$10 an Hour in Missouri — After-Tax Take-Home (2026)

At $10/hour (2,080 hours/year), your gross annual income is $20,800. After federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare, and Missouri state income tax, your take-home pay is $8.90/hr. In Missouri's low cost-of-living environment, this is below what's needed for comfortable living in Missouri.

Gross Annual
$20,800
Net Annual
$18,513
Net Monthly
$1,543
Net Hourly
$8.90

Pay Period Breakdown

Period Gross Tax Net
Hourly $10.00 $1.10 $8.90
Daily (8 hrs) $80.00 $8.80 $71.20
Weekly (40 hrs) $400.00 $43.98 $356.02
Biweekly $800.00 $87.95 $712.05
Monthly $1,733.33 $190.57 $1,542.77
Annual $20,800 $2,287 $18,513

Full Tax Breakdown — Missouri, Single Filer

Item Rate / Notes Amount
Gross Annual Income $10/hr × 2,080 hrs $20,800
Federal Standard Deduction Single 2026 −$16,100
Federal Taxable Income $4,700
Federal Income Tax 2.3% −$470.00
Social Security (6.2%) up to $184,500 −$1,289.60
Medicare (1.45%) −$301.60
Missouri Standard Deduction Single 2026 −$16,100
Missouri State Income Tax 1.1% −$225.60
Total Tax 11.0% effective −$2,286.80
Net Take-Home $18,513

How Does Missouri Compare?

See how $10/hr take-home differs in other states at the same wage:

Equivalent Annual Salary Pages

$10/hr = $20,800/year gross. See the full state-by-state salary breakdown:

Adjacent Rates in Missouri

Same Rate, Other States

Cost of Living in Missouri

✗ Difficult — $10/hr falls short in Missouri
  • Avg 1BR rent in Kansas City: $950/mo — over the 30% rule (55% of gross monthly)
  • Minimum comfortable income in Missouri: $33,000/yr
  • Your net annual: $18,513 ($14,487 below comfortable threshold)
  • Purchasing power equivalent in Texas: ~$12.7/hr

Working at $10/hr in Missouri

Missouri's low cost of living — Kansas City 1BR averages $950/month — and flat 4.8% tax create manageable finances at this wage. Kansas City and St. Louis both offer affordable urban living relative to comparable metros.

At $10/hr, you work roughly 107 hours each month to cover a typical 1BR in Kansas City ($950/mo) -- that's above the 30% gross income guideline. This wage is 0.7x Missouri's minimum wage of $13.75/hr. Your combined effective tax rate at $10/hr in Missouri is 11.0% -- federal income tax accounts for 2.3%, FICA 7.6%, and Missouri state tax 1.1%.

Missouri has a diversified economy including finance (Edward Jones, Citi operations in St. Louis), healthcare (BJC HealthCare, SSM Health), agriculture, manufacturing, and a growing tech scene in Kansas City and St. Louis.

Missouri has a flat 4.8% income tax rate (reduced from a graduated system). The state mirrors the federal standard deduction.

Missouri's minimum wage is $13.75/hr (2026), indexed to inflation.

Monthly Budget on $10/hr in Missouri

Based on $1,543/month take-home. Percentages follow common 50/30/20 guidelines adjusted for Missouri's cost of living.

Category Monthly Annual % of Net
Rent / Housing $950 $11,400 61.6%
Food (groceries + dining) $185 $2,220 12.0%
Transportation $154 $1,848 10.0%
Utilities $93 $1,116 6.0%
Healthcare $77 $924 5.0%
Entertainment $77 $924 5.0%
Savings (10% target) $154 $1,848 10.0%
Remaining / Surplus $-147 $-1,764 -9.5%

⚠ This budget is underwater — rent alone exceeds the 30% guideline in Missouri at $10/hr. Consider roommates, lower-cost areas, or targeting a higher wage to reach balance.

Overtime Pay — $10/hr in Missouri

At time-and-a-half ($15.00/hr), here's what overtime adds to your annual net income in Missouri. Your marginal tax rate at this income level is ~16.3%.

Extra Hours/Week OT Gross/Week Net/Week (est.) Added Net/Year
5 hrs/week $75 $63 $3,150
10 hrs/week $150 $126 $6,300
20 hrs/week $300 $251 $12,550

Hours to Afford Common Purchases at $10/hr

How many hours of work (gross) to buy common items. Actual cost in after-tax hours is higher — divide by your $8.90 net hourly rate for the true cost in time.

Purchase Price Gross Hours Net Hours
Tank of gas (12 gal) $50 5 hrs 5.7 hrs
Week of groceries $120 12 hrs 13.5 hrs
iPhone 16 (base) $799 79.9 hrs 89.8 hrs
1 month rent (Kansas City) $950 95 hrs 106.8 hrs
Used car ($10k) $10,000 1000 hrs 1123.6 hrs
Median new car ($48k) $48,000 4800 hrs 5393 hrs

What Jobs Pay $10/hr in Missouri?

At $10/hour, you earn 47% below the estimated median hourly wage in Missouri. Jobs that commonly pay around this rate include:

cashier, food service worker, retail associate, childcare worker, fast food crew member, parking attendant

These figures reflect statewide averages for Missouri. The Kansas City metro area typically pays 8% more than rural parts of the state for the same role. Specialized certifications, union membership, or government employment at this wage tier often add meaningful benefits that raise total compensation above the base hourly figure.

At 10/hr in Missouri, your net income of $18,513 falls $14,487 short of the estimated $33,000 comfortable living threshold. Roommates, a side income, or a wage increase would significantly improve financial stability.

Geographic Wage Variation Within Missouri

The $10/hr figure reflects a statewide average. Wages for the same job title can differ significantly by location within Missouri. The Kansas City metro area generally commands a 8% premium over the state average, while rural areas typically pay 4% less.

LocationTypical Wagevs. AverageKey Tradeoff
Kansas City metro$10.8/hr+8%Higher pay, higher COL
Missouri average$10/hrBaselineThis page's figures
Rural Missouri$9.6/hr-4%Lower pay, lower COL

When choosing between metro and rural Missouri at this wage tier, compare net monthly surplus rather than gross hourly rates. Rural areas have lower rent, shorter commutes, and lower day-to-day costs -- the purchasing power difference is often smaller than the raw wage gap suggests.

Savings Goals at $10/hr in Missouri

Saving $154/month (10% of net), here is how long it takes to reach common financial milestones from a starting balance of zero:

GoalTargetAt $154/moNotes
Weekend getaway$3,00020 monthsFlights + hotel, domestic
3-month emergency fund$4,37729 monthsCore expenses only
6-month emergency fund$8,75457 monthsFull financial cushion
Used car (no loan)$8,00052 monthsReliable used vehicle
New car down payment$25,000163 months~50% down to minimize payments
Home down payment$4,95033 months10% on a starter home in Missouri

At 10/hr in Missouri, hitting these savings goals requires strict discipline. Track expenses for 30 days to identify spending leaks -- small cuts in food and entertainment often free up $100-$200/month without affecting quality of life.

Debt Payoff on $10/hr in Missouri

Allocating 15% of net monthly income ($231/month) toward debt repayment is sustainable while still allowing for savings and essentials.

DebtBalanceMonthly PaymentPayoff Time
Credit card$5,000$23122 months
Student loan$30,000$231130 months

These timelines exclude interest, which meaningfully extends payoff for high-APR credit cards. Prioritize high-interest debt first. Even an extra $50/month toward a credit card balance can cut months off your payoff timeline and save hundreds in interest.

401(k) and Retirement at $10/hr

Contributing 6% ($1,248/year) to a pre-tax 401(k) saves you $185 in taxes at your 14.8% marginal rate -- your actual out-of-pocket cost is only $1,063/year. If your employer matches up to 6%, that match is $1,248 in additional annual compensation -- never leave it uncaptured.

Saving $1,848/year and investing at a 7% average annual return builds significant wealth over time:

Time HorizonTotal ContributedValue at 7% ReturnGrowth Gain
5 years$9,240$9,794$554 interest
10 years$18,480$19,644$1,164 interest
20 years$36,960$39,621$2,661 interest

What Would a Raise Mean at $10/hr in Missouri?

A $1/hr raise adds $1,742 to your annual net take-home in Missouri after taxes. Your marginal rate on additional income is approximately 16.3%, so you keep 83.8% of every extra dollar earned.

RaiseNew RateAdded Net/YearAdded Net/Month
$1/hr raise$11/hr$1,742$145
5% raise$10.5/hr$871$73
10% raise$11/hr$1,742$145

Frequently Asked Questions

Is 10 an hour a good wage in Missouri?

10/hr in Missouri gives you $18,513/year after taxes -- below what's needed for comfortable living in Missouri. Avg 1BR rent in Kansas City: $950/month (exceeds the 30% rule). It places you 47% below the estimated state median wage.

What is 10 an hour after taxes in Missouri?

10/hr in Missouri = $18,513/year or $1,543/month net. Effective tax rate: 11.0%, made up of 2.3% federal, 7.6% FICA, and 1.1% Missouri state tax.

What jobs pay 10 an hour in Missouri?

Common roles at 10/hr in Missouri include cashier, food service worker, retail associate. Metro areas like Kansas City typically pay 8% more for the same role.

How does 10/hr go further -- Missouri or Texas?

10/hr in Missouri has similar purchasing power to ~12.7/hr in Texas. Missouri state income tax reduces take-home vs Texas.

How long to build an emergency fund at 10/hr in Missouri?

Saving $154/month (10% of net), you reach a 3-month emergency fund of $4,377 in 29 months. A 6-month fund takes 57 months.

What does a 401(k) cost at 10/hr in Missouri?

A 6% contribution ($1,248/year) saves $185 in taxes at your 14.8% marginal rate. Your net out-of-pocket cost is only $1,063/year -- and if your employer matches, it is essentially free money.

What does a $1/hr raise mean at 10/hr in Missouri?

A $1/hr raise adds $1,742/year to your net take-home in Missouri after the 16.3% marginal tax rate. You keep 83.8% of every additional dollar earned.

What is the effective tax rate at 10/hr in Missouri?

At 10/hr in Missouri, your total effective tax rate is 11.0%: federal income tax 2.3%, Social Security 6.2%, Medicare 1.5%, and Missouri state tax 1.1%. You keep 89.0% of every gross dollar.

Can you afford rent in Kansas City on 10/hr?

The average 1BR in Kansas City is $950/month. At 10/hr, rent consumes 55% of your gross monthly pay -- above the 30% affordability guideline. Your net hourly rate of $8.90 means you work 107 hours per month to cover rent.

What does 10/hr look like as an annual salary?

10/hr times 2,080 hours equals $20,800/year gross. After all taxes in Missouri, your net annual income is $18,513 -- an effective take-home rate of 89.0%.