Last updated: 2025 BLS data · Page refreshed:
How much does a Food Preparation Workers actually take home in Missouri?
Progressive (up to 4.8%) — 17.8% effective total tax rateData: BLS OEWS 2025 + IRS/State Tax Brackets 2024 • Updated 2026-05-19
Detailed line-by-line tax calculation for a Food Preparation Workers earning $31,510 in Missouri (single filer, standard deduction).
| Tax Component | Annual Amount | Effective Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary (Median) | $31,510 | — |
| Federal Income Tax | -$1,797 | 5.7% |
| Missouri State Income Tax | -$1,400 | 4.4% |
| Social Security (OASDI) | -$1,953 | 6.2% |
| Medicare | -$456 | 1.5% |
| Total Taxes | -$5,607 | 17.8% |
| Take-Home Pay | $25,902 | 82.2% |
Take-home pay varies significantly across experience levels. Here is the after-tax breakdown for each salary percentile of Food Preparation Workers in Missouri.
| Percentile | Gross Salary | Total Taxes | Take-Home Pay | Tax Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile (P10) | $28,600 | -$4,896 | $23,703 | 17.1% |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $29,220 | -$5,048 | $24,171 | 17.3% |
| Median (P50) | $31,510 | -$5,607 | $25,902 | 17.8% |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $37,050 | -$6,962 | $30,087 | 18.8% |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $44,440 | -$8,769 | $35,670 | 19.7% |
After federal income tax ($1,797), state tax ($1,400), and FICA ($2,410), a Food Preparation Workers in Missouri takes home $25,902 per year — or $2,158 per month. The effective tax rate of 17.8% is relatively low compared to the national range.
A Food Preparation Workers in Missouri faces an effective total tax rate of only 17.8%, keeping 82.2% of every gross dollar. That leaves $25,902 net out of $31,510 gross — a favorable outcome compared to states with combined rates above 30%.
Missouri uses a progressive state income tax, so brackets escalate as wages rise. For this Food Preparation Workers salary the state tax works out to $1,400 (4.4% effective) — on top of federal and FICA.
Federal tax on this Food Preparation Workers salary is $1,797 (32%), but combined state ($1,400, 25%) + FICA ($2,411, 43%) make up the other 68% of the bill.
A Food Preparation Workers earning this gross in a no-income-tax state (e.g., Texas, Florida) would take home approximately $27,302 — only $1,400 (5.4%) more than in Missouri.
Missouri ranks #36 of 51 states for Food Preparation Workers after-tax pay — lower half of the national distribution. Either gross wages trail the national median, state tax is elevated, or both.
Translated into paycheck cadences, $25,902 net/year works out to $2,159/month or $996/bi-weekly for this Food Preparation Workers in Missouri — the numbers that actually hit a checking account after every deduction.
Where does a Food Preparation Workers keep the most of their paycheck? Top 10 states ranked by after-tax take-home pay.
Missouri ranks #36 out of 51 states for Food Preparation Workers after-tax take-home pay.
A Food Preparation Workers in Missouri earning a median salary of $31,510 will take home approximately $25,902 per year after federal income tax ($1,797), state income tax ($1,400), and FICA ($2,410). That is $2,158 per month or $996 per bi-weekly paycheck.
The effective total tax rate for a Food Preparation Workers in Missouri is 17.8%, broken down as: federal income tax 5.7%, Missouri state tax 4.4%, and FICA (Social Security + Medicare) 7.6%. This assumes a single filer with the standard deduction for 2024.
Missouri has a progressive (up to 4.8%). On a Food Preparation Workers's median salary of $31,510, the state income tax amounts to $1,400 per year, which is an effective state rate of 4.4%.
After all taxes, a Food Preparation Workers in Missouri takes home approximately $2,158 per month, or about $12.45 per hour (based on a standard 2,080-hour work year). These figures assume a single filer, standard deduction, and no additional pre-tax deductions.
We start with the 2025 BLS median salary of $31,510 for Food Preparation Workers in Missouri, then subtract: federal income tax using 2024 IRS brackets ($14,600 standard deduction), Missouri state income tax (progressive (up to 4.8%)), Social Security (6.2% up to $168,600), and Medicare (1.45%). The result — $25,902/yr — does not include local taxes, pre-tax deductions (401k, HSA), or tax credits.
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This estimate assumes a single filer using the 2024 standard deduction ($14,600), with W-2 employment income only. It does not account for: itemized deductions, tax credits (e.g. earned income credit, child tax credit), local/city taxes, pre-tax contributions (401k, HSA, FSA), self-employment tax, or additional income sources. Actual take-home pay may differ. Consult a tax professional for personalized advice.
Our Methodology · Data Sources · Salary: BLS OEWS · Tax: IRS + State DOR