$100k in St. Louis
Your salary isn't what you earn. It's what you keep.
See the exact impact of MO taxes and St. Louis living costs on your paycheck.
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2026 IRS Brackets • FICA Limits • State & Local Rules
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📊 St. Louis Salary Guide
The $100k Salary Reality Check: Your St. Louis Take-Home Pay Guide
In St. Louis, the "Sticker Price" of a six-figure salary is a mirage. To understand your actual purchasing power, you have to cut through the noise of federal withholdings, FICA, and state obligations. This guide breaks down the hard numbers to reveal what a $100,000 annual income actually delivers to your bank account in the Gateway City.
The Verification Test ($100,000 Analysis)
The gap between your gross salary and your net pay is where financial reality hits. Here is the forensic breakdown of a $100,000 salary in Missouri.
The Gross vs. Net Breakdown:
- The Sticker Price: $100,000
- Federal Tax: -$13,614
- FICA Tax: -$7,650
- State Tax (MO): -$4,500
- Local Tax: $0
- Total Deductions: -$25,764
- Final Take Home Pay: $74,236
The Analysis:
You lose roughly 25.7% of your gross income to taxes immediately. This leaves you with a net pay of $74,236, or $6,186 per month. While the Missouri state tax of $4,500 is a notable deduction, St. Louis offers a massive advantage over cities like New York or Chicago: $0 Local Tax. You avoid the "city wage tax" that erodes paychecks in other major metros.
Smart Budget Breakdown (50/30/20 Rule)
With $6,186 hitting your account monthly, the standard 50/30/20 budget rule dictates how far your money goes.
Needs: $3,093/month
This bucket covers rent, utilities, groceries, and insurance.
- Rent Reality: In St. Louis, $3,093 is luxury territory. The median rent for a one-bedroom hovers around $1,200–$1,400. You can secure a high-end apartment in the Central West End or The Grove and still have over $1,500 left for utilities, car payments, and groceries.
- Purchasing Power: You are over-funded here. You do not need to spend 50% of your net on needs unless you are aggressively paying down debt.
Wants: $1,856/month
This is your discretionary spending—dining out, streaming services, nightlife, and travel.
- Lifestyle Leverage: St. Louis has a low cost of entertainment. You can eat at top-tier restaurants, Blues/Cardinals games, and maintain an active social life comfortably within this budget.
Savings: $1,237/month
This is your wealth engine.
- Wealth Creation: Saving $1,237 monthly puts you on track to max out a Roth IRA ($7,000/year) and have significant funds left for a brokerage account or emergency fund. In St. Louis, this amount builds serious financial security fast.
St. Louis Taxes vs The Competition
Missouri’s tax structure is a "middle-ground" position, but it punches above its weight when compared to high-tax coastal states.
St. Louis vs. New York City:
- NYC: A $100k salary in NYC faces Federal + FICA + NY State + NYC Local Tax. Your take-home would drop to roughly $67,000.
- St. Louis: You keep $74,236.
- The Verdict: St. Louis puts $7,200 more in your pocket annually than NYC.
St. Louis vs. Austin, Texas:
- Austin: No State Income Tax. Take-home is roughly $78,700.
- St. Louis: Take-home is $74,236.
- The Verdict: Texas wins on income tax, but St. Louis often compensates with lower property taxes and cheaper insurance premiums, narrowing the gap significantly.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: What is the income tax rate in St. Louis?
A: St. Louis residents pay a combination of rates. The Federal rate is progressive (averaging 13.6% at $100k). The Missouri State income tax rate is progressive, currently topping out at 4.7% for high earners (averaging 4.5% at $100k). There is 0% Local City Wage Tax.
Q: Is $100k a good salary in St. Louis?
A: Yes. A $100,000 salary is significantly above the St. Louis median household income. With a net pay of $74,236, you have high purchasing power relative to the local cost of living, allowing for a comfortable lifestyle, aggressive savings, and low financial stress.
Q: Does St. Louis have a local city tax?
A: No. Unlike cities such as Philadelphia, Cincinnati, or Kansas City (which has an earnings tax), St. Louis City and St. Louis County generally do not levy a local income tax on residents' wages.
Methodology: Calculations based on IRS 2026 Tax Brackets (Standard Deduction applied), Social Security (6.2%), and Medicare (1.45%). State tax estimates derived from Missouri Department of Revenue 2024 rates. Cost of living data benchmarks against Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) regional averages.