St. Louis (city), Missouri: Power, Data Centers and the Local Economy
The data center boom is not abstract in St. Louis (city): it is on the ground here. The SAVRN Data Center Map lists 14 data centers in St. Louis (city), 15% of Missouri's total. St. Louis (city) is an independent city: it is its own county-equivalent and is not part of any county. Unemployment was 4.6% in August 2026, against 3.5% in 2019. Electrical contractors employ 1,158, up 7.3% since 2019 against up 21.5% statewide, at an average $107,011 a year. Employers here counted 220,645 jobs in 2025, down 4.0% from 2019.
Cities and towns in St. Louis (city)
St. Louis (city) is an independent city: it is its own county-equivalent and is not part of any county.
Residents are 2025 Census estimates for the part of each city, town or township inside this county. Census publishes no annual estimate for unincorporated communities.
What changed in St. Louis (city)
1st = the most. Ranks cover counties with a value on record.
| Measure | Then | Now | Change | Rank in Missouri |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2020 → 2025) | 300,302 | 278,144 | ▼ 7.4% | 5th of 115 by size |
| Total jobs (2019 → 2025) | 229,800 | 220,645 | ▼ 4.0% | 95th of 115 by growth |
| Average annual pay (2019 → 2025) | $62,781 | $82,757 | ▲ 31.8% | — |
| Electrical contractor jobs (2019 → 2025) | 1,079 | 1,158 | ▲ 7.3% | — |
| Data processing and hosting jobs (2019 → 2025) | 235 | 251 | ▲ 6.8% | — |
| Unemployment rate (2019 → August 2026) | 3.5% | 4.6% | ▲ 1.1pts | — |
278,144 people live here, down 7.4% since 2020, 5th of 115 Missouri counties by population.
Who powers St. Louis (city)
No operating power plant is located in St. Louis (city) in the EIA-860M inventory. Its power comes over the grid from plants elsewhere.
The St. Louis (city) labor market
| Industry (2025) | Jobs | Average pay | Concentration vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| All industries | 220,645 | $82,757 | 1.00 |
| Construction | 7,418 | $98,135 | 0.63 |
| Electrical contractors | 1,158 | $107,011 | 0.73 |
| Data processing and hosting | 251 | $91,214 | 0.37 |
Concentration is the BLS location quotient: 1.0 means the industry holds the same share of local jobs as it does nationally. Industry rows count private employers; cells BLS suppresses are left out.
Data centers and local rules in St. Louis (city)
14 data centers in St. Louis (city) are on the SAVRN Data Center Map: see them by city and operator.
St. Louis (city) and its neighbors
Of the 3 counties that border St. Louis (city), St. Louis County carries the most build-out activity: data centers, planned generation and operating plants combined.
| County | Population | Jobs since 2019 | Operating MW | Planned MW | Data centers | Local measures |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| St. Louis (city) | 278,144 | ▼ 4.0% | — | — | 14 | — |
| Madison County IL | 263,110 | ▲ 5.9% | 701 MW | 8 MW | — | — |
| St. Clair County IL | 250,708 | ▼ 3.2% | 1,821 MW | 155 MW | — | — |
| St. Louis County | 990,911 | ▼ 3.4% | 34 MW | 648 MW | 7 | — |
More of Missouri
St. Louis (city), answered from the record
Are there data centers in St. Louis (city)?
Yes. The SAVRN Data Center Map lists 14 data centers in St. Louis (city).
What county is St. Louis, MO in?
St. Louis is in St. Louis (city), Missouri. About 278,144 people live there (2025 Census estimate).
Is St. Louis (city) adding jobs?
Employers counted 220,645 jobs in 2025 against 229,800 in 2019 (-4.0%, BLS QCEW).
Does St. Louis (city) have a data center moratorium?
No county-level measure is on record for St. Louis (city). Missouri has 21 local measures statewide, listed on the state page.