Kentucky Paycheck Calculator
A quick take-home pay estimate for Kentucky, covering federal income tax, FICA, plus state tax. Start from $75,000 or type your own figures.
Reading Kentucky Payroll Taxes
Kentucky taxes wages at one flat rate of 3.5%, applied after a state deduction of $3,360 for a single filer. Everyone pays the same percentage on taxable income, whatever they earn.
To change state withholding, submit Form K-4 to your employer.
Kentucky has a flat income tax that has been stepping down; add your city occupational tax in the local field.
Minimum Wage in Kentucky: Weekly and Yearly Take-Home
Minimum wage in Kentucky: $7.25 an hour, per the Labor Department summary current on July 1, 2026. A single filer on a 40-hour schedule at that rate brings in $290.00 weekly gross and keeps around $259.93, or $13,516 over twelve months, with no deductions. State income tax and programs take about $410 a year from that pay.
Working full time at that floor pays $15,080 a year, about 32% of the $46,920 median wage in Kentucky.
Rates change during the year, so confirm the current figure with the Kentucky labor department. For hourly jobs use the hourly paycheck calculator.
Kentucky Wages Against Take-Home Pay
Across roughly 2,000,400 wage and salary jobs in Kentucky, the BLS (May 2025) reports a mean annual wage of $58,990 and a median of $46,920. That median sits 8% below the US figure of $50,980.
What each pay level keeps after federal tax, FICA, state tax and programs (single filer, no deductions, paid biweekly):
| Where you sit | Yearly pay | Yearly net | Net per two weeks | Tax share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $27,970 | $23,782 | $914.69 | 15% |
| Typical worker (median) | $46,920 | $38,356 | $1,475.22 | 18.3% |
| Average (mean) | $58,990 | $47,631 | $1,831.98 | 19.3% |
| 75th percentile | $66,760 | $53,577 | $2,060.64 | 19.7% |
BLS wage estimates exclude self-employment, and they are averages of many different jobs. For your own number, use the salary paycheck calculator.
How Often Kentucky Employers Pay
Kentucky requires semimonthly pay. That is the general rule in the DOL's state payday table. Some industries and job types are treated differently, so ask the Kentucky labor department if you are unsure.
Using a $46,900 full-time salary (the BLS median wage there), this is what the permitted schedule pays a single filer with no deductions:
| Pay frequency | Gross per check | Net per check |
|---|---|---|
| Semimonthly (24 a year) | $1,954.17 | $1,597.51 |
The pay frequency guide explains the trade-offs, and the biweekly and weekly calculators take your own inputs.
Kentucky Programs, Local Taxes and Deductions
State Payroll Programs
The calculator does not add any employee-paid state payroll programs for Kentucky.
Local Taxes
Many Kentucky cities and counties, including Louisville and Lexington, levy occupational license taxes around 1% to 2.5% of wages.
Pre-Tax Deductions
Traditional 401(k), health premiums and HSA contributions generally lower Kentucky taxable wages. See paycheck deductions.
The Kentucky Rate Table
The whole Kentucky tax schedule is one line: 3.5% of wages after a deduction of about $3,360 for single filers.
What Kentucky Salaries Keep
A $75,000 salary leaves a single filer in Kentucky with about $59,085 a year. That ranks 22 of 51 for take-home pay and is $205 above the national median of $58,880.
| Salary | Net per check (biweekly) | Net per year | Total tax rate | State tax + programs / yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $30,000 | $975.10 | $25,353 | 15.5% | $932 |
| $45,000 | $1,418.47 | $36,880 | 18% | $1,457 |
| $60,000 | $1,861.83 | $48,408 | 19.3% | $1,982 |
| $75,000 | $2,272.50 | $59,085 | 21.2% | $2,507 |
| $100,000 | $2,915.29 | $75,798 | 24.2% | $3,382 |
| $150,000 | $4,179.18 | $108,659 | 27.6% | $5,132 |
How Kentucky Stacks Up Regionally
Holding pay at $75,000 for a single filer, here is Kentucky next to the states it borders or sits near:
| Location | Kept per year | State tax and programs | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kentucky (this page) | $59,085 | $2,507 | +$0 |
| Tennessee | $61,592 | $0 | +$2,507 |
| Ohio | $60,312 | $1,280 | +$1,227 |
| Indiana | $59,410 | $2,183 | +$324 |
| Virginia | $58,094 | $3,498 | -$991 |
Differences are measured against Kentucky. Border commuters should note that the work state normally taxes wages and the home state may offer a credit.
Ways to Raise Your Kentucky Take-Home
- In Kentucky, every dollar moved into a pre-tax account can save 3.5% of state tax on top of the federal saving.
- After a move, marriage or new child, refresh Form K-4 with your employer.
- Local taxes can apply on top: Many Kentucky cities and counties, including Louisville and Lexington, levy occupational license taxes around 1% to 2.5% of wages.
- For the federal rules, read paycheck deductions and 401(k) deductions.
Nearby State Calculators
Questions About Pay in Kentucky
How does Kentucky tax wages?
Kentucky taxes wages at a single rate of 3.5%.
What does $60,000 a year take home in Kentucky?
About $1,861.83 every two weeks, or $48,408 over the year, once federal tax, FICA and Kentucky tax are taken out (single filer, no deductions).
What is the lowest hourly pay allowed in Kentucky?
As of July 1, 2026, Kentucky sets the floor at $7.25 an hour (US Department of Labor). At 40 hours a week that is about $259.93 take-home per week for a single filer.
How much do people earn in Kentucky?
Median pay is $46,920 and the mean is $58,990 across all occupations in Kentucky (BLS OEWS, May 2025). A single filer at the median keeps about $38,356 a year.
What are the payday rules in Kentucky?
Kentucky requires semimonthly pay. Exceptions exist, so confirm with the state labor department.
Is there a local wage tax in Kentucky?
Many Kentucky cities and counties, including Louisville and Lexington, levy occupational license taxes around 1% to 2.5% of wages. Use the local income tax field in the calculator to include one.
Do I fill out a state W-4 in Kentucky?
Kentucky uses Form K-4 for state withholding elections. Federal withholding is set on Form W-4.
What if I work in Kentucky but live across the state line?
Generally you owe income tax to the state where you work, and your home state gives a credit or exemption. For example, if you live in Tennessee and work in Kentucky, or the reverse, check both states and any reciprocity agreement, or ask payroll.
Does Kentucky let you keep more of your pay than other states?
Take-home on $75,000 (single filer) puts Kentucky at 22 of 51 including DC, at about $59,085 a year.
How these numbers are figured: 2026 IRS withholding rules (Publication 15-T) and state figures last verified September 2026. Results are estimates. Read the full methodology and sources.