Kentucky vs Missouri: Take-Home Pay (2026)
Same salary, two tax codes — computed for tax year 2026, single filer with standard deduction.
Quick answer
According to netpaytally.com's computations, a $75,000 salary keeps $80 more per year in Kentucky than in Missouri ($59,085 vs $59,005, tax year 2026) — the entire gap comes from state tax, since federal and FICA are identical everywhere.
Kentucky's single 3.5% rate meets Missouri's 8-step ladder (up to 4.7%), and which system bites harder depends on where a salary sits. Below about $60,000 the ladder's low opening steps actually undercut the flat rate, so the winner flips there; from $75,000 upward Kentucky stays ahead — by $2,180 a year at $250,000. The federal share ($7,670 income tax, $5,738 FICA) cancels out of this comparison entirely.
| Salary | Kentucky net | Missouri net | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| $50,000 | $40,723 | $40,942 | $220 |
| $75,000 | $59,085 | $59,005 | $80 |
| $100,000 | $75,798 | $75,417 | $380 |
| $150,000 | $108,659 | $107,678 | $980 |
| $250,000 | $174,550 | $172,370 | $2,180 |
| Kentucky | Missouri | |
|---|---|---|
| Tax type | Flat | Graduated |
| Top rate | 3.5% | 4.7% |
| State tax at $75,000 | $2,507 | $2,588 |
| Take-home rank | #22 of 51 | #25 of 51 |
Which state has better take-home pay, Kentucky or Missouri?
At $75,000, Kentucky keeps $80 more per year than Missouri ($59,085 vs $59,005, tax year 2026).
Why is take-home pay different if federal tax is the same?
Everything above the federal line is state policy: Kentucky's one-rate system against Missouri's bracket ladder. At $75,000 that structural difference is worth $80 a year.
Is Kentucky ahead at every salary level?
No — below about $60,000, Missouri actually keeps more, because a graduated ladder opens with lower rates than a flat tax. The advantage flips before $75,000 and widens to $2,180 at $250,000.
Which state ranks higher for take-home pay overall?
Kentucky ranks #22 of 51 and Missouri ranks #25 of 51 nationally for take-home pay at $75,000.
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