MO · OJT

How Missouri OJT Reimbursement Actually Works for Employers

Missouri OJT runs through the state's Missouri Job Centers under WIOA. The state's employer page says you get reimbursed for up to 50% of a new hire's wages, for up to 1,040 hours. Federal rules let a local board go up to 75% when it documents why, and St. Louis does. Sign the training agreement before the worker starts, and refer the candidate to the Job Center before you hire.

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State pre-filled: MO
Program type pre-filled: OJT

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HOW IT WORKS

Four steps, in this order.

1
Call your local Missouri Job Center
2
Identify the candidate and sign the training agreement
3
Train the new hire on the job
4
Report progress and claim reimbursement

2 VERIFIED PROGRAMS

Where the Missouri money comes from.

Run by Missouri Office of Workforce Development (Dept. of Higher Education and Workforce Development) and local Missouri Job Centers. Every figure is from an official page, linked on each card.

WIOA On-the-Job Training through your Missouri Job Center

Up to 50% of wages, up to 1,040 hours

THROUGH YOUR LOCAL BOARD

WHAT YOU GET

Reimbursement of part of a new hire's wages during training. You do not have to document your training costs.

HOW MUCH

State page: up to 50% of wages, up to 1,040 hours. Federal rule: up to 75% where the board documents the reasons. St. Louis (SLATE) sets 75% for some employers; North Missouri allows more than 50% only by written waiver.

WHO RECEIVES THE MONEY

The employer. You pay the trainee as normal and the board reimburses part of the wages.

WHO QUALIFIES

The worker must be WIOA eligible and referred through the Job Center
The job must be a full-time job of at least 32 hours a week (St. Louis policy)
Wages and benefits must match similar employees
Boards may refuse employers with a history of not keeping OJT trainees

Before you start: Yes. A training agreement must be signed first, and the hire must go through the Job Center before the start date.

On-the-job training inside a Missouri One Start training agreement

Up to an average 50% of wages for 6 months

ONGOING, SUBJECT TO APPROPRIATION

WHAT YOU GET

Wages or salaries of participating employees can be a training project cost.

HOW MUCH

Payments may not exceed an average of 50% of the wages paid to each participant, for up to six months.

WHO RECEIVES THE MONEY

Paid through the community college district's training project fund under your agreement, not directly by a Job Center. Only qualified companies in a One Start project can use it.

WHO QUALIFIES

Must be a qualified company in a Missouri One Start training project
Excluded: gambling, store-front retail, food and drinking places, public utilities, and other listed industries

Before you start: Yes. The agreement among the company, the college district and the state must exist first.

LOCAL BOARDS

Same program, different rules by board.

St. Louis Agency on Training and Employment (SLATE)

75% of straight-time wage for employers with 2 to 50 employees, for hires with WIOA barriers, or for credential-bearing jobs. Training jobs must be 32+ hours a week and need at least 160 training hours.

SOURCE: STLOUIS-MO.GOV

Workforce Development Board of North Missouri

Up to 50% of wages and 1,040 hours maximum. Going above 50% needs a written waiver to the Executive Director. Priority goes to employers in the board's priority sectors.

SOURCE: WDBNORTHMO.ORG

Full Employment Council (Kansas City region)

Lists on-the-job training and wage assistance as free business services. No rate is published; call the business services team.

SOURCE: FECKC.ORG

AVOID THESE

What gets Missouri OJT claims denied.

Hiring the person before the Job Center determines eligibility. In St. Louis, people hired first cannot join OJT.
SOURCE: STLOUIS-MO.GOV
No signed contract before the worker is referred to the job.
SOURCE: STLOUIS-MO.GOV
Putting a current employee on OJT. St. Louis bars anyone already employed or hired before the contract.
SOURCE: STLOUIS-MO.GOV
Jobs with a short training period. St. Louis does not fund jobs needing under 160 training hours.
SOURCE: STLOUIS-MO.GOV
A pattern of not keeping past OJT trainees as regular employees.
SOURCE: ECFR.GOV

STRAIGHT ANSWERS

Missouri OJT questions.

How much will Missouri reimburse for an OJT hire?

The state's employer page says up to 50% of wages for up to 1,040 hours. Federal rules allow up to 75% when the local board documents the reasons, such as small employer size or barriers the worker faces.

SOURCE: JOBS.MO.GOV

Do I have to prove my training costs?

No. The payment counts as compensation for the extra cost of training and lower productivity. You still keep wage and hours records.

SOURCE: ECFR.GOV

Who do I call first?

Your local Missouri Job Center. The state flyer's first step is to contact the Job Center to confirm eligibility.

SOURCE: JOBS.MO.GOV

Is there a separate state OJT grant?

Not a separate one. Missouri One Start can fund OJT wages up to an average of 50% for six months, but only inside an approved One Start training project.

SOURCE: REVISOR.MO.GOV

How we checked. Every fact on this page comes from a state agency, a local workforce board or federal regulation, read on September 30, 2026. Where a board publishes nothing, we say so instead of guessing. Programs and funding change often; confirm with the program before you commit. Written by Jason Meehl, founder of Reimbursa. Found an error? Email hello@reimbursa.com.

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