns · Establishments (employer count) | 9,176 |
|---|---|
| Business Patterns · Total Employees | 195,813 |
| Business Patterns · Annual Payroll Thousands | 13,120,310 |
| Business Patterns · Year | 2022 |
Sources: Census CBP API — county FIPS match
Local Business Mix
Retail and service businesses by category (Census CBP NAICS-coded). Counts cover the surrounding county, not just the town. Reflects the everyday commercial mix residents can access.
| Local Businesses · Grocery Stores | 84 |
|---|---|
| Local Businesses · Convenience Stores | 38 |
| Local Businesses · Liquor Stores | 22 |
| Local Businesses · Gas Stations | 88 |
| Local Businesses · General Merchandise | 36 |
| Local Businesses · Clothing Stores | 16 |
| Local Businesses · Pet Stores | 8 |
| Local Businesses · Bookstores | 7 |
Sources: Census CBP — NAICS detail codes
Dining Scene
Eating + drinking establishments by NAICS category (Census CBP 2022) — full-service restaurants, fast-food, bars, coffee shops. County-level counts.
| Dining Scene · Full Service Restaurants | 333 |
|---|---|
| Dining Scene · Fast Food | 316 |
| Dining Scene · Bars | 106 |
| Dining Scene · Coffee Snacks | 75 |
Sources: Census CBP NAICS 722
Banking
FDIC-insured bank branches with addresses. Branch density correlates with population — fewer branches per resident in lower-density areas.
Branches (30)
SNAP & Food Access
USDA-authorized SNAP retailers — supermarkets, super stores, convenience stores, and other locations where SNAP benefits can be redeemed. Per-1K density tracks food access.
Sample (2)
| Nearest Snap · Name | Dollar Tree 8776 |
|---|---|
| Nearest Snap · Total In Area | 2 |
Chamber of Commerce
IRS-registered chamber of commerce organizations matched to this town. Reflects the IRS Exempt Organizations BMF; some chambers operate informally and may not appear here.
| Chamber Of Commerce · Name | SAINT LOUIS LGBTQ CHAMBER OF COMMERCE |
|---|
Sources: IRS EO BMF · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Spending & Tax
Federal spending flowing to the surrounding county — direct payments, grants, contracts, loans (USAspending.gov).
| Federal Spending · Federal Spending Fy2024 | $18,706,711,392 |
|---|---|
| Federal Spending · Per Capita | 62,029.43 |
| Federal Spending · Population | 301,578 people |
Sources: USAspending API
Other
| Pct Drove Alone | 64.1% |
|---|---|
| Pct Public Transit | 3.8% |
| Pct Walked | 17.0% |
| Retirement Score · Median age | 36.8 years (vs Missouri 39.2y) |
| Retirement Score · Ss Household Pct | 25.8% |
| Retirement Score · Hospitals Nearby | 4 |
| Retirement Score · Va Access | Yes |
| Retirement Score · Factors | hospital access, VA nearby |
| Retirement Score · Rating | fair |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12