What it costs to live and work in Missouri: the minimum wage, state income tax, sales tax and median rent, from official sources, and what they mean for your monthly budget.
| Missouri | Source | |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage | $15.00 an hour | US Department of Labor, State Minimum Wage Laws (updated July 1, 2026) |
| State income tax | 2 % to 4.7 % | Tax Foundation, State Individual Income Tax Rates and Brackets, 2026 |
| State sales tax | 4.225 % | Tax Foundation, State and Local Sales Tax Rates, Midyear 2026 (as of July 1, 2026) |
| Median gross rent | $1,067 a month (2024) | US Census Bureau, ACS 2024 1-year estimates, table B25064 Median Gross Rent |
Missouri's minimum wage is $15.00 an hour in 2026.
Missouri has graduated rates from 2 % to 4.7 %; the top rate applies to single filers above $9,436.
The state sales tax is 4.225 %; local taxes add an average of 4.22 %, for a combined 8.44 %.
What income does rent in Missouri take?
A common rule of thumb is to keep rent at or below 30 % of gross income. At the median rent of $1,067 a month, that means a household income of about $42,700 a year before tax.
Good to know
- Food that can be bought with food stamps is taxed at a reduced state rate of 1.225 %, but local sales taxes still apply in full.
- Some localities charge an income (earnings) tax on top of the state rate; the Tax Foundation puts the statewide average at 0.18 % of AGI.
Sources
- US Department of Labor, State Minimum Wage Laws (updated July 1, 2026) (2026-07-01)
- Tax Foundation, State Individual Income Tax Rates and Brackets, 2026 (2026-02-19)
- Tax Foundation, State and Local Sales Tax Rates, Midyear 2026 (as of July 1, 2026) (2026-07-06)
- US Census Bureau, ACS 2024 1-year estimates, table B25064 Median Gross Rent (2025-09)
- Missouri Department of Revenue, Sales Tax Reduction on Food (2026)