SOC 51-9198 · Cape Girardeau, MO-IL metro

Helpers--Production Workers Salary in Cape Girardeau, MO

The average salary for helpers--production workers in Cape Girardeau, Missouri is $38,610 a year ($18.56 an hour), according to BLS estimates for May 2025. The median is $35,270: half of the 50 people in this job in the Cape Girardeau, MO-IL metro area earn more than that, half earn less. That average is 6% less than the U.S. average for this job ($41,120).

$38,610average per year

$18.56 / hourMedian $35,270Take-home ≈ $32,326

  • $29K10th
  • $30K25th
  • $35KMedian
  • $45K75th
  • $50K90th

median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it

50people in this job
-6%vs U.S. average
#7 of 8Missouri metros
86cost of living (U.S. = 100)
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Helpers--Production Workers pay range in Cape Girardeau

New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $29,310 a year or less, while the top 10% make $49,720 or more. The middle half of helpers--production workers in Cape Girardeau earn between $30,470 and $44,700.

  • $29K10th
  • $30K25th
  • $35KMedian
  • $45K75th
  • $50K90th

median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it

Pay levelPer yearPer monthPer hour*
Average$38,610$3,218$18.56
Median$35,270$2,939$16.96
Entry level (25th percentile)$30,470$2,539$14.65
Experienced (75th percentile)$44,700$3,725$21.49

*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.

Helpers--Production Workers pay in Cape Girardeau vs. Missouri and the U.S.

Helpers--production workers in Cape Girardeau earn 10% less than the Missouri average ($42,900) and 6% less than the U.S. average ($41,120). At the median the gap is -10% against the U.S. median of $39,070.

AreaAverageMedian10th pct.90th pct.Jobs
Cape Girardeau$38,610$35,270$29,310$49,72050
Missouri$42,900$40,580$34,330$56,1606,250
United States$41,120$39,070$31,140$53,410165,700

State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.

Helpers--Production Workers salary after taxes in Cape Girardeau

On the average salary of $38,610, a single filer in Cape Girardeau takes home about $32,326 a year, or $2,694 a month and $1,243 every two weeks. Taxes take 16% of gross pay.

The Cape Girardeau, MO-IL metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:

StatePer yearPer month
Working in MO$32,326$2,694
Working in IL$31,433$2,619

Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). The 1% earnings tax applies to people who live or work in Kansas City or St. Louis itself, not in the suburbs.

Missouri paycheck calculator: try your own salary

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Is Cape Girardeau a good place for helpers--production workers? Pay vs. cost of living

Prices in the Cape Girardeau area are 14% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 86.1), so the average $38,610 buys what about $44,855 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.8 times the median wage of all jobs in Cape Girardeau ($44,470). A typical home costs $232,332, or 6.0 years of this average salary before tax.

See what $38,610 is worth in another city

Helpers--Production Workers salary in other Missouri cities

Cape Girardeau ranks 7th of 8 Missouri metro areas for this job; Joplin pays the most ($46,000).

All Helpers--Production Workers salaries in Missouri

Highest-paying cities for helpers--production workers

Napa, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($54,850).

Helpers--Production Workers salary by city

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Helpers--Production Workers salary in Cape Girardeau: questions

How much do helpers--production workers make an hour in Cape Girardeau?

$18.56 an hour on average, and $16.96 at the median (BLS, May 2025).

What is the entry-level helpers--production workers salary in Cape Girardeau?

The lowest-paid 10% earn about $29,310 a year and the 25th percentile is $30,470, a fair guide to starting pay.

What is the helpers--production workers take-home pay in Cape Girardeau?

About $32,326 a year ($2,694 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $38,610. The 1% earnings tax applies to people who live or work in Kansas City or St. Louis itself, not in the suburbs.

Do helpers--production workers earn more in Cape Girardeau than elsewhere?

The average here is 6% less than the U.S. average for this job ($41,120).

Sources and how to read this page

  • Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 51-9198; area Cape Girardeau, MO-IL (16020). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.0%.
  • U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
  • Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
  • Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
  • Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). The 1% earnings tax applies to people who live or work in Kansas City or St. Louis itself, not in the suburbs.
  • Job concentration: location quotient 1.03, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.

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