How Missouri Taxes Your Paycheck
Missouri uses a progressive income tax with 8 brackets. Rates start at 0% on the lowest earnings and rise to 4.7% on income above $9,191 for single filers.
Missouri's top bracket starts at just under $9K — almost everyone with a full-time job pays the top rate.
Missouri Local Taxes
Kansas City and St. Louis each levy a 1% earnings tax on residents and on non-residents working in the city.
Missouri Job Market Context
Agriculture, manufacturing (Ford, GM plants), and major corporate HQs (Hallmark, H&R Block, Cerner).
Top Cities in Missouri
The largest population centers in Missouri — and where local tax rates may stack on top of state withholding:
- Kansas City — 510,000 residents
- St. Louis — 286,000 residents
- Springfield — 169,000 residents
- Columbia — 130,000 residents
How Missouri Compares to Neighboring States
Single-filer take-home on a $75,000 annual salary in 2026, federal + state income tax + FICA only:
| State | Take-Home | vs. Missouri |
|---|---|---|
| Missouri (here) | $58,948 | — |
| Iowa | $58,743 | -$206 |
| Illinois | $58,021 | -$927 |
| Kentucky | $59,082 | +$134 |
| Tennessee | $61,593 | +$2,644 |
| Arkansas | $58,847 | -$101 |
Take-home reflects single filer, no pre-tax deductions; SDI/PFML and local taxes excluded for an apples-to-apples comparison.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the Missouri state income tax rate?
Missouri has progressive income tax brackets ranging from 0% to 4.7%. Most middle-income earners hit the middle brackets; the top rate applies only above $9,191.
How much is taken out of my paycheck in Missouri?
For a single filer earning $75,000 in Missouri (2026), expect roughly $7,670 in federal income tax, $5,738 in FICA, and $2,644 in Missouri state tax — leaving about $58,948 take-home (21.4% effective tax rate). SDI/PFML and local taxes (if any) come out of that as well.
Do Missouri cities tax wages on top of state tax?
Kansas City and St. Louis each levy a 1% earnings tax on residents and on non-residents working in the city.
Is the Missouri median household income enough to live comfortably?
The 2023 ACS reported a Missouri median household income of about $71,600. Whether that's "comfortable" depends heavily on city — Kansas City cost of living can differ substantially from rural areas. Use the calculator above to model your specific salary and deductions.
How does this Missouri paycheck calculator work?
We calculate your annualized gross pay based on the pay frequency you select, then apply the 2025 or 2026 IRS percentage method for federal income tax, the Missouri state tax schedule (if any), Social Security, and Medicare. Pre-tax deductions like 401(k) and Section 125 health premiums reduce your taxable base before withholding is computed. You can switch between salary and hourly modes; hourly mode applies time-and-a-half to hours over 40/week prorated by pay period.