Missouri vs Virginia: 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 $911 more per year in Missouri than in Virginia ($59,005 vs $58,094, 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), Virginia 4 steps to 5.75% (at $17,000). How the slopes interact shows in the spread: $648 a year at $50,000, $911 at $75,000, and $2,748 at $250,000. The federal share ($7,670 income tax, $5,738 FICA) cancels out of this comparison entirely.
| Salary | Missouri net | Virginia net | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| $50,000 | $40,942 | $40,294 | $648 |
| $75,000 | $59,005 | $58,094 | $911 |
| $100,000 | $75,417 | $74,244 | $1,173 |
| $150,000 | $107,678 | $105,980 | $1,698 |
| $250,000 | $172,370 | $169,621 | $2,748 |
| Missouri | Virginia | |
|---|---|---|
| Tax type | Graduated | Graduated |
| Top rate | 4.7% | 5.75% |
| State tax at $75,000 | $2,588 | $3,498 |
| Take-home rank | #25 of 51 | #44 of 51 |
Which state has better take-home pay, Missouri or Virginia?
At $75,000, Missouri keeps $911 more per year than Virginia ($59,005 vs $58,094, 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 $911 apart, all of it state income tax. Federal tax and FICA match to the cent.
Does the gap between Missouri and Virginia grow at higher salaries?
Yes — from $648 at $50,000 to $2,748 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 Virginia ranks #44 of 51 nationally for take-home pay at $75,000.
Missouri paycheck calculator · Virginia paycheck calculator · All states ranked