Kentucky vs Missouri Taxes: Take-Home Pay Compared (2026)
On a $75,000 salary, a single filer keeps $27 more a year in Kentucky than in Missouri ($2 a month).
Kentucky
3.5% flat state income tax
$59,085
take-home on $75,000 · $4,924/month
19th of 51 states for take-home pay
Kentucky paycheck calculator ›Missouri
2% - 4.7% state income tax
$59,058
take-home on $75,000 · $4,922/month
20th of 51 states for take-home pay
Missouri paycheck calculator ›Take-home pay in Kentucky and Missouri by salary
| Salary | Kentucky | Missouri | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| $40,000 | $33,038 | $33,408 | $370 more in Missouri |
| $50,000 | $40,723 | $40,987 | $264 more in Missouri |
| $60,000 | $48,408 | $48,543 | $135 more in Missouri |
| $75,000 | $59,085 | $59,058 | $27 more in Kentucky |
| $100,000 | $75,798 | $75,510 | $288 more in Kentucky |
| $125,000 | $92,446 | $91,809 | $637 more in Kentucky |
| $150,000 | $108,659 | $107,678 | $981 more in Kentucky |
| $200,000 | $142,045 | $140,464 | $1,581 more in Kentucky |
Single filer, standard deduction, no local tax. To match $75,000 in Kentucky you would need about $75,050 in Missouri; to match $75,000 in Missouri you would need about $74,950 in Kentucky.
How Kentucky and Missouri tax wages
| 2026 | Kentucky | Missouri |
|---|---|---|
| Income tax | a flat 3.5% income tax | 7 brackets from 2% to 4.7% |
| Top rate | 3.5% | 4.7% |
| Standard deduction | $3,360 single | $16,100 single |
| State tax on $75k | $2,507 (3.3%) | $2,534 (3.4%) |
| Local wage taxes | Yes (15 modeled) | Yes (2 modeled) |
| Reciprocity | Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin | None |
| 2026 change | Kentucky cut its flat rate from 4.0% to 3.5% on January 1, 2026 after meeting its revenue triggers. | No rate change |
Kentucky vs Missouri: FAQ
Does Kentucky or Missouri have lower income taxes in 2026?
On a $75,000 salary, a single filer keeps $27 more a year in Kentucky than in Missouri ($2 a month). Kentucky has a flat 3.5% income tax for 2026. Missouri has 7 brackets from 2% to 4.7% for 2026. For single filers the top 4.7% rate starts at $9,436 of taxable income.
What salary in Missouri equals $75,000 in Kentucky?
To take home the same $59,085 that $75,000 leaves in Kentucky, you would need about $75,050 in Missouri, based on income, payroll, and state taxes only. Housing and other living costs are not included.
How much more do high earners keep in Kentucky than in Missouri?
At $150,000 the gap is $981 a year: $108,659 in Kentucky versus $107,678 in Missouri. Progressive brackets make the difference grow faster as income rises.
What if I live in Kentucky and work in Missouri?
Kentucky and Missouri do not have a reciprocity agreement, so Missouri withholds tax on wages earned there and Kentucky generally gives residents a credit for tax paid to the other state. You effectively pay the higher of the two rates.
Do local taxes change the Kentucky vs Missouri comparison?
Kentucky has local wage taxes in places like Louisville (2.2% / 1.45%), Lexington (2.75% / 2.25%), Bowling Green (2%). Missouri has local wage taxes in places like Kansas City (1%), St. Louis (1%). Those are on top of the statewide figures above, so check the city calculators if you live or work in one of them.