2026 Tax Year · Single Filer · Missouri

$15 an Hour in Missouri — After-Tax Take-Home (2026)

At $15/hour (2,080 hours/year), your gross annual income is $31,200. After federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare, and Missouri state income tax, your take-home pay is $12.75/hr. In Missouri's low cost-of-living environment, this is below what's needed for comfortable living in Missouri.

Gross Annual

$31,200

Net Annual
$26,524

Net Monthly

$2,210

Net Hourly

$12.75

Pay Period Breakdown

Hourly $15.00 $2.25 $12.75

Daily (8 hrs) $120.00 $17.98 $102.02

Weekly (40 hrs) $600.00 $89.92 $510.08

Biweekly $1,200.00 $179.83 $1,020.17

Monthly $2,600.00 $389.63 $2,210.37

Annual $31,200 $4,676 $26,524

Full Tax Breakdown — Missouri, Single Filer

Gross Annual Income $15/hr × 2,080 hrs $31,200

Federal Standard Deduction Single 2026 −$16,100

Federal Taxable Income $15,100

Federal Income Tax 5.0% −$1,564.00

Social Security (6.2%) up to $184,500 −$1,934.40

Medicare (1.45%) −$452.40

Missouri Standard Deduction Single 2026 −$16,100

Missouri State Income Tax 2.3% −$724.80

Total Tax 15.0% effective −$4,675.60

Net Take-Home $26,524

How Does Missouri Compare?

See how $15/hr take-home differs in other states at the same wage:

California $422.38 $2,236/mo $26,827 Florida None $2,271/mo $27,249 New York $958.25 $2,191/mo $26,291 Texas None $2,271/mo $27,249 Washington None $2,271/mo $27,249

Open Full Calculator for Missouri — $15/hr →

Equivalent Annual Salary Pages

$15/hr = $31,200/year gross. See the full state-by-state salary breakdown:

Adjacent Rates in Missouri

Same Rate, Other States

Cost of Living in Missouri

✗ Difficult — $15/hr falls short in Missouri

Avg 1BR rent in Kansas City: $950/mo — over the 30% rule (37% of gross monthly)
Minimum comfortable income in Missouri: $33,000/yr
Your net annual: $26,524 ($6,476 below comfortable threshold)
Purchasing power equivalent in Texas: ~$19.1/hr

Working at $15/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 $15/hr, you work roughly 75 hours each month to cover a typical 1BR in Kansas City ($950/mo) -- that's above the 30% gross income guideline. This wage is 1.1x Missouri's minimum wage of $13.75/hr. Your combined effective tax rate at $15/hr in Missouri is 15.0% -- federal income tax accounts for 5.0%, FICA 7.7%, and Missouri state tax 2.3%.

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 $15/hr in Missouri

Based on $2,210/month take-home. Percentages follow common 50/30/20 guidelines adjusted for Missouri's cost of living.

Rent / Housing $950 $11,400 43.0%

Food (groceries + dining) $265 $3,180 12.0%

Transportation $221 $2,652 10.0%

Utilities $133 $1,596 6.0%

Healthcare $111 $1,332 5.0%

Entertainment $111 $1,332 5.0%

Savings (10% target) $221 $2,652 10.0%

Remaining / Surplus $198 $2,376 9.0%

Overtime Pay — $15/hr in Missouri

At time-and-a-half ($22.50/hr), here's what overtime adds to your annual net income in Missouri. Your marginal tax rate at this income level is ~18.3%.

5 hrs/week $113 $92 $4,600

10 hrs/week $225 $184 $9,200

20 hrs/week $450 $368 $18,400

Hours to Afford Common Purchases at $15/hr

How many hours of work (gross) to buy common items. Actual cost in after-tax hours is higher — divide by your $12.75 net hourly rate for the true cost in time.

Tank of gas (12 gal) $50 3.4 hrs 4 hrs

Week of groceries $120 8 hrs 9.5 hrs

iPhone 16 (base) $799 53.3 hrs 62.7 hrs

1 month rent (Kansas City) $950 63.4 hrs 74.5 hrs

Used car ($10k) $10,000 666.7 hrs 784.2 hrs

Median new car ($48k) $48,000 3200 hrs 3764.1 hrs

What Jobs Pay $15/hr in Missouri?

At $15/hour, you earn 21% below the estimated median hourly wage in Missouri. Jobs that commonly pay around this rate include:

barista, home health aide, security guard, warehouse associate, hotel front desk agent, call center representative

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 15/hr in Missouri, your net income of $26,524 falls $6,476 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 $15/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.

Kansas City metro$16.2/hr+8%Higher pay, higher COL

Missouri average$15/hrBaselineThis page's figures

Rural Missouri$14.4/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 $15/hr in Missouri

Saving $221/month (10% of net), here is how long it takes to reach common financial milestones from a starting balance of zero:

Weekend getaway$3,00014 monthsFlights + hotel, domestic

3-month emergency fund$5,04023 monthsCore expenses only

6-month emergency fund$10,08046 monthsFull financial cushion

Used car (no loan)$8,00037 monthsReliable used vehicle

New car down payment$25,000114 months~50% down to minimize payments

Home down payment$4,95023 months10% on a starter home in Missouri

Your monthly budget surplus of $198 means you can accelerate these timelines by directing extra cash beyond the 10% baseline. Automating transfers on payday is the most reliable way to stay consistent.

Debt Payoff on $15/hr in Missouri

Allocating 15% of net monthly income ($332/month) toward debt repayment is sustainable while still allowing for savings and essentials.

Credit card$5,000$33216 months

Student loan$30,000$33291 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 $15/hr

Contributing 6% ($1,872/year) to a pre-tax 401(k) saves you $314 in taxes at your 16.8% marginal rate -- your actual out-of-pocket cost is only $1,558/year. If your employer matches up to 6%, that match is $1,872 in additional annual compensation -- never leave it uncaptured.

Saving $2,652/year and investing at a 7% average annual return builds significant wealth over time:

5 years$13,260$14,056$796 interest

10 years$26,520$28,191$1,671 interest

20 years$53,040$56,859$3,819 interest

What Would a Raise Mean at $15/hr in Missouri?

A $1/hr raise adds $1,700 to your annual net take-home in Missouri after taxes. Your marginal rate on additional income is approximately 18.3%, so you keep 81.8% of every extra dollar earned.

$1/hr raise$16/hr$1,700$142

5% raise$15.8/hr$1,360$113

10% raise$16.5/hr$2,551$213

Frequently Asked Questions

Is 15 an hour a good wage in Missouri?

15/hr in Missouri gives you $26,524/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 21% below the estimated state median wage.

What is 15 an hour after taxes in Missouri?

15/hr in Missouri = $26,524/year or $2,210/month net. Effective tax rate: 15.0%, made up of 5.0% federal, 7.7% FICA, and 2.3% Missouri state tax.

What jobs pay 15 an hour in Missouri?

Common roles at 15/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 15/hr go further -- Missouri or Texas?

15/hr in Missouri has similar purchasing power to ~19.1/hr in Texas. Missouri state income tax reduces take-home vs Texas.

How long to build an emergency fund at 15/hr in Missouri?

Saving $221/month (10% of net), you reach a 3-month emergency fund of $5,040 in 23 months. A 6-month fund takes 46 months.

What does a 401(k) cost at 15/hr in Missouri?

A 6% contribution ($1,872/year) saves $314 in taxes at your 16.8% marginal rate. Your net out-of-pocket cost is only $1,558/year -- and if your employer matches, it is essentially free money.

What does a $1/hr raise mean at 15/hr in Missouri?

A $1/hr raise adds $1,700/year to your net take-home in Missouri after the 18.3% marginal tax rate. You keep 81.8% of every additional dollar earned.

What is the effective tax rate at 15/hr in Missouri?

At 15/hr in Missouri, your total effective tax rate is 15.0%: federal income tax 5.0%, Social Security 6.2%, Medicare 1.5%, and Missouri state tax 2.3%. You keep 85.0% of every gross dollar.

Can you afford rent in Kansas City on 15/hr?

The average 1BR in Kansas City is $950/month. At 15/hr, rent consumes 37% of your gross monthly pay -- above the 30% affordability guideline. Your net hourly rate of $12.75 means you work 75 hours per month to cover rent.

What does 15/hr look like as an annual salary?

15/hr times 2,080 hours equals $31,200/year gross. After all taxes in Missouri, your net annual income is $26,524 -- an effective take-home rate of 85.0%.