$20,000 a Year After Tax in Minnesota
If you make $20,000 a year living in Minnesota, you will take home $17,829 per year — $1,486 a month — after 2026 federal and state taxes (single filer). Adjust filing status, 401(k), and children below.
- Federal income tax$390
- Social Security (6.2%)$1,240
- Medicare (1.45%)$290
- Minnesota income tax$251
- Take-home pay$17,829
Marginal rate: 10% federal + 5.35% state
$20,000 after tax breakdown
| Yearly | Monthly | Biweekly | % of pay | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gross salary | $20,000 | $1,667 | $769 | 100.0% |
| Federal income tax | $390 | $33 | $15 | 1.9% |
| Social Security | $1,240 | $103 | $48 | 6.2% |
| Medicare | $290 | $24 | $11 | 1.5% |
| Minnesota income tax | $251 | $21 | $10 | 1.3% |
| Total tax | $2,171 | $181 | $84 | 10.9% |
| Take-home pay | $17,829 | $1,486 | $686 | 89.1% |
By filing status
Is $20,000 enough? A 50/30/20 budget
Applying the popular 50/30/20 rule to your $1,486 monthly take-home pay:
A common affordability rule is to keep rent under 30% of gross pay — about $500 a month on $20,000.
What $20,000 buys in Minnesota cities
The median wage across all jobs in Minnesota is $56,920 (BLS, May 2025), so $20,000 is 65% below the typical Minnesota paycheck and below what three-quarters of workers here earn. Prices vary a lot within the state: Grand Forks, ND stretches a paycheck furthest, while Minneapolis, MN is the costliest.
| Metro area | Price level | 1-BR rent | Rent share | Left after rent / mo | Buying power* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minneapolis, MN | 104.8 | $1,396 | 94% | $90 | $17,008 |
| Sioux Falls, SD | 90.6 | $978 | 66% | $508 | $19,672 |
| Fargo, ND | 90.9 | $917 | 62% | $569 | $19,620 |
| Duluth, MN | 88.8 | $978 | 66% | $508 | $20,084 |
| Rochester, MN | 90.8 | $1,124 | 76% | $362 | $19,630 |
| St. Cloud, MN | 87.6 | $919 | 62% | $567 | $20,345 |
| La Crosse, WI | 91.8 | $866 | 58% | $620 | $19,428 |
| Mankato, MN | 91.0 | $977 | 66% | $509 | $19,602 |
| Grand Forks, ND | 86.7 | $868 | 58% | $618 | $20,572 |
*Yearly take-home pay (on $20,000, single filer) in U.S.-average dollars. Price level: BEA RPP 2024 (U.S. = 100). Rent: HUD FY2026 one-bedroom fair market rent.
$20,000 after tax: best and worst states
Minnesota ranks #28 of 51 for take-home pay on $20,000. You would keep the most in Alaska ($18,080) and the least in Oregon ($17,160) — a gap of $920 a year.
| # | State | State tax | Take-home | Monthly | vs MN |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alaska | $0 | $18,080 | $1,507 | +$251 |
| 1 | Florida | $0 | $18,080 | $1,507 | +$251 |
| 1 | Idaho | $0 | $18,080 | $1,507 | +$251 |
| 1 | Nevada | $0 | $18,080 | $1,507 | +$251 |
| 1 | New Hampshire | $0 | $18,080 | $1,507 | +$251 |
| 1 | North Dakota | $0 | $18,080 | $1,507 | +$251 |
| 1 | Ohio | $0 | $18,080 | $1,507 | +$251 |
| 1 | South Dakota | $0 | $18,080 | $1,507 | +$251 |
| 1 | Tennessee | $0 | $18,080 | $1,507 | +$251 |
| 1 | Texas | $0 | $18,080 | $1,507 | +$251 |
| 28 | Minnesota | $251 | $17,829 | $1,486 | — |
| 47 | Pennsylvania | $614 | $17,466 | $1,456 | −$363 |
| 48 | Alabama | $735 | $17,345 | $1,445 | −$484 |
| 49 | Massachusetts | $780 | $17,300 | $1,442 | −$529 |
| 50 | Illinois | $845 | $17,235 | $1,436 | −$594 |
| 51 | Oregon | $920 | $17,160 | $1,430 | −$669 |
About Minnesota taxes
Minnesota uses a graduated income tax with 4 brackets, rising to a top rate of 9.85% for single filers on taxable income above $203,150. The state allows a $15,300 standard deduction for single filers ($30,600 for married couples).
A raise to $25,000 would add $3,850 to your yearly take-home pay in Minnesota — you keep 77% of the extra $5,000.
Frequently asked questions
How much is $20,000 a year after taxes in Minnesota?
A single filer earning $20,000 in Minnesota takes home about $17,829 a year in 2026 after $2,171 in federal, state, Social Security and Medicare taxes — an effective tax rate of 10.9%.
How much is $20,000 a year per month after taxes in Minnesota?
About $1,486 per month, $743 twice a month, or $686 per biweekly paycheck for a single filer.
What hourly wage is $20,000 a year?
$20,000 a year is $9.62 an hour before tax at 40 hours a week for 52 weeks (2,080 hours). After tax in Minnesota it works out to about $8.57 an hour.
Is $20,000 a good salary in Minnesota?
It depends heavily on where in Minnesota you live and your household size. Compare it with typical pay and living costs for your city on our cost-of-living pages. As a rule of thumb, the 50/30/20 budget on this take-home pay leaves about $743 a month for needs, $446 for wants and $297 for savings.