Missouri paycheck taxes at a glance (2026)
| State income tax | Rates from 2% to 4.7%, with no tax on the first $1,348 of taxable income and the top rate starting at $9,436 |
|---|---|
| Deductions & credits | The federal standard deduction of $16,100 (single) or $32,200 (married filing jointly); A deduction for part of the federal income tax you pay (up to 35%, capped at $5,000 for single filers and phasing out above $125,000 of income) |
| State payroll taxes | None paid by employees |
| Local income taxes | Kansas City and St. Louis each levy a 1% earnings tax on residents and on nonresidents who work in the city; voters in both cities renewed it in April 2026. |
| Federal (every state) | 2026 brackets from 10% to 37%; Social Security 6.2% up to $184,500; Medicare 1.45%, plus 0.9% on wages over $200,000 |
| Sales tax | 8.45% average combined rate — Missouri sales tax calculator |
How Missouri taxes your paycheck
Rates from 2% to 4.7%, with no tax on the first $1,348 of taxable income and the top rate starting at $9,436. The calculation starts from federal adjusted gross income with Missouri modifications, and filers get the federal standard deduction of $16,100 (single) or $32,200 (married filing jointly) and a deduction for part of the federal income tax you pay (up to 35%, capped at $5,000 for single filers and phasing out above $125,000 of income). Employers withhold it each payday using the state's withholding formula, so a pay stub can differ a little from the annual tax estimated here; any difference settles when you file your Missouri return.
Worked example: $65,000 salary in Missouri
A single filer paid every two weeks (26 paychecks), with no 401(k) or health deductions — the calculator's starting values:
| Line | Per paycheck | Per year |
|---|---|---|
| Gross pay | $2,500.00 | $65,000.00 |
| Federal income tax | −$216.15 | −$5,620.00 |
| Social Security (6.2%) | −$155.00 | −$4,030.00 |
| Medicare (1.45%) | −$36.25 | −$942.50 |
| Missouri income tax | −$79.92 | −$2,078.05 |
| Take-home pay | $2,012.67 | $52,329.45 |
Federal: $65,000 − $16,100 standard deduction = $48,900 taxable, which the 2026 single brackets tax at $5,620.00.
Missouri: $65,000 − $16,100 federal standard deduction − $843 federal income tax deduction = $48,057 taxable; the brackets give $2,078.05 (3.2% of pay).
All taxes together take 19.5% of gross pay, leaving $52,329.45.
Take-home pay at other salaries in Missouri
| Salary | Single, per year | Single, biweekly | MO income tax | Total tax rate | Married jointly, per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $40,000 | $33,408 | $1,284.93 | $912 | 16.5% | $35,977 |
| $50,000 | $40,987 | $1,576.43 | $1,368 | 18% | $43,760 |
| $65,000 | $52,329 | $2,012.67 | $2,078 | 19.5% | $55,251 |
| $80,000 | $62,349 | $2,398.04 | $2,761 | 22.1% | $66,611 |
| $100,000 | $75,510 | $2,904.24 | $3,670 | 24.5% | $81,758 |
| $150,000 | $107,678 | $4,141.47 | $6,113 | 28.2% | $117,829 |
Standard deduction only, with no pre-tax deductions or dependents and no local tax. The total tax rate (single) includes federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare, state income tax and state payroll contributions.
Missouri compared with nearby states
On a $65,000 salary (single, biweekly), Missouri ranks 23 of 51 for take-home pay, where 1 keeps the most. Tennessee, Iowa and Arkansas would leave you more each year; Illinois, Kansas, Oklahoma and Kentucky would leave less; Nebraska would leave about the same.
Local income taxes are left out, except Maryland's county tax, which every resident pays (3.20% used here).
| State | State & county income tax | State payroll taxes | Take-home per year | vs. Missouri |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Missouri | $2,078 | $0 | $52,329 | — |
| Iowa | $1,818 | $0 | $52,589 | +$260 |
| Illinois | $3,073 | $0 | $51,335 | −$995 |
| Kentucky | $2,157 | $0 | $52,250 | −$79 |
| Tennessee | $0 | $0 | $54,408 | +$2,078 |
| Arkansas | $1,917 | $0 | $52,490 | +$161 |
| Oklahoma | $2,380 | $0 | $52,028 | −$301 |
| Kansas | $2,827 | $0 | $51,580 | −$749 |
| Nebraska | $2,078 | $0 | $52,330 | +$0 |
Good to know about Missouri paychecks
- Missouri lets you deduct part of your federal income tax — up to 35% of it at lower incomes, phasing out above $125,000 — and no longer taxes capital gains.
Frequently asked questions
How much is $65,000 a year after taxes in Missouri?
About $52,329 a year, or $2,012.67 per biweekly paycheck, for a single filer with no pre-tax deductions in 2026. That is after $5,620 of federal income tax, $4,973 of Social Security and Medicare and $2,078 of Missouri income tax. A married couple filing jointly on the same salary keeps about $55,251.
Does Missouri have a state income tax?
Yes. Rates from 2% to 4.7%, with no tax on the first $1,348 of taxable income and the top rate starting at $9,436. On a $65,000 salary a single filer owes about $2,078 a year, 3.2% of pay.
What else is taken out of a paycheck in Missouri?
Nothing else statewide: Missouri has no employee-paid disability, paid-leave or unemployment payroll tax, so the other deductions are federal taxes and whatever you elect, such as retirement savings or health premiums.
Do cities or counties in Missouri tax wages?
Kansas City and St. Louis each levy a 1% earnings tax on residents and on nonresidents who work in the city; voters in both cities renewed it in April 2026.
Is take-home pay higher in Missouri or nearby states?
On a $65,000 single salary, Missouri ranks 23 of 51 for take-home pay at $52,329. Tennessee ($54,408), Iowa ($52,589) and Arkansas ($52,490) leave more, while Illinois ($51,335), Kansas ($51,580) and Oklahoma ($52,028) leave less.
Estimates only — not tax advice. Actual withholding depends on your federal Form W-4, any Missouri withholding certificate, pre-tax benefits and year-to-date wages. Missouri income tax figures: Tax Foundation, State Individual Income Tax Rates and Brackets, 2026 (as of Jan. 1, 2026). Payroll contributions: sources listed above. Checked October 2026.