Missouri minimum wage: $13.75/hr (2026)
📊 Missouri Income Tax Overview 2026
Missouri uses a Progressive: up to 4.8% income tax system. See the wage table below for common take-home pay amounts.
| Taxable Income (Single) | CA Tax Rate | Tax on Bracket |
|---|---|---|
| $0 – $10,412 | 1.0% | up to $104 |
| $10,413 – $24,684 | 2.0% | up to $285 |
| $24,685 – $38,959 | 4.0% | up to $571 |
| $38,960 – $54,081 | 6.0% | up to $907 |
| $54,082 – $68,350 | 8.0% | up to $1,141 |
| $68,351 – $349,137 | 9.3% | up to $26,139 |
| $349,138 – $418,961 | 10.3% | up to $7,192 |
| $418,962 – $698,274 | 11.3% | up to $31,560 |
| $698,275+ | 13.3% | highest bracket |
Source: Missouri DOR · 2026. Progressive up to 4.8%.
💵 Common Hourly Wages — Missouri After-Tax
Here's what various hourly wages look like after Missouri taxes (single filer, 2026):
| Hourly Rate | Annual Gross | CA State Tax | Take-Home/yr | Take-Home/mo |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $17/hr | $35,360 | ~$618 | ~$29,000 | ~$2,417 |
| $20/hr | $41,600 | ~$935 | ~$33,600 | ~$2,800 |
| $22/hr | $45,760 | ~$1,155 | ~$36,500 | ~$3,042 |
| $25/hr | $52,000 | ~$1,614 | ~$41,100 | ~$3,425 |
| $30/hr | $62,400 | ~$2,450 | ~$48,800 | ~$4,067 |
| $35/hr | $72,800 | ~$3,350 | ~$56,200 | ~$4,683 |
| $40/hr | $83,200 | ~$4,260 | ~$63,400 | ~$5,283 |
| $50/hr | $104,000 | ~$6,450 | ~$77,800 | ~$6,483 |
🏙️ Missouri Major Cities — Wages & Cost of Living 2026
Here's a cost of living overview for major Missouri cities:
📖 California Tax Guide for Workers 2026
California State Income Tax
California uses a progressive income tax system with 9 brackets (1%–13.3%). Unlike federal taxes, California has a relatively low standard deduction of $5,202 for single filers in 2026, meaning more of your income is subject to state tax compared to federal tax.
State Disability Insurance (SDI)
California workers pay SDI at 0.9% of gross wages with no wage ceiling since January 2024. SDI provides short-term disability benefits and Paid Family Leave (PFL) — you may be eligible to receive up to 60–70% of your wages if you need to take time off for a qualifying disability or family reason.
California vs. No-Tax States
Compared to Texas or Florida (0% state tax), a California worker earning $52,000/year pays approximately $2,100–$2,500 more in state taxes annually. However, California offers benefits including disability insurance, paid family leave, strong worker protections, and higher minimum wages.
California Overtime Law
California has stricter overtime rules than federal law: overtime (1.5× rate) applies after 8 hours in a single day (not just 40 hours/week). Double time (2× rate) applies after 12 hours in a day or after 8 hours on the 7th consecutive day worked. This can significantly increase take-home for hourly workers who work long days.
California COLA & Living Wage
California has the highest cost of living of any U.S. state. The MIT Living Wage Calculator estimates a single adult in Los Angeles needs ~$30–35/hr to meet basic needs without government assistance. In San Francisco, the equivalent is closer to $38–42/hr. A $17/hr minimum wage, while the highest state minimum in the U.S., still falls short of a true living wage in California's major cities.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
The Missouri minimum wage is $13.75/hour in 2026, continuing annual increases mandated by Proposition B (2018). Missouri is phasing to $15/hr. Kansas City and St. Louis have local ordinances that may set higher rates for city contractors.
Missouri has a progressive income tax up to 4.8% (reduced from 5.3% in recent years). The top rate applies to income above approximately $8,000 above the standard deduction. Missouri is gradually reducing its top rate toward 4.5%.
$25/hr (~$3,425/month after MO taxes) is excellent pay in most Missouri cities. Kansas City and St. Louis 1-bedrooms average $900–$1,500. Springfield and Columbia are even more affordable at $700–$1,100. Missouri offers very high quality of life at $25/hr. Most financial advisors recommend budgeting 30% of take-home for housing (~$988/month) — which is very difficult in coastal CA metros at $25/hr.
No — Missouri has no mandatory state disability insurance or paid family leave. Workers should look into employer-provided short-term disability insurance or private policies for disability coverage.
At $52,000/year, Missouri workers (up to 4.8% effective) take home ~$41,100 while Kansas workers (up to 5.7%) take home ~$40,100. Missouri workers keep about $1,000 more per year. Both states have very affordable costs of living — Kansas City straddles both states. These rules apply to most non-exempt employees regardless of industry.