IMPORTANT DISCLAIMER
This guide provides general information about employment opportunities in the state or jurisdiction covered by this guide. While we strive for accuracy, hiring policies change frequently. Always verify current hiring practices directly with employers. Individual results vary based on offense type, time since conviction, and specific job requirements. This is not legal advice. Consult an attorney for guidance on your specific situation.
Felon Friendly Jobs in St. Louis, MO
2026 Employers, Free Reentry Help and Record Clearing
November 3, 2026
Looking for felon friendly jobs in St. Louis? The St. Louis metro had about 1.44 million nonfarm jobs in September 2026, based on preliminary federal data. Education and health services is the biggest sector at about 281,000 jobs, followed by trade, transportation and utilities, and professional and business services. Hiring decisions are made case by case, so always check the current job posting for the role and location you want. Last reviewed November 2026.
Employers hiring in the St. Louis area
Missouri's labor research office lists Washington University, Boeing, Barnes-Jewish Hospital, General Motors and Saint Louis University among the region's top private employers, and BJC HealthCare, SSM Health, Enterprise, Edward Jones and Centene are also big local names. The national employers below hire across the metro; start with our guides, then search each careers site for openings near you.
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Free job and reentry help in St. Louis
SLATE Missouri Job Center: The city's public American Job Center at 1520 Market St., with free job search help, career counseling, resume and interview workshops, training, apprenticeships and federal bonding. Call 314-589-8000.
Employment Connection: A St. Louis nonprofit offering the World of Work job-readiness program, job placement and career counseling for people returning from incarceration. Call 314-333-5627.
Concordance: A reentry nonprofit that combines support services with job skills training, digital literacy and job placement for people coming home from incarceration. Call 314-396-6002.
ArchCity Defenders: Nonprofit legal advocacy with an expungement program and a free step-by-step guide to expunging Missouri records. Ask about eligibility and cost when you call. Call 314-361-8834.
Legal Services of Eastern Missouri (LSEM): Free civil legal help for people who qualify in 13 eastern Missouri counties; its Volunteer Lawyers Program is listed by the state public defender as a source of expungement help. Call 314-534-4200.
Clearing your record in Missouri
Missouri calls record clearing expungement. Most people file a petition in circuit court in the county where they were charged (RSMo 610.140), and you can expunge up to 2 felonies and 3 misdemeanors or ordinance violations in your lifetime. Starting January 1, 2027, Missouri's new Clean Slate law will also seal certain drug possession and paraphernalia records automatically, with no petition.
For a petition, you must first pay your fines and finish probation or parole, then wait 3 years for a felony or 1 year for a misdemeanor, municipal offense or infraction. An arrest that didn't lead to a conviction can be filed after 18 months. Under Clean Slate, eligible drug misdemeanors are sealed 1 year after the case ends and felonies after 3 years, if there's no new offense.
Some offenses can never be expunged, including Class A felonies, offenses that require sex offender registration, felonies involving a death, felony assault, domestic assault and felony kidnapping, among others listed in the law. Marijuana records that should have been cleared under Amendment 3 may have been missed, so check with the circuit clerk where your case was heard.
For free or low-cost help in St. Louis, contact ArchCity Defenders (314-361-8834) or Legal Services of Eastern Missouri (314-534-4200). Free petition forms and instructions, including how to ask the court to waive the filing fee, are on the Missouri Courts website.
Your rights when applying in St. Louis
Missouri has no statewide ban-the-box law for private employers. Since 2016, a governor's executive order has kept criminal history questions off initial applications for state executive-branch jobs, except where a record would legally disqualify someone.
City of St. Louis Ordinance 71074 (since January 1, 2021) covers employers in the city with 10 or more employees. They can't ask about criminal history on the first application, or look up your record, until they find you otherwise qualified and interview you, and any decision must weigh how serious and recent the record is and whether it relates to the job. It doesn't cover St. Louis County.
To complain about a city employer, contact the St. Louis Civil Rights Enforcement Agency at 314-622-3301 or crea@stlouis-mo.gov (1114 Market St., Suite 626).
Federal Bonding Program: employers can get a free fidelity bond covering your first 6 months on the job. Ask at the SLATE Missouri Job Center or call Missouri's workforce line at 1-888-728-5627.
The federal Work Opportunity Tax Credit lapsed for people hired after December 31, 2025, and hadn't been renewed as of fall 2026, even though some older guides still describe it as available.
Next steps
Sources
This page is for general information and is not legal advice. Employer policies and laws change; confirm details with the employer or a legal aid organization before you rely on them.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a St. Louis employer ask about my record on the job application?
Not if the employer is located in the City of St. Louis and has 10 or more workers. They must wait until they find you otherwise qualified and have interviewed you.
Does the St. Louis ban-the-box rule cover St. Louis County?
No. Ordinance 71074 covers employers located in the City of St. Louis, not St. Louis County.
Can an employer still run a background check?
Yes, but under the city rule they have to wait until after the interview and must consider how serious and recent the record is and whether it relates to the job.
What do I do if I think an employer broke the rule?
Contact the St. Louis Civil Rights Enforcement Agency at 314-622-3301 or crea@stlouis-mo.gov. Keep copies of applications and emails and notes on dates and names.
How long do I have to wait to expunge a record in Missouri?
After you finish your sentence and pay fines, it's 3 years for a felony or 1 year for a misdemeanor. For an arrest with no conviction, you can file after 18 months.
What is Missouri's new Clean Slate law?
Starting January 1, 2027, Missouri will seal certain drug possession and paraphernalia records on its own, with no petition needed, as long as you have no new offense during the 1-year (misdemeanor) or 3-year (felony) waiting period.
If my record is expunged, do I have to tell employers about it?
In most cases, Missouri law lets you answer no when an employer asks about an expunged record. Some licenses and jobs are exceptions, so ask a lawyer about your case.
Where can I get free help clearing my record in St. Louis?
Contact ArchCity Defenders at 314-361-8834 or Legal Services of Eastern Missouri at 314-534-4200, and ask each about eligibility and cost.
Where can I get free job help in St. Louis?
The SLATE Missouri Job Center at 1520 Market St. offers free job search help, training and workshops. Call 314-589-8000.
What is federal bonding and how can it help me?
It's free insurance an employer can get when they hire you, covering your first 6 months. It can ease an employer's worries, but it doesn't guarantee a job offer.