Paralegal Salary

St. Louis vs Wentzville: Paralegal Salary (2026)

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

St. Louis, MO
$64,145
$30.84/hr
Wentzville, MO
$48,658
$23.39/hr

Side-by-Side Comparison

MetricSt. Louis, MOWentzville, MO
Median Salary$64,145$48,658
Hourly Rate$30.84$23.39
Entry Level (P10)$47,563$36,511
25th Percentile$49,467$38,703
75th Percentile$79,268$61,023
Top Earner (P90)$101,264$75,419
Total Employed4,03010
Side-by-side bar chart comparing St. Louis ($64,145) and Wentzville ($48,658) paralegal salaries.St. LouisWentzvilleMedian Salary$64,145$48,658Entry Level (P10)$47,563$36,511Top Earner (P90)$101,264$75,419US Median $65,097

Verdict

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

The salary gap between St. Louis and Wentzville is $15,487 (31.83%). St. Louis's median is -1.46% compared to the US national median of $65,097.

Salary Range Comparison

The full salary range (10th to 90th percentile) in St. Louis spans $53,701,Wentzville spans $38,908. St. Louis has a wider pay range, meaning more potential for high earners but also more variation.

St. Louis
P10 (Entry)$47,563
P25$49,467
Median$64,145
P75$79,268
P90 (Top)$101,264
Wentzville
P10 (Entry)$36,511
P25$38,703
Median$48,658
P75$61,023
P90 (Top)$75,419

Cost-of-Living Adjusted Comparison

After cost-of-living adjustment, St. Louis ($67,459 effective) pays 24.22% more than Wentzville ($54,306 effective).

St. Louis
Nominal: $64,145
CoL Index: 95.088
Adjusted: $67,459
Wentzville
Nominal: $48,658
CoL Index: 89.6
Adjusted: $54,306

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

Which City Is Right for You?

Choose St. Louis if…

  • Higher median salary ($64,145/year)
  • Better top-earner potential ($101,264)
  • Larger job market (4,030 employed)
  • Better purchasing power (CoL-adjusted: $67,459)
  • You prefer the Missouri area and lifestyle

Choose Wentzville if…

  • You prefer the Missouri area and lifestyle

Historical Salary Growth Comparison

Based on BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, paralegal salaries in St. Louis grew 20.1% from 2019 to 2025, compared to 1.9% growth in Wentzville over the same period.

St. Louis, MO

+20.1%

$51,600 (2019) → $61,970 (2025)

Wentzville, MO

+1.9%

$46,135 (2024) → $47,008 (2025)

View Full Salary Data

Frequently Asked Questions

Which city pays paralegals more: St. Louis or Wentzville?

St. Louis has a higher median paralegal salary at $64,145/year, compared to Wentzville at $48,658/year — a difference of $15,487 (31.83%).

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

St. Louis paralegals earn $30.84/hr while Wentzville hygienists earn $23.39/hr (2026 est.).

Should I relocate from St. Louis to Wentzville as a paralegal?

Consider more than just salary when comparing St. Louis and Wentzville. Factor in cost of living (CoL-adjusted: St. Louis = $67,459, Wentzville = $54,306), job availability (4,030 vs 10 employed), commute, and career growth potential.

What do entry-level paralegals earn in St. Louis vs Wentzville?

Entry-level (10th percentile) paralegals earn $47,563 in St. Louis and $36,511 in Wentzville. The St. Louis area offers higher starting salaries.

Related Comparisons

JT

Written by Jessica Tran, JD

Career Analyst

Jessica Tran has 10 years of experience in paralegal studies. She specializes in corporate law and works with a law firm. She trains new paralegals in legal research and documentation.

Clinically reviewed by Michael Garcia, CLAData verified by Ayesha Khan, CP

Methodology & Data Source

All salary figures are 2026 projections based on BLS OEWS May 2025 data. A 3.51% 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 Jessica Tran, JD, a licensed paralegal with 10+ years of clinical experience. · View source data at BLS.gov