Missouri vs South Carolina: 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 $755 more per year in Missouri than in South Carolina ($59,005 vs $58,250, tax year 2026) — the entire gap comes from state tax, since federal and FICA are identical everywhere.
Both states use graduated systems, but the ladders are built differently: Missouri takes 8 steps to a 4.7% top rate (reached at $9,436), South Carolina 3 steps to 6% (at $18,230). How the slopes interact shows in the spread: $430 a year at $50,000, $755 at $75,000, and $3,030 at $250,000. The federal share ($7,670 income tax, $5,738 FICA) cancels out of this comparison entirely.
| Salary | Missouri net | South Carolina net | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| $50,000 | $40,942 | $40,512 | $430 |
| $75,000 | $59,005 | $58,250 | $755 |
| $100,000 | $75,417 | $74,337 | $1,080 |
| $150,000 | $107,678 | $105,948 | $1,730 |
| $250,000 | $172,370 | $169,339 | $3,030 |
| Missouri | South Carolina | |
|---|---|---|
| Tax type | Graduated | Graduated |
| Top rate | 4.7% | 6% |
| State tax at $75,000 | $2,588 | $3,343 |
| Take-home rank | #25 of 51 | #38 of 51 |
Which state has better take-home pay, Missouri or South Carolina?
At $75,000, Missouri keeps $755 more per year than South Carolina ($59,005 vs $58,250, tax year 2026).
Why is take-home pay different if federal tax is the same?
Both ladders start low and climb, but at different speeds — at $75,000 the two bracket structures sit $755 apart, all of it state income tax. Federal tax and FICA match to the cent.
Does the gap between Missouri and South Carolina grow at higher salaries?
Yes — from $430 at $50,000 to $3,030 at $250,000; the steeper of the two ladders pulls away as income rises.
Which state ranks higher for take-home pay overall?
Missouri ranks #25 of 51 and South Carolina ranks #38 of 51 nationally for take-home pay at $75,000.
Missouri paycheck calculator · South Carolina paycheck calculator · All states ranked