Missouri has eight brackets that are all used up by $9,436 of taxable income. Above that it is a flat 4.7% state — but it pairs that with a standard deduction as large as the federal one, which is where the real relief sits.
| Gross pay | — |
| Federal income tax | — |
| Social Security6.2% up to $184,500 | — |
| Medicare1.45%, no cap | — |
| State income tax | — |
| 401(k) contribution | — |
| Health and HSA | — |
Useful if you are comparing a job that pays monthly against one that pays every two weeks, or working out what a raise is worth per paycheck.
| Pay schedule | Gross | Take-home |
|---|
Missouri's schedule steps 0%, 2%, 2.5%, 3%, 3.5%, 4%, 4.5% and 4.7% — and the last of those arrives at $9,436 of taxable income. Every band is roughly $1,348 wide.
In practice this means Missouri behaves as a flat 4.7% state for anyone with a normal job, with the graduated bands functioning as a small fixed discount rather than genuine progressivity. The total benefit of passing through all seven lower bands is worth a little over $200 regardless of what you earn.
Missouri conforms to the federal standard deduction — $16,100 for a single filer and $32,200 for a couple in 2026. Among states with rates in Missouri's range, that is unusually generous, and it removes far more income from tax than the compressed brackets do.
At $55,000 a single filer is taxed on $38,900, giving an effective state rate around 3.2% rather than the 4.7% top rate. The deduction, not the bracket structure, is what makes Missouri competitive.
Both cities levy a 1% earnings tax, and it applies to residents on all earnings and to non-residents on work performed within the city. If you live in the suburbs and commute into either downtown, you owe it on the days you worked there.
The tax must be periodically reauthorised by city voters, which it consistently has been. Non-residents who worked remotely for part of the year can apply for a refund of the portion attributable to days worked outside the city — a process worth knowing about, since employers typically withhold on the full amount by default.
This calculator shows state tax only. Add 1% if either city applies to you.
Missouri has moved to exempt capital gains income from its individual income tax, which places it in a category of one among states that tax wages. If a meaningful part of your income comes from realised investment gains rather than salary, that is a substantial difference from any neighbouring state.
Social Security is exempt, and Missouri provides deductions for public and private pension income subject to income limits.
Close to it. The top 4.7% rate begins at $9,436 of taxable income, so nearly all of a normal salary is taxed at that rate. The lower bands are worth a fixed saving of just over $200.
If you live in either city, yes, on all earnings. If you work there but live elsewhere, yes, on work performed within the city — and you can claim a refund for days genuinely worked outside it.
Missouri has acted to exempt capital gains income from individual income tax, which is unique among states that tax wages. Confirm the current treatment for your situation before relying on it.
It matches the federal figure — $16,100 single, $32,200 joint for 2026 — which is generous relative to the state's rates.