Finance calculators

Missouri Paycheck Calculator

Updated Sep 1, 2026 By Jehan Wadia
Rate Formulas
Bi-Weekly Gross
$0.00
Bi-Weekly Take-Home
$0.00
Effective Tax Rate
0.00%
Pay Details
Pay Type
Gross Pay Method
$20,000$75,000$500,000
Rates in effect: 2026
Federal W-4 Withholding
Which W-4 format do you use?
Missouri State Tax
Local Income Tax
Dependents & Year-to-Date
Applied as a $1,200 Missouri dependent exemption each. Federal dependent credits come from W-4 Step 3.
Total Pre-Tax Deductions (per period)$0.00
Total Post-Tax Deductions (per period)$0.00
Tax Exemptions Only mark yourself exempt if you have a legal basis to claim exemption (e.g., you had no tax liability last year and expect none this year). Most people are not exempt.
Are you exempt from any taxes?
Paycheck Breakdown — Bi-Weekly
Item % of Gross Per Period Annual
Annual Summary
Where Does Your Paycheck Go?
Step-by-Step Solution
2026 Federal Income Tax Brackets
Taxable Income RangeRateTax on Bracket
2026 Missouri State Income Tax Brackets
Missouri Taxable IncomeRateTax on Bracket
How Missouri Compares to Other States
StateEst. Annual State TaxEst. Annual Take-Homevs. Missouri
State comparison applies a simplified flat effective state income tax rate to each state while holding federal tax, FICA, and all deductions constant. Local city taxes are excluded. Figures are estimates for comparison only.

Introduction

The Missouri Paycheck Calculator shows how much money you really take home from each paycheck. Enter your pay, your W-4 info, and your deductions, and it calculates your paycheck.

Your gross pay is the full amount you earn. Your net pay, or take-home pay, is what lands in your bank account after taxes and deductions. This tool shows the gap between the two, line by line.

It figures out:

  • Federal income tax based on your Form W-4 (new 2020+ or old pre-2020)
  • Social Security and Medicare (FICA), including the wage base cap
  • Missouri state income tax using state brackets, up to a 4.7% top rate
  • Local earnings tax of 1% for Kansas City and St. Louis
  • Pre-tax and post-tax deductions like health insurance, 401(k), and Roth 401(k)

You can use it for salary or hourly pay, add overtime, add a bonus, and pick any pay schedule from weekly to yearly. The results update as you type.

You also get a full breakdown table, a chart of where your money goes, a step-by-step solution, tax bracket tables, and a chart comparing Missouri take-home pay to all other states. Use it to plan a budget, check a job offer, or make sure your paycheck looks right.

How to use our Missouri Paycheck Calculator

Enter your pay, how often you get paid, your W-4 and Missouri tax details, and any deductions. The calculator shows your take-home pay per paycheck and per year, plus a full breakdown of federal tax, FICA, Missouri state tax, and local city tax.

Pay Type: Pick "Salary" if you earn a set yearly amount. Pick "Hourly" if you get paid by the hour.

Gross Pay Method: Choose "Annual Salary" to enter your full year pay, or "Per-Period Amount" to enter what one paycheck is worth before taxes.

Annual Salary / Per-Period Amount: Type your gross pay before taxes. You can also drag the slider to change it fast.

Hourly Wage: Type how much you earn for one hour of work.

Regular Hours per Pay Period: Type the hours you work in one pay period, not one week. For example, 80 hours for a two-week period.

Overtime Hourly Wage: Open "Add Overtime" and type your overtime rate. Leave it blank to use 1.5 times your normal wage.

Overtime Hours per Pay Period: Type how many overtime hours you worked in this pay period.

Pay Frequency: Choose how often you get a check, such as weekly, bi-weekly, semi-monthly, or monthly.

Check Date: Enter the date on your paycheck. This tells the tool which year's tax rates to use.

W-4 Format: Choose "New Form W-4 (2020+)" if you filled out your W-4 in 2020 or later. Choose "Old Form W-4" if yours is older and uses allowances.

Step 1(c) Federal Filing Status: Pick single, married filing jointly, or head of household from your W-4. Your status also sets your tax bracket.

Step 2 Multiple Jobs or Spouse Works: Check this box if you work more than one job or your spouse also works.

Step 3 Claim Dependents: Type the dollar amount from Step 3 of your W-4. This lowers your federal tax.

Step 4a Other Income: Type yearly income that is not from a job, like interest or dividends.

Step 4b Deductions: Type the yearly deductions you expect if you do not take the standard deduction.

Step 4c Extra Withholding: Type any extra dollars you want taken out of each federal paycheck.

Federal Allowances (old W-4): Type the number of allowances from line 5 of your old W-4. Each one is worth $4,300.

Additional Federal Withholding (old W-4): Type any extra federal amount you asked to have taken out each period.

Missouri Filing Status: Pick your state filing status. It can be different from your federal one.

Missouri Elected Withholding Rate: Leave this on "None" to use the normal Missouri formula. Pick "0%" only if you claim exemption on your MO W-4.

State Allowances: Only for old (pre-2019) Missouri W-4 forms. Each allowance cuts $2,100 from your state taxable pay.

Additional State Allowances: Also for old MO W-4 forms. Each one cuts $1,200 from your state taxable pay.

Additional State Withholding: Type any extra dollars you want held back for Missouri tax each paycheck.

City: Type your city. Kansas City and St. Louis add a 1% earnings tax. Leave it blank if you do not live or work in those cities.

Local Allowances: Type any local allowances you claim. Each one lowers the pay that the 1% city tax hits.

Additional Local Withholding: Type any extra dollars held back for city tax each period.

Number of Dependents: Type how many dependents you have. Each one adds a $1,200 Missouri exemption.

YTD Gross Earnings: Type the gross pay you already earned this year before this check. This helps the tool track the Social Security wage cap.

Pre-Tax Deductions: Open this box and turn on items like medical, dental, vision, 401(k), FSA, or HSA. Choose a flat dollar amount or a percent of gross pay for each one.

Post-Tax Deductions: Add items taken out after taxes, like a Roth 401(k) or garnishment. Name each one and pick a dollar amount, a percent of gross, or a percent of net.

Bonus Amount: Type any bonus or extra pay in this check.

Federal Supplemental Withholding Method: Pick "Flat Rate (22%)" for a separate bonus check, or "Aggregate Method" if the bonus is paid with your normal wages.

Tax Exemptions: Choose "Yes" only if you are legally exempt, then switch on the taxes you do not pay, such as federal, Missouri, local, Social Security, or Medicare.

Calculate and Reset: Results update as you type, but you can press "Calculate" to refresh now. Press "Reset All Fields" to start over.

Missouri Paycheck Basics

Your paycheck has two numbers that matter. Gross pay is what you earn before anything is taken out. Net pay (take-home pay) is what actually lands in your bank account. The gap between them is taxes and deductions.

What Comes Out of a Missouri Paycheck

  • Federal income tax: based on your Form W-4, your filing status, and how much you earn.
  • Social Security: 6.2% of your wages, up to a yearly wage cap ($184,500 in 2026). After you hit the cap, this tax stops for the rest of the year.
  • Medicare: 1.45% of all wages. If you earn more than $200,000 in a year, an extra 0.9% is added on the amount above that line.
  • Missouri state income tax: Missouri uses brackets that top out at 4.7%. The first slice of taxable income is taxed at 0%.
  • Local earnings tax: Kansas City and St. Louis each charge 1% on wages earned in the city. No other Missouri city charges one.

Missouri State Income Tax

Missouri does not use one flat rate. It stacks small brackets, so only the money inside each bracket is taxed at that bracket's rate. Missouri also matches the federal standard deduction, which lowers your taxable income before the brackets even apply. Your MO W-4 sets how much your job holds back each payday.

Pre-Tax vs. Post-Tax Deductions

Pre-tax deductions come out before taxes are figured. Things like health insurance, an HSA, an FSA, and a traditional 401(k) shrink your taxable pay, so you owe less tax. Health plan premiums also lower the wages used for Social Security and Medicare. A 401(k) does not. It only cuts income tax.

Post-tax deductions come out after taxes are already taken. Roth 401(k) money, union dues, and wage garnishments are common examples. They lower your take-home pay but not your tax bill.

Why Pay Frequency Matters

Your yearly pay stays the same, but each check changes size based on how often you are paid. Weekly means 52 checks, bi-weekly means 26, semi-monthly means 24, and monthly means 12. Bi-weekly and semi-monthly are not the same thing. Bi-weekly gives you two extra checks a year, and each one is a bit smaller.

Bonuses and Overtime

Overtime is normally 1.5 times your regular hourly wage and is taxed just like regular pay. Bonuses count as supplemental wages. Many employers withhold a flat 22% for federal tax on a bonus paid by itself. That flat rate is only withholding. Your real tax is settled when you file your return, so you may get some back.

Things That Change Your Take-Home Pay

Claiming dependents on Step 3 of your W-4 lowers federal withholding. Marking Step 2 (a second job or a working spouse) raises it. Adding extra withholding on Step 4c takes more out now so you owe less in April. Moving in or out of Kansas City or St. Louis adds or removes the 1% city tax. Raising your 401(k) percent cuts your take-home pay today but builds savings and lowers your taxable income.

Formulas used

Gross Pay per Period
G_{\text{period}} = \left(\text{wage} \times \text{hours} + \text{OT wage} \times \text{OT hours}\right) + \text{Bonus} \quad\text{or}\quad \frac{\text{Annual Salary}}{n} + \text{Bonus}
Taxable Gross after Pre-Tax Deductions
T_{\text{gross}} = \max\left(0,\; G_{\text{reg}} - D_{\text{pre}}\right), \qquad A_{\text{pre}} = \max\left(0,\; G_{\text{reg}} \times n - D_{\text{pre}} \times n\right)
Federal Taxable Income (2020+ W-4)
I_{\text{fed}} = \max\left(0,\; A_{\text{pre}} + \text{Step4a} - \text{Step4b} - S_d\right), \qquad S_d = \begin{cases} \frac{\text{Std}}{2} & \text{Step 2 checked}\\ \text{Std} & \text{otherwise}\end{cases}
Federal Withholding per Period
W_{\text{fed}} = \frac{\max\left(0,\; B(I_{\text{fed}}) - \text{Step3}\right)}{n} + \text{Step4c}, \qquad B(I) = \sum_i r_i \cdot \left(\min(I, L_i) - L_{i-1}\right)^{+}
FICA: Social Security and Medicare per Period
\text{SS} = 0.062 \times \min\left(F, \; \max(0, \text{Base} - \text{YTD})\right), \quad \text{Med} = 0.0145 \times F + 0.009 \times \max\left(0, (\text{YTD}+F) - 200{,}000\right)
Missouri State Withholding per Period
W_{\text{MO}} = \frac{B_{\text{MO}}\!\left(\max\left(0, A_{\text{pre}} - \text{Std}_{\text{MO}} - 2100a - 1200a_x - 1200d\right)\right)}{n} + E_{\text{MO}}
Local (KC / St. Louis) Earnings Tax per Period
W_{\text{local}} = 0.01 \times \max\left(0,\; G_{\text{reg}} - \frac{1200 \cdot a_L}{n}\right) + E_L + 0.01 \times \text{Bonus}
Net (Take-Home) Pay per Period
N = G_{\text{period}} - D_{\text{pre}} - \left(W_{\text{fed}} + \text{SS} + \text{Med} + W_{\text{MO}} + W_{\text{local}}\right) - D_{\text{post}}, \qquad \text{Eff. Rate} = \frac{\text{Taxes}}{G_{\text{period}}} \times 100\%

Frequently asked questions

Does Missouri have a flat income tax rate?

No. Missouri uses a set of small brackets. The first slice of taxable income is taxed at 0%, then rates step up to a top rate of 4.7%. Only the money inside each bracket gets that bracket's rate, so your average rate is always lower than 4.7%.

Do I pay the Kansas City or St. Louis earnings tax if I only work there?

Yes. Both cities charge the 1% earnings tax on wages earned inside city limits, even if you live somewhere else. You also owe it if you live in the city and work outside it. Enter the city name in the calculator to include it.

What if I live in a Missouri city that is not Kansas City or St. Louis?

You owe no local income tax. Kansas City and St. Louis are the only two Missouri cities with an earnings tax. Leave the city field blank or type your city, and the calculator will show no local tax.

How much of my paycheck goes to taxes in Missouri?

It depends on your pay, filing status, and deductions. Most Missouri workers lose roughly 20% to 30% of gross pay to federal tax, Social Security, Medicare, and state tax combined. The calculator shows your exact effective tax rate at the top of the page.

Why did my Social Security tax stop showing up?

Social Security tax stops once your wages for the year pass the wage base. For 2026 that limit is $184,500. Enter your YTD gross earnings so the calculator knows how close you are. Medicare has no cap and keeps coming out all year.

What is the difference between the flat 22% and aggregate bonus method?

Flat Rate (22%) is used when a bonus is paid on its own check. The employer holds back a straight 22% for federal tax.

Aggregate Method is used when the bonus is added to your normal paycheck. The tax is figured as if that bigger check were your usual pay, which often means more is held back.

Both are just withholding. Your final tax is settled when you file.

Will raising my 401(k) percent lower my taxes?

Yes, for income tax. A traditional 401(k) comes out before federal and Missouri income tax, so it lowers your taxable pay. It does not lower Social Security or Medicare tax. Your take-home pay still drops, just by less than the amount you save.

Do health insurance premiums lower my FICA taxes?

Yes, usually. Medical, dental, vision, FSA, and HSA money taken out through a Section 125 plan lowers the wages used for Social Security and Medicare. That is why the calculator treats them differently from a 401(k), which only lowers income tax.

How do I change results for a mid-year raise or new job?

Enter your new pay rate and put your YTD gross earnings from the old rate in the year-to-date field. The calculator will use the new rate for this check while tracking the Social Security cap against everything you already earned.

Why is bi-weekly pay different from semi-monthly pay?

Bi-weekly means every two weeks, which is 26 checks a year. Semi-monthly means twice a month, which is 24 checks a year. Same yearly pay, but bi-weekly checks are smaller and you get two extra of them. Two months a year you will see three bi-weekly checks.

What counts as a dependent for the Missouri exemption?

Anyone you claim as a dependent on your tax return. Each one cuts $1,200 from your Missouri taxable income. Enter the count in the Dependents field. This is separate from federal dependent credits, which you enter as a dollar amount in W-4 Step 3.

Should I fill in the State Allowances fields?

Only if you still have a pre-2019 Missouri W-4 on file. Missouri dropped allowances from its current form. If you filled out your MO W-4 in 2019 or later, leave both allowance fields at 0.

Am I exempt from Missouri income tax withholding?

Probably not. Exemption applies only if you had no Missouri tax liability last year and expect none this year. Some military and out-of-state workers also qualify. Do not switch on the exempt options unless your MO W-4 says you are exempt, or you may owe a large bill later.

Why does my take-home pay drop when I add overtime?

It does not drop. Overtime always adds money. What changes is the percentage held back, because a bigger check pushes more income into higher withholding tiers. Your net pay still goes up, just not by the full overtime amount.

What is the difference between the 2025 and 2026 rates?

Federal standard deductions and bracket cutoffs rise each year with inflation, and the Social Security wage base went from $176,100 in 2025 to $184,500 in 2026. Missouri bracket rates stayed the same. Set your check date to control which year the tool uses.

Can I add a wage garnishment or union dues?

Yes. Open Post-Tax Deductions, click Add Post-Tax Deduction, name it, and enter a dollar amount, a percent of gross, or a percent of net. These come out after taxes, so they lower take-home pay without lowering your tax.

How can I increase my Missouri take-home pay?

  • Review your W-4 if you get a large refund every year.
  • Claim dependents on Step 3 if you qualify.
  • Drop deductions you do not use, like extra life insurance.
  • Move health costs to a pre-tax plan if your employer offers one.
  • Check if the city earnings tax really applies to your work location.

Test each change in the calculator before you file a new W-4.

Related Finance calculators

All Finance calculators
Finance

Alabama Paycheck Calculator

Estimate Alabama take-home pay from salary or hourly wages. Covers federal W-4, state A-4 exemptions, city occupational tax, pre- and post-tax deductions.

Open Finance

Bonus Calculator

Estimate take-home bonus pay using the flat 22%, aggregate, or marginal method. Enter pre-tax, 401(k), and post-tax deductions for a 50-state breakdown.

Open Finance

Colorado Paycheck Calculator

Estimate Colorado take-home pay for salary or hourly wages. Includes 4.40% flat state tax, FAMLI 0.44%, Denver OPT, pre-tax and post-tax deductions.

Open Finance

Free Payroll Calculator

Calculate net pay from salary or hourly rates with 2026 federal and state tax tables. Gross-up, flat and aggregate bonus, tip income, W-4 compare.

Open Finance

MN Paycheck Calculator

Calculate Minnesota take-home pay from hourly or salary wages with overtime. Set W-4, allowances, 401(k) and pre-tax deductions. 2025 and 2026 rates.

Open Finance

New York Paycheck Calculator

Estimate New York take-home pay by hour, week, or year. Adds NYC or Yonkers local tax, FICA, SDI, PFL, plus pre-tax and post-tax deduction lines.

Open Finance

Salary Paycheck Calculator

Calculate take-home pay per paycheck from gross salary, W-4 filing status, and state tax. Add pre-tax and post-tax deductions, tips and overtime breaks.

Open Finance

Wisconsin Paycheck Calculator

Estimate Wisconsin take-home pay from hourly wages, overtime, or salary. Covers 2025 and 2026 tax tables, W-4 steps, WI brackets, pre and post-tax deductions.

Open