Minnesota Paycheck Calculator: Estimate Your Take-Home Pay After Taxes

Minnesota Paycheck Calculator: What Gets Withheld and What Comes Home

Every paycheck comes with taxes baked in, no matter your job title or industry. Whether you’re just starting, running a company, or working in a federal role, what you owe is tied to how much you earn. On top of that, each state follows its own playbook, some charge a flat income tax, others use tiered brackets, and a few skip income tax entirely. So, knowing your state’s approach is key if you want to map out your money with fewer surprises.

Minnesota workers bring home paychecks shaped by a layered set of deductions. The state has a progressive income tax with four brackets, a brand-new Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML) program, and one of the stronger labor markets in the Midwest.

Let’s take a look at every deduction that shapes a Minnesota paycheck, so you know exactly where your gross pay goes before it reaches your account.

Disclaimer: This page is for informational purposes only and is not tax advice. Tax rules can change, and individual situations vary. For personal tax questions, consider speaking with a qualified tax professional.

How your Minnesota paycheck is calculated: A breakdown

A Minnesota paycheck runs through several withholding layers: federal income tax, Social Security and Medicare, Minnesota state income tax, and, starting in 2026, a state Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML) premium. Your gross pay, filing status, allowances on your federal and state withholding forms, and any pre-tax benefits all determine what actually lands in your bank account. Minnesota does not levy local income taxes, which keeps the calculation a little more predictable than in some other states.

Part 1: Your gross pay before deductions

Gross pay is the full amount you earn before any taxes or deductions are taken out.

• Statewide minimum wage: Minnesota’s statewide minimum wage is $11.41 per hour.
• Twin Cities minimums: Workers in Minneapolis and St. Paul (large employers with 101 or more employees) earn a minimum of $16.37 per hour. Small employers in St. Paul pay a minimum of $15.00 per hour, set to reach $16.37 by July 1, 2026. Micro employers in St. Paul pay a minimum of $13.25 per hour.
• Overtime: Minnesota follows the federal standard — time-and-a-half for all hours worked beyond 40 in a workweek. Nursing home workers may be subject to separate minimum wage standards set by the Nursing Home Workforce Standards Board.

Part 2: Federal withholding and Minnesota’s Form W-4MN

Your federal Form W-4 tells your employer how much federal income tax to withhold from each paycheck. It captures your filing status, number of dependents, any additional withholding amounts, and other adjustments. The federal tax system uses progressive brackets, meaning higher slices of income are taxed at higher rates.

Minnesota also has its own form: Form W-4MN. You’ll complete this form alongside your federal W-4 when starting a new job in Minnesota. If you skip it, your employer is required to default to zero allowances, which is the equivalent of a single filer with no allowances and results in the highest withholding rate for your income level. Submitting the form accurately can help you avoid both underwithholding and an unexpectedly large tax bill at filing.

Part 3: Social Security and Medicare (FICA)

Social Security and Medicare are federal payroll taxes withheld from most paychecks, regardless of which state you work in. These are sometimes grouped under the label FICA.

• 6.2% for Social Security (up to the annual wage base)
• 1.45% for Medicare (no wage ceiling)

Your employer matches both amounts.

Workers with higher earnings may also see an Additional Medicare Tax of 0.9%. For payroll withholding purposes, employers begin withholding this additional amount once an employee’s wages exceed $200,000 in a calendar year, regardless of the employee’s filing status. The employee’s actual year-end liability for the Additional Medicare Tax is reconciled on the federal tax return using filing-status-specific thresholds. The Additional Medicare Tax is not matched by your employer.

Part 4: Minnesota state income tax

Minnesota uses a progressive, four-bracket income tax structure, meaning the rate you pay rises as your income climbs. Each dollar is only taxed at the rate that applies to that slice of income, not to your full earnings. Filing status matters: single filers, married couples filing jointly, heads of household, and married filers filing separately all use different bracket thresholds.

For tax year 2026 withholding purposes, rates range from 5.35% to 9.85%, as set by the Minnesota Department of Revenue. Minnesota does not impose a local income tax on wages or salaries. Minneapolis and St. Paul, known as the Twin Cities, have higher minimum wages but no separate municipal income tax, so the state rate is the only income tax deducted from a Minnesota worker’s paycheck.

A single filer earning around the Minnesota median household income ($87,117) falls comfortably in the 6.80% bracket, though only the income above $33,310 is taxed at that rate. The first $33,310 is taxed at the lower 5.35% rate, which keeps the effective rate below the marginal rate.

Part 5: Minnesota-specific payroll deductions (Paid Leave)

Minnesota launched its Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML) program on January 1, 2026. Administered by Minnesota Paid Leave, this deduction appears as a new line item on pay stubs that workers may not have seen before.

• Total premium rate: 0.88% of wages
• Employee share: Up to 0.44%, with employers covering at least the remaining half
• 2026 wage base: $184,500, making the maximum employee contribution $814 for the year
• Small-employer rate: Employers with 30 or fewer employees and average wages below 150% of the state average weekly wage pay a reduced total rate of 0.66%
• Benefit coverage: Up to 12 weeks of paid medical leave and up to 12 weeks of paid family leave per benefit year, with a combined maximum of 20 weeks. Wage replacement runs from 55% to 90% of regular wages, up to the state average weekly wage of $1,423 per week in 2026.

Where does your income fall in Minnesota?

A single filer at the state median income falls into the 6.80% state bracket, though pre-tax deductions and the standard deduction can reduce the taxable amount considerably.

For a single filer at the median income level of $87,117 in Minnesota, the first $33,310 falls in the 5.35% bracket and the remaining amount in the 6.80% bracket before accounting for the standard deduction. Metro counties report median household incomes ranging from $90,000 to $126,000, while rural counties generally fall between $59,000 and $80,000, reflecting meaningful cost-of-living and wage differences across the state.

4 ways your take-home pay can change

Your gross pay sets the ceiling, but several factors determine how much of it you actually keep. Here are four areas where your choices can make a measurable difference.

Why does take-home pay feel different in Minnesota?

Minnesota’s deduction list is longer than it used to be. For a typical Twin Cities worker, a paycheck now runs through federal income tax, Social Security at 6.2%, Medicare at 1.45%, Minnesota state income tax starting at 5.35%, and the new PFML deduction of up to 0.44% of wages. Together, those layers can take a meaningful share of gross pay before a dollar reaches a checking account.

The geographic spread within the state adds another dimension. For example, a single filer earning $60,000 in Minneapolis owes an estimated state income tax of approximately $2,580 after applying the standard deduction. A comparable worker in Austin, Texas, would owe $0 in state income tax, since Texas has no state income tax. Rent in Minneapolis for a one-bedroom apartment averages $1,504 per month, while a Metro Transit monthly pass runs $83 per month. These costs can vary considerably from Greater Minnesota, where wages and rents both run lower.

State income tax is one piece of a broader cost-of-living picture. A state with no income tax may offset that advantage through higher property taxes, sales taxes, or housing costs.

Note: Estimated taxes are illustrative only, assuming the tax year, filing status, and standard deductions/credits. All figures are estimates and may vary based on individual circumstances and time of filing.