How much is taken out of a paycheck in Kentucky?
A single filer earning $60,000 in Kentucky and paid every two weeks keeps about $1,861.83 of each $2,307.69 paycheck. Federal income tax takes $193.08, Social Security and Medicare take $176.54 and Kentucky income tax takes $76.25. Altogether that is 19.3% of gross pay. The full method behind these figures is on the paycheck calculator page.
Kentucky state income tax rates for 2026
Kentucky taxes wages at a flat 3.5% rate.
Every dollar of taxable income is taxed at the same 3.5%, after a $3,360 standard deduction for single filers ($3,360 for married couples filing jointly).
Take-home pay by salary in Kentucky
Yearly take-home pay for a single filer paid every two weeks, with no 401(k) or other deductions.
| Salary | Federal tax | Social Security + Medicare | Kentucky taxes | Take-home a year | Per paycheck |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $30,000 | $1,420 | $2,295 | $932 | $25,353 | $975.10 |
| $40,000 | $2,620 | $3,060 | $1,282 | $33,038 | $1,270.68 |
| $50,000 | $3,820 | $3,825 | $1,632 | $40,723 | $1,566.25 |
| $60,000 | $5,020 | $4,590 | $1,982 | $48,408 | $1,861.83 |
| $75,000 | $7,670 | $5,738 | $2,507 | $59,085 | $2,272.50 |
| $100,000 | $13,170 | $7,650 | $3,382 | $75,798 | $2,915.29 |
| $125,000 | $18,734 | $9,563 | $4,257 | $92,446 | $3,555.62 |
| $150,000 | $24,734 | $11,475 | $5,132 | $108,659 | $4,179.18 |
| $200,000 | $36,734 | $14,339 | $6,882 | $142,045 | $5,463.25 |
Hourly pay after taxes in Kentucky
Full time is 40 hours a week for 52 weeks, or 2,080 hours a year. Switch the calculator to hourly for other schedules.
| Hourly wage | Gross a year | Take-home a year | Every two weeks | Per hour after tax |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $15.00 | $31,200 | $26,275 | $1,010.57 | $12.63 |
| $18.00 | $37,440 | $31,070 | $1,195.01 | $14.94 |
| $20.00 | $41,600 | $34,267 | $1,317.97 | $16.47 |
| $25.00 | $52,000 | $42,260 | $1,625.37 | $20.32 |
| $30.00 | $62,400 | $50,252 | $1,932.77 | $24.16 |
| $40.00 | $83,200 | $64,567 | $2,483.34 | $31.04 |
| $50.00 | $104,000 | $78,472 | $3,018.14 | $37.73 |
Local income taxes in Kentucky
Many Kentucky cities and counties, including Louisville Metro and Lexington-Fayette, charge an occupational license tax on wages, and some school districts add their own. Employers withhold them separately. They are not in the calculator.
Kentucky take-home pay compared with nearby states
The same $60,000 salary, single filer, paid every two weeks. Of the states that border Kentucky, Tennessee leaves the most in each paycheck.
| State | State taxes on $60,000 | Take-home a year | Per paycheck |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kentucky | $1,982 | $48,408 | $1,861.83 |
| Illinois paycheck calculator | $2,825 | $47,565 | $1,829.41 |
| Indiana paycheck calculator | $1,741 | $48,650 | $1,871.13 |
| Missouri paycheck calculator | $1,847 | $48,543 | $1,867.03 |
| Ohio paycheck calculator | $1,207 | $49,184 | $1,891.67 |
| Tennessee paycheck calculator | $0 | $50,390 | $1,938.08 |
| Virginia paycheck calculator | $2,636 | $47,754 | $1,836.70 |
| West Virginia paycheck calculator | $1,866 | $48,524 | $1,866.30 |
Sources
Kentucky rates come from the state's own published 2026 figures: revenue.ky.gov, revenue.ky.gov. Federal figures follow IRS Publication 15-T. See how we calculate for every assumption.