Missouri (MO) · State tax: 4.7% · Property tax: 0.97% · Median home (ZHVI): $245,000
Military personnel stationed in Missouri receive BAH rates based on local housing costs. The median home price of $245,000 influences BAH calculations. Missouri's 4.7% state income tax applies only to base pay — BAH and BAS are tax-free.
Minimum wage, median HH income, and COL adjust take-home for the military pay calculator in Missouri. Every row cites a primary public dataset. Numbers reflect the most recent vintage available; refresh cadence is documented in the methodology.
A Missouri salary calculation starts with the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) table for your occupation at the state level, then layers on Missouri's payroll stack: federal income tax (brackets published by IRS), FICA (7.65%), and state income tax at a top marginal 4.70%[1][2].
The formula: take_home = gross − federal_tax − state_tax − FICA − other. "Other" covers 401(k) deferral, HSA, FSA, pre-tax benefits. The calculator below runs this client-side — no inputs leave your browser.
Same formula, different inputs. Each city name links to its own pSEO page where the calculator is pre-filled with local medians.
| City | Median home | Median rent | HUD FMR 2BR | Median income |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| St. Louis, MO | $270,704 | $1,416/mo | $1,300/mo | $78,225 |
| Kansas City, MO | $323,088 | $1,503/mo | $1,375/mo | $81,927 |
| Springfield, MO | $267,878 | $1,249/mo | $1,150/mo | $61,488 |
| Columbia, MO | $318,020 | $1,441/mo | $1,325/mo | $69,463 |
| Independence, MO | $195,000 | $950/mo | $875/mo | $48,500 |
Sources: Zillow ZHVI + ZORI[1], HUD FMR[2], Census ACS[3], Freddie Mac PMMS[4].
Moving one state over changes the military pay numbers. Compare median home value (Zillow ZHVI), top marginal income tax rate, effective property tax rate, and the BEA all-items Regional Price Parity across Missouri and its border states.
| State | Median home | Top inc tax | Prop tax rate | RPP (US=100) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Missouri (this page) | $245,000 | 4.70% | 0.97% | 91.1 |
| Arkansas side-by-side | $198,000 | 3.90% | 0.64% | 86.8 |
| compare to Illinois | $275,000 | 4.95% | 2.23% | 98.8 |
| Iowa | $215,000 | 3.80% | 1.50% | 88.8 |
| see Kansas | $225,000 | 5.58% | 1.41% | 89.9 |
Sources: Zillow ZHVI[1], state Departments of Revenue / Tax Foundation[2], Tax Foundation property taxes[3], BEA Regional Price Parities[4].
| Metric | Missouri | National Avg | AR | CO | IL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Price | $245,000 | $420,000 | $275,000 | $525,000 | $315,000 |
| Property Tax Rate | 0.97% | 1.07% | 0.62% | 0.51% | 0.85% |
| State Income Tax | 4.7% | 4.6%* | 4.9% | 4.63% | 4.95% |
| Avg Insurance Cost | $1,860/yr | $1,544/yr | $1,440/yr | $1,440/yr | $1,440/yr |
| Cost of Living Index | 91.104 | 100 | 84 | 110 | 104 |
| Household Income — p25 | $40,004 | $41,401 | $32,400 | $52,002 | $41,110 |
| Household Income — p50 (median) | $78,941 | $83,592 | $64,553 | $105,855 | $84,105 |
| Household Income — p75 | $137,432 | $153,000 | $115,675 | $176,554 | $158,064 |
*Average of states that levy an income tax. 2026 estimates. [3] Income percentiles from DQYDJ/Census CPS 2024[4].
Track take-home pay: 4.7% state income tax plus federal + FICA reduces gross wages by roughly 30% in Missouri.
Anchor savings goals to the Missouri cost of living index (91.104). A national 20% savings rate needs adjustment up or down depending on local expense floors.
Use tax-advantaged accounts first: 401(k), HSA, IRA. Contributions to pre-tax accounts save 4.7% at the state level plus your federal marginal rate.
Every number on this page reads from the same CalcFi data repository used by the Live Data pages below — the figures stay consistent.
Home Prices by State
Zillow ZHVI across all 50 states
Property Tax by State
Effective rate × ZHVI = annual bill
Household Income by State
FRED real median + percentile bands
Cost of Living by State
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No-Income-Tax States
Full list + trade-offs
Current Interest Rates
Treasury curve + PMMS + FDIC
CalcFi pSEO pages combine three inputs: (1) the calculator formula itself, which runs client-side so no inputs leave your browser; (2) state-level financial constants from primary public datasets; and (3) national benchmarks for comparison. The Missouri page uses the property tax rate (0.97%), median home price ($245,000), and 4.7% state income tax from the sources listed below.
Refresh cadence:state tax brackets and minimum wage rates are reviewed annually after each state's legislative session. Property tax, median home price, insurance, and cost-of-living figures are reviewed annually against the primary sources. Income percentiles are refreshed when the Census CPS/IPUMS releases update (typically September). Page-level dateModified matches the last editorial review date, shown above.
Known limits: statewide averages mask large intra-state variance — county-level property tax and metro-level home prices differ significantly from the figures shown. For the most precise calculations, cross-check the output against your actual county assessor and the latest federal/state tax tables at filing time.
Use Military Pay Calculator for any city in Missouri.
Every number on this page cites a primary public dataset. Last reviewed (auto-bumped by the next ISR refresh after an ETL run).
CalcFi does not sell data. If you spot an error, email hello@calcfi.app with the URL and the correct figure.
Calculate military compensation by rank, years of service, and allowances. Includes base pay, BAH, BAS, and tax-free benefit analysis.
Auto-updated · Verified daily against IRS, Fed & Treasury sources
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Based on your inputs
E-5 (Sergeant) • 6 yrs service
| Monthly Base Pay | $3,213 |
|---|---|
| Monthly BAH (tax-free) | $1,420 |
| Monthly BAS (tax-free) | $453 |
| Total Monthly Compensation | $5,086 |
| Total Annual Compensation | $61,027 |
| Taxable Income (base pay only) | $38,556 |
| Federal Income Tax | -$2,643 |
| FICA (on base pay only) | -$2,950 |
| Annual Take-Home Pay | $55,434 |
| Monthly Take-Home Pay | $4,620 |
| Your TSP Contribution (5%) | $1,928/yr |
|---|---|
| Government Match | $1,928/yr |
| Total Annual TSP | $3,856/yr |
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Military compensation is often misunderstood because it is structured very differently from civilian pay. While a civilian receives a single salary from which they pay for housing, food, and health insurance, military members receive base pay plus separate allowances for housing and food, plus free healthcare. Understanding all components is essential for accurately comparing military and civilian compensation.
Base Pay: This is the foundation of military compensation and the only component subject to federal income tax. Base pay is determined entirely by two factors: pay grade (rank) and years of service. It increases automatically with time in service and promotion. The 2025 military pay raise was 4.5%, keeping pace with inflation. Base pay ranges from $1,917/month for an E-1 to over $11,671/month for an O-6 with 20 years of service.
Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH): BAH is a monthly tax-free payment intended to cover housing costs for service members living off-base. BAH rates are calculated based on local housing costs in the duty station zip code, pay grade, and dependency status (with or without dependents). In high-cost areas like San Diego or the Washington D.C. metro, BAH for an E-5 with dependents can exceed $2,800/month. In lower-cost areas, the same grade might receive $1,200/month. BAH is recalculated annually based on local rental surveys.
Basic Allowance for Subsistence (BAS): BAS is a monthly tax-free food allowance. As of 2025, enlisted members receive $452.56/month and officers receive $311.68/month. Unlike BAH, BAS does not vary by location or dependency status. When deployed or living in barracks with provided meals, BAS may be reduced or eliminated.
The tax-free status of BAH and BAS creates a significant financial advantage for military members. Consider an E-6 with 10 years of service stationed in an average-cost area: base pay of $3,951/month ($47,412/year) plus BAH of $1,550/month ($18,600/year) plus BAS of $452.56/month ($5,431/year). Total compensation is $71,443/year, but only $47,412 is subject to federal income tax.
A civilian earning $71,443 would pay federal tax on the entire amount. The military member pays tax on only $47,412 — saving approximately $3,000-$5,000 per year in federal taxes depending on filing status. This tax advantage effectively makes military compensation equivalent to a higher civilian salary. Financial advisors often estimate that military members need to compare their compensation to civilian salaries that are 15-25% higher to find equivalent purchasing power.
Beyond the basic components, the military offers numerous special and incentive pays for specific skills, duties, and situations. These can significantly increase total compensation:
Flight Pay: Aviation career incentive pay ranges from $150-$1,000/month depending on years of aviation service. Aviation officers can receive $200-$840/month. This pay requires maintaining flight currency and status.
Hazardous Duty Pay: Service members performing hazardous duties (parachute jumping, demolition, diving) receive $150-$250/month in incentive pay. Multiple hazardous duty pays can be combined.
Hostile Fire/Imminent Danger Pay: $225/month for service in designated combat zones. Additionally, all income earned in combat zones is completely tax-free for enlisted members and tax-free up to the highest enlisted pay for officers.
Career field bonuses: Critical specialties (special operations, cyber, nuclear, medical) may receive enlistment bonuses of $10,000-$50,000 and retention bonuses of $5,000-$100,000+ spread over multi-year commitments. These bonuses can dramatically increase effective compensation for in-demand skills.
TRICARE, the military healthcare system, provides free or near-free healthcare to service members and their families. Active duty members pay nothing for their own healthcare — no premiums, no deductibles, no copays for most services. Dependents under TRICARE Prime pay minimal copays ($12-$30 for specialist visits).
The value of this benefit is enormous. A civilian family plan through an employer averages $6,000-$12,000/year in employee contributions, plus deductibles of $2,000-$5,000 and copays. TRICARE saves military families $8,000-$20,000+ annually compared to civilian healthcare costs. When calculating total military compensation, this benefit alone adds significant value that often goes unrecognized in simple pay comparisons.
The Blended Retirement System, which became the default military retirement plan in 2018, combines two components: a reduced pension and Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) matching. Understanding both components is critical for maximizing retirement benefits.
Under the legacy (pre-2018) system, service members who completed 20 years received 50% of their high-3 base pay as a pension, with 2.5% added for each year beyond 20. Those who separated before 20 years received nothing. The BRS changed this calculus by reducing the pension multiplier to 2% per year (40% at 20 years instead of 50%) but adding TSP matching that benefits all service members regardless of length of service.
For the approximately 83% of service members who separate before reaching 20 years, the BRS is unambiguously better — they leave with a TSP balance that can grow tax-deferred until retirement, compared to nothing under the legacy system. For career service members who reach 20+ years, the reduced pension is partially offset by decades of TSP matching and growth.
The BRS pension calculation is straightforward: 2% x years of service x average of highest 36 months of base pay (high-3). For a service member retiring at 20 years as an E-7 with a high-3 average of $5,000/month, the pension would be: 2% x 20 x $5,000 = $2,000/month ($24,000/year).
This pension is adjusted annually for inflation using the Consumer Price Index (CPI), though under the BRS, the annual COLA is CPI minus 1% until age 62, when it catches up to full CPI. This means BRS pensions lose some purchasing power between retirement and age 62 compared to legacy pensions. At age 62, the pension is recalculated as if full CPI had been applied all along, providing a one-time increase.
Career service members can also receive a continuation pay bonus at their 12-year mark — typically 2.5x to 13x monthly base pay (varies by service and specialty) — in exchange for committing to at least 4 more years. This bonus helps offset the reduced pension multiplier and encourages retention through the critical mid-career years.
The Thrift Savings Plan is a defined-contribution retirement plan similar to a civilian 401(k) but with significantly lower fees. The TSP offers five individual funds (G, F, C, S, I) and several Lifecycle funds that automatically adjust asset allocation based on target retirement date.
Under the BRS, the Department of Defense provides: automatic 1% of base pay contribution (no action required from the service member), plus dollar-for-dollar matching on the first 3% of base pay contributed, plus 50-cent-on-the-dollar matching on the next 2%. This means contributing 5% of base pay results in 10% total going into TSP (5% member + 1% automatic + 3% full match + 1% partial match).
The power of TSP matching over a career is substantial. An E-5 contributing 5% of base pay ($160/month) with matching receives $320/month in total contributions. Over 20 years with 7% average annual growth, this accumulates to approximately $190,000. An O-3 contributing 5% ($350/month) with matching accumulates approximately $415,000 over 20 years.
Service members can choose between Traditional TSP (pre-tax contributions, taxed at withdrawal) and Roth TSP (after-tax contributions, tax-free withdrawals). The government matching always goes into Traditional TSP regardless of the member's choice.
For most military members, Roth TSP is the better choice because military members are typically in lower tax brackets during service (due to tax-free allowances) than they will be in retirement. Contributing to Roth TSP while in a lower bracket and withdrawing tax-free in a potentially higher bracket in retirement maximizes the tax benefit. This is especially advantageous for junior enlisted members and for contributions made during combat zone deployments (where all income is tax-free).
The 2025 TSP contribution limit is $23,500, plus an additional $7,500 catch-up contribution for those over 50. Service members deployed to combat zones can contribute up to $70,000 total (including government contributions) under the annual additions limit. Maximizing combat zone contributions to Roth TSP is one of the most powerful wealth-building strategies available to military members.
A comprehensive military retirement strategy combines the pension, TSP, and personal savings. For a service member retiring at 20 years as an E-7: the monthly pension of approximately $2,000 provides a stable income floor. A TSP balance of $200,000-$400,000 (depending on contributions and growth) provides additional retirement income. Combined with Social Security benefits starting at 62-67, a military retiree can achieve a comfortable retirement.
Most military retirees also begin second careers, receiving both their pension and civilian employment income. The pension effectively serves as supplemental income during the second career (ages 38-62 for many retirees), allowing aggressive savings and investment during these prime earning years. Financial advisors specializing in military retirement emphasize the importance of treating the pension as a foundation and building additional wealth through TSP and civilian retirement accounts.
Military pay varies by rank and years of service. An E-1 starts at $1,917/month, while an O-6 with 20 years earns over $11,671/month in base pay alone. Total compensation including BAH, BAS, and benefits is typically 25-40% higher.
No, Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) is entirely tax-free. So is BAS (food allowance). Only base pay is subject to federal income tax, giving military members a significant tax advantage over equivalent civilian salaries.
Under the Blended Retirement System (BRS), service members who serve 20+ years receive a pension of 2% per year of service times their high-3 base pay average. A 20-year retiree receives 40% of their high-3 average as a lifetime pension.
The TSP (Thrift Savings Plan) under BRS provides automatic 1% contribution plus matching up to 5% of base pay. Contributing 5% of your base pay results in 10% total going into TSP. Even those separating before 20 years keep their TSP.
Rank (pay grade) is the primary driver of base pay. Enlisted ranks (E-1 to E-9) range from $1,917 to $8,433/month. Officer ranks (O-1 to O-6) range from $3,826 to $11,671/month. Warrant officers fall in between.
Special pays include hazardous duty pay at $150 to $250 per month, flight pay at $150 to $840, hostile fire pay at $225, and sea pay at $50 to $730 based on rank. Enlistment and reenlistment bonuses range from $5,000 to $50,000 depending on military occupational specialty and term length.
Start with base pay, add BAH and BAS (both tax-free), subtract federal income tax on base pay only, subtract FICA taxes at 7.65 percent of base pay, and subtract any TSP contributions or SGLI premiums. Since BAH and BAS are tax-exempt, military members typically take home a higher percentage of total compensation than civilians.
The 2025 military pay raise is 4.5 percent applied to all base pay rates effective January 1. This matches the Employment Cost Index formula used to calculate annual military pay adjustments. BAH rates also increased separately based on local housing market surveys conducted by the Department of Defense.
Basic Allowance for Housing is a tax-free monthly payment covering housing costs based on your duty station zip code, pay grade, and dependency status. BAH rates are updated annually and can range from $800 to over $4,000 per month depending on location.
Compare total military compensation including base pay, BAH, BAS, healthcare, and retirement benefits. An E-5 with 6 years earning $3,500 base pay actually receives $55,000-$70,000 in total compensation equivalent when tax-free benefits are included.
Total Compensation = Base Pay + BAH (tax-free) + BAS (tax-free)
Taxable Income = Base Pay only (allowances are exempt)
Take-Home = Total Compensation - Federal Tax (on base pay) - FICA (on base pay)
Based on 2025 DoD military pay tables.
Every formula on this page traces to a federal agency, central bank, or peer-reviewed institution. We cite the rule-makers, not secondhand blogs.
Found an error in a formula or source? Report it →
Result: $3,715 base + $1,962 BAH + $460 BAS = $6,137/mo · ~$73,644/yr
2025 DFAS pay tables: E-5 >6yr $3,715. BAH w/deps Fort Liberty $1,962 (DoD 2025). BAS enlisted $460.25. BAH + BAS are tax-free — taxable equivalent ~$85k.
Result: $6,814 base + $3,072 BAH + $317 BAS = $10,203/mo · $122,436/yr
2025: O-3 >4yr $6,814. BAH w/o deps $3,072 (high-cost SoCal). BAS officer $316.68. Tax-free allowances ≈ 33% of gross.
Result: All enlisted pay tax-free during deployed months + FSA $250/mo + HDP $150
IRC §112 Combat Zone Tax Exclusion: enlisted fully exempt; officer capped at maximum enlisted rate. Plus Family Separation Allowance and Hostile Fire/Imminent Danger pay.
Result: $51,200/yr pension · + TSP match 5%
BRS: 2.0% × years × high-3. High-3 = avg top 3yr base. $128k × 20 × 2% = $51,200/yr immediate COLA-indexed. Legacy (pre-2018) was 2.5% multiplier.
Result: 100% tuition + $1,800-$2,500/mo MHA
VA.gov: 36 months benefits. Monthly Housing Allowance = E-5 w/deps BAH at school's zip code. Yellow Ribbon covers gap at private schools.
Result: $1,612/mo drill pay + AT 2-wk $2,015
4 drill periods = 1 month of base pay ÷ 30 × 4. AT (annual training) = 14 days × daily rate. IRS Form W-2 Code D for drill.
BAH + BAS are tax-free. Add ~33% to base pay to get civilian-equivalent pre-tax.
Impact: An E-6 seeing only $4,400 base underestimates compensation by $25-$35k/yr.
BRS service match: 1% auto + up to 4% match on 5% contribution = 5% total. DFAS MyPay enrollment.
Impact: Missing match = $3,000-$5,000/yr free retirement money lost.
Tax-free combat pay contributed to Roth TSP creates tax-free-growth + tax-free-withdrawal account.
Impact: 6-mo deployment contributing $20k to Roth TSP could grow to $150k tax-free at age 60.
Post-2018 entries are auto BRS. Mid-career transferees (2006-2017) had election.
Impact: Wrong pick for a 20-yr career = $50k-$150k pension NPV swing.
CRDP/CRSC rules: since 2014, 20+ yr retirees with VA disability can receive both (subject to phase-in).
Impact: Offset mistake costs retiree $5-$30k/yr.
State-specific rates, taxes, and cost-of-living adjustments
Calculations are for educational purposes only. Consult a qualified financial advisor for personalized advice.