2026 Tax Year · Single Filer · Missouri

$42 an Hour in Missouri — After-Tax Take-Home (2026)

At $42/hour (2,080 hours/year), your gross annual income is $87,360. After federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare, and Missouri state income tax, your take-home pay is $32.15/hr. In Missouri's low cost-of-living environment, this is a comfortable living wage in Missouri.

Gross Annual

$87,360

Net Annual
$66,867

Net Monthly

$5,572

Net Hourly

$32.15

Pay Period Breakdown

Hourly $42.00 $9.85 $32.15

Daily (8 hrs) $336.00 $78.82 $257.18

Weekly (40 hrs) $1,680.00 $394.09 $1,285.91

Biweekly $3,360.00 $788.18 $2,571.82

Monthly $7,280.00 $1,707.73 $5,572.27

Annual $87,360 $20,493 $66,867

Full Tax Breakdown — Missouri, Single Filer

Gross Annual Income $42/hr × 2,080 hrs $87,360

Federal Standard Deduction Single 2026 −$16,100

Federal Taxable Income $71,260

Federal Income Tax 11.9% −$10,389.20

Social Security (6.2%) up to $184,500 −$5,416.32

Medicare (1.45%) −$1,266.72

Missouri Standard Deduction Single 2026 −$16,100

Missouri State Income Tax 3.9% −$3,420.48

Total Tax 23.5% effective −$20,492.72

Net Take-Home $66,867

How Does Missouri Compare?

See how $42/hr take-home differs in other states at the same wage:

California $4,183.06 $5,509/mo $66,105 Florida None $5,857/mo $70,288 New York $4,212.41 $5,506/mo $66,075 Texas None $5,857/mo $70,288 Washington None $5,857/mo $70,288

Open Full Calculator for Missouri — $42/hr →

Equivalent Annual Salary Pages

$42/hr = $87,360/year gross. See the full state-by-state salary breakdown:

Adjacent Rates in Missouri

Same Rate, Other States

Cost of Living in Missouri

✓ Comfortable — $42/hr covers costs in Missouri

Avg 1BR rent in Kansas City: $950/mo — within budget (13% of gross monthly)
Minimum comfortable income in Missouri: $33,000/yr
Your net annual: $66,867 ($33,867 above comfortable threshold)
Purchasing power equivalent in Texas: ~$53.5/hr

Working at $42/hr in Missouri

At this level in Missouri you're solidly upper-middle-class. Financial services, healthcare, and tech employers in the metro areas create real demand at this rate.

At $42/hr, you work roughly 30 hours each month to cover a typical 1BR in Kansas City ($950/mo) -- that's within the 30% gross income guideline. This wage is 3.1x Missouri's minimum wage of $13.75/hr. Your combined effective tax rate at $42/hr in Missouri is 23.5% -- federal income tax accounts for 11.9%, FICA 7.6%, and Missouri state tax 3.9%.

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 $42/hr in Missouri

Based on $5,572/month take-home. Percentages follow common 50/30/20 guidelines adjusted for Missouri's cost of living.

Rent / Housing $950 $11,400 17.0%

Food (groceries + dining) $669 $8,028 12.0%

Transportation $557 $6,684 10.0%

Utilities $334 $4,008 6.0%

Healthcare $279 $3,348 5.0%

Entertainment $279 $3,348 5.0%

Savings (10% target) $557 $6,684 10.0%

Remaining / Surplus $1,947 $23,364 34.9%

Overtime Pay — $42/hr in Missouri

At time-and-a-half ($63.00/hr), here's what overtime adds to your annual net income in Missouri. Your marginal tax rate at this income level is ~28.3%.

5 hrs/week $315 $226 $11,300

10 hrs/week $630 $452 $22,600

20 hrs/week $1,260 $904 $45,200

Hours to Afford Common Purchases at $42/hr

How many hours of work (gross) to buy common items. Actual cost in after-tax hours is higher — divide by your $32.15 net hourly rate for the true cost in time.

Tank of gas (12 gal) $50 1.2 hrs 1.6 hrs

Week of groceries $120 2.9 hrs 3.8 hrs

iPhone 16 (base) $799 19.1 hrs 24.9 hrs

1 month rent (Kansas City) $950 22.7 hrs 29.6 hrs

Used car ($10k) $10,000 238.1 hrs 311.1 hrs

Median new car ($48k) $48,000 1142.9 hrs 1493.2 hrs

What Jobs Pay $42/hr in Missouri?

At $42/hour, you earn 121% above the estimated median hourly wage in Missouri. Jobs that commonly pay around this rate include:

registered nurse, software developer, financial analyst, physician assistant, UX designer, database administrator

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 42/hr, you are in a strong financial position in Missouri. Your net annual income of $66,867 exceeds the estimated comfortable living threshold of $33,000 by $33,867, giving you real room to save and invest.

Geographic Wage Variation Within Missouri

The $42/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$45.4/hr+8%Higher pay, higher COL

Missouri average$42/hrBaselineThis page's figures

Rural Missouri$40.3/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 $42/hr in Missouri

Saving $557/month (10% of net), here is how long it takes to reach common financial milestones from a starting balance of zero:

Weekend getaway$3,0006 monthsFlights + hotel, domestic

3-month emergency fund$8,36716 monthsCore expenses only

6-month emergency fund$16,73431 monthsFull financial cushion

Used car (no loan)$8,00015 monthsReliable used vehicle

New car down payment$25,00045 months~50% down to minimize payments

Home down payment$4,9509 months10% on a starter home in Missouri

Your monthly budget surplus of $1,947 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 $42/hr in Missouri

Allocating 15% of net monthly income ($836/month) toward debt repayment is sustainable while still allowing for savings and essentials.

Credit card$5,000$8366 months

Student loan$30,000$83636 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 $42/hr

Contributing 6% ($5,242/year) to a pre-tax 401(k) saves you $1,405 in taxes at your 26.8% marginal rate -- your actual out-of-pocket cost is only $3,837/year. If your employer matches up to 6%, that match is $5,242 in additional annual compensation -- never leave it uncaptured.

Saving $6,684/year and investing at a 7% average annual return builds significant wealth over time:

5 years$33,420$35,425$2,005 interest

10 years$66,840$71,051$4,211 interest

20 years$133,680$143,305$9,625 interest

What Would a Raise Mean at $42/hr in Missouri?

A $1/hr raise adds $1,492 to your annual net take-home in Missouri after taxes. Your marginal rate on additional income is approximately 28.3%, so you keep 71.8% of every extra dollar earned.

$1/hr raise$43/hr$1,492$124

5% raise$44.1/hr$3,134$261

10% raise$46.2/hr$6,268$522

Frequently Asked Questions

Is 42 an hour a good wage in Missouri?

42/hr in Missouri gives you $66,867/year after taxes -- a comfortable living wage in Missouri. Avg 1BR rent in Kansas City: $950/month (within the 30% rule). It places you 121% above the estimated state median wage.

What is 42 an hour after taxes in Missouri?

42/hr in Missouri = $66,867/year or $5,572/month net. Effective tax rate: 23.5%, made up of 11.9% federal, 7.6% FICA, and 3.9% Missouri state tax.

What jobs pay 42 an hour in Missouri?

Common roles at 42/hr in Missouri include registered nurse, software developer, financial analyst. Metro areas like Kansas City typically pay 8% more for the same role.

How does 42/hr go further -- Missouri or Texas?

42/hr in Missouri has similar purchasing power to ~53.5/hr in Texas. Missouri state income tax reduces take-home vs Texas.

How long to build an emergency fund at 42/hr in Missouri?

Saving $557/month (10% of net), you reach a 3-month emergency fund of $8,367 in 16 months. A 6-month fund takes 31 months.

What does a 401(k) cost at 42/hr in Missouri?

A 6% contribution ($5,242/year) saves $1,405 in taxes at your 26.8% marginal rate. Your net out-of-pocket cost is only $3,837/year -- and if your employer matches, it is essentially free money.

What does a $1/hr raise mean at 42/hr in Missouri?

A $1/hr raise adds $1,492/year to your net take-home in Missouri after the 28.3% marginal tax rate. You keep 71.8% of every additional dollar earned.

What is the effective tax rate at 42/hr in Missouri?

At 42/hr in Missouri, your total effective tax rate is 23.5%: federal income tax 11.9%, Social Security 6.2%, Medicare 1.5%, and Missouri state tax 3.9%. You keep 76.5% of every gross dollar.

Can you afford rent in Kansas City on 42/hr?

The average 1BR in Kansas City is $950/month. At 42/hr, rent consumes 13% of your gross monthly pay -- within the recommended 30% ceiling. Your net hourly rate of $32.15 means you work 30 hours per month to cover rent.

What does 42/hr look like as an annual salary?

42/hr times 2,080 hours equals $87,360/year gross. After all taxes in Missouri, your net annual income is $66,867 -- an effective take-home rate of 76.5%.