Minnesota · 2026 take-home pay

$21 an hour after taxes in Minnesota

At $21 an hour in Minnesota you keep about $17.10 of every hour — $684 a week, $2,964 a month or $35,566 a year full time — after 2026 federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare, Minnesota income tax and state payroll programs. Minnesota has a graduated income tax plus Minnesota Paid Leave (employee share) — new Jan 1, 2026, and its minimum wage is $11.41 an hour.

By Work & Money Editorial Team · Last reviewed October 14, 2026

Where $21 an hour goes

$21 an hour full time in Minnesota, single filer, 2026
A yearA weekAn hour
Gross pay$43,680$840$21.00
Federal income tax−$3,062−$59−$1.47
Social Security (6.2%)−$2,708−$52−$1.30
Medicare (1.45%+)−$633−$12−$0.30
Minnesota income tax−$1,518−$29−$0.73
Minnesota Paid Leave (employee share) — new Jan 1, 2026−$192−$4−$0.09
Take-home pay$35,566$684$17.10

Effective tax rate 18.6% · federal bracket 12% · Minnesota bracket 5.35%.

Minnesota Paid Leave (employee share) — new Jan 1, 2026: 0.44% of wages.

Take-home per paycheck

40 hours a week, different pay schedules
PaidGrossTake-home
Weekly (52 paychecks)$840.00$683.97
Every two weeks (26)$1,680.00$1,367.94
Twice a month (24)$1,820.00$1,481.93
Monthly (12)$3,640.00$2,963.86

Change hours, overtime and deductions

$21 an hour at different hours

Take-home in Minnesota for part-time, full-time and overtime weeks. Overtime is paid at 1.5 times $21 an hour for hours over 40, as federal law requires for most hourly workers.

$21 an hour in Minnesota: weekly hours and take-home, 2026
ScheduleGross a weekTake-home a weekTake-home a year
20 hours a week*$420$368$19,149
30 hours a week$630$527$27,424
40 hours a week$840$684$35,566
40 hours + 5 overtime$998$800$41,626
40 hours + 10 overtime$1,155$916$47,613

*If this is your only job. With a second job, withholding on each is likely too low unless you adjust your W-4.

Is $21 an hour good pay in Minnesota?

  • Minimum wage: $21 an hour is 1.8 times Minnesota's minimum wage of $11.41 an hour. Minneapolis and St. Paul set higher minimums.
  • Among Minnesota workers: It's about the 31st percentile of hourly pay in Minnesota (BLS, May 2025) — roughly 31 in 100 workers earn less. The median is $27.36 an hour.
  • Local prices: Minnesota's price level is 98.6% of the U.S. average (BEA Regional Price Parities), so $35,566 a year buys about what $36,064 would at national-average prices.
  • Rent: the 30% rule points to about $1,092 a month. Check it with your debts.
  • A 50/30/20 budget: about $1,482 a month for needs, $889 for wants and $593 for savings. Plan it in the budget calculator.

Jobs in Minnesota that pay about $21 an hour

Occupations whose median wage in Minnesota is within 4% of $21 an hour, most common first. Source: BLS OEWS May 2025.

How Minnesota compares on $21 an hour

Minnesota ranks 43rd of 51 for take-home pay on $21 an hour (1st = keeps the most). Here it is next to its neighbors.

Take-home on $21 an hour, 40 hours a week, single filer, 2026
StateAfter tax, per hourA yearMinimum wagevs Minnesota
Minnesota$17.10$35,566$11.41—
Iowa$17.44$36,269$7.25+$703 a year
North Dakota$17.92$37,277$7.25+$1,711 a year
South Dakota$17.92$37,277$11.85+$1,711 a year
Wisconsin$17.31$36,012$7.25+$446 a year

How the federal tax on $43,680 ($21 an hour) is worked out

Taxable income is $43,680 minus the 2026 standard deduction ($16,100) = $27,580. Each slice is taxed at its own rate:

2026 federal income tax by bracket, single filer
RateIncome in this bracketTax
10%$12,400$1,240
12%$15,180$1,822
Total$27,580$3,062

How the Minnesota income tax on $43,680 ($21 an hour) is worked out

Taxable income is $43,680 of Minnesota wages minus $15,300 standard deduction = $28,380.

Minnesota income tax by bracket, single filer, 2026 rules
RateIncome in this bracketTax
5.35%$28,380$1,518
Total$28,380$1,518

Common questions

How much is $21 an hour after taxes in Minnesota?

About $17.10 for every hour you work, or $35,566 a year at 40 hours a week ($43,680 gross). Taxes take about 18.6% of your pay, for a single filer in 2026 with no pre-tax deductions.

How much is $21 an hour a week after taxes in Minnesota?

About $684 a week at 40 hours, from $840 gross. Paid every two weeks, each paycheck is about $1,368.

How much is $21 an hour a month after taxes in Minnesota?

About $2,964 a month at 40 hours a week, from $3,640 gross.

Is $21 an hour good pay in Minnesota?

$21 an hour is 1.8 times Minnesota's minimum wage of $11.41 an hour. It's about the 31st percentile of hourly pay in Minnesota (BLS, May 2025) — roughly 31 in 100 workers earn less. The median hourly wage for all jobs in Minnesota is $27.36. After taxes and local prices, $35,566 a year buys about what $36,064 would at national-average prices.

Is Minnesota a high-tax state for $21 an hour?

It ranks 43rd of 51 among the 50 states and D.C. for take-home on $21 an hour. The most you'd keep is $37,277 a year, in 8 places including Florida, North Dakota, New Hampshire; the least, $34,254 in Oregon.

Sources and method

Our 2026 engine applies IRS Publication 15-T withholding, Social Security and Medicare, Minnesota's income tax rules and Minnesota's employee payroll programs (methodology). Local income taxes are not included. Minimum wages: U.S. Department of Labor. Wage distribution and jobs: BLS OEWS May 2025. Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities.

  1. Publication 15-T (2026), Federal Income Tax Withholding Methods — Internal Revenue Service. Accessed October 14, 2026.
  2. State Minimum Wage Laws — U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division. Accessed October 14, 2026.
  3. Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 — U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Accessed October 14, 2026.
  4. Regional Price Parities by State — U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. Accessed October 14, 2026.