Quick answer
St. Louis, MO evaluated for tech professionals: tech job market depth, salary-to-cost-of-living ratio, co-working and networking scene, and quality of life for tech careers.
MO · 2026
Is St. Louis Good for Tech Workers?
1BR rent
$1,100/mo
2BR rent
$1,380/mo
Walk Score
52/100
State tax
Up to 4.95%
Why St. Louis Works for Tech Workers
- ✓Tech presence growing — check LinkedIn for specific company density
- ✓Up to 4.95% state tax — still far below California (9.3%) or New York (8.75%)
- ✓1BR rent $1,100/mo vs. SF $2,800+/mo or NYC $2,600+/mo — significant take-home advantage
- ✓Home price $215K vs. SF Bay Area $1.2M+ — homeownership is actually achievable
Trade-offs to Consider
- ✗Tech job market is thin — remote work is usually the strategy here, not local hiring
- ✗Salaries may be 10-20% lower than major tech hubs — but cost savings typically more than compensate
- ✗Walk Score 52 — lower than typical tech-hub cities; car dependency is real
- ✗Co-working and tech community events less dense than SF/NYC/Austin — requires more effort to network
Frequently Asked Questions
Is St. Louis a good city for software engineers?
St. Louis has a limited local tech market — remote work is the dominant strategy. The financial case is strong: $150K salary in St. Louis vs. San Francisco — after Up to 4.95% state tax vs. 9.3% and rent of $1,100 vs. $2,800+/mo, take-home is $30,000-50,000/year more in St. Louis.
What is the tech salary range in St. Louis?
Tech salaries in St. Louis vary by company type: local companies pay $90-140K for senior engineers; remote-first companies with HQs in SF/NYC pay $150-250K regardless of location. The remote premium is real — negotiate your offer based on your skills, not location. Check levels.fyi for local vs. remote compensation data for St. Louis.
How does St. Louis compare to Austin for tech workers?
Both are major tech growth markets with no state income tax, though St. Louis has Up to 4.95% state tax vs. Texas's zero. Austin has denser tech networking and more major office relocations (Tesla, Oracle, Apple). St. Louis may offer lower rent and cheaper homeownership. The right choice depends on your specific employer — check who has offices in each market.