Kentucky paycheck calculator
Kentucky has a flat 3.50% state income tax. Enter your hourly wage below to estimate your Kentuckytake-home pay after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare, and state income tax.
Paycheck calculator
Estimated take-home pay
$1,625.37every two weeks
$42,260 a year ·$3,522 a month
| Gross pay | $52,000.00 |
|---|---|
| Federal income tax | −$4,060.00 |
| Kentucky income tax | −$1,702.40 |
| Social Security (6.2%) | −$3,224.00 |
| Medicare (1.45%) | −$754.00 |
| Additional Medicare (0.9%) | −$0.00 |
| Pre-tax deductions | −$0.00 |
| Net (take-home) | $42,259.60 |
Effective tax + FICA rate: 18.7%· Marginal federal bracket: 12%
Estimate only. Excludes local/city taxes, employer benefit elections, W-4 adjustments, and other withholdings. Your actual paycheck will differ. This is not tax advice.
Kentucky income tax rules (2026)
Kentucky applies a flat 3.50% rate. A standard deduction of $3,360 (single) is applied first.
Flat 3.5% (reduced from 4.0% in 2025), applied after Kentucky's 2026 standard deduction of $3,360. No personal exemption.
Source: Kentucky Department of Revenue, 2026 Withholding Tax Formula and 2026 standard deduction announcement. https://revenue.ky.gov/Forms/2026%20Withholding%20Formula.pdf · Verified 2025-09-04. See ourmethodology for all figures.
Take-home pay by wage in Kentucky
Single filer, 40 hours a week, 2026 rates.
| Hourly | Gross / yr | Take-home / yr |
|---|---|---|
| $15/hr | $31,200 | $26,275 |
| $16/hr | $33,280 | $27,873 |
| $17/hr | $35,360 | $29,472 |
| $18/hr | $37,440 | $31,070 |
| $20/hr | $41,600 | $34,267 |
| $22/hr | $45,760 | $37,464 |
| $25/hr | $52,000 | $42,260 |
| $28/hr | $58,240 | $47,055 |
| $30/hr | $62,400 | $50,252 |
| $35/hr | $72,800 | $57,614 |
| $40/hr | $83,200 | $64,567 |
| $45/hr | $93,600 | $71,519 |
| $50/hr | $104,000 | $78,472 |
| $60/hr | $124,800 | $92,316 |
| $75/hr | $156,000 | $112,550 |
Frequently asked questions
- Does Kentucky have a state income tax?
- Yes. Kentucky charges a flat 3.50% on taxable wages. Flat 3.5% (reduced from 4.0% in 2025), applied after Kentucky's 2026 standard deduction of $3,360. No personal exemption.
- How much is $20 an hour after taxes in Kentucky?
- About $34,267 a year, or $2,856 a month take-home, for a single filer at 40 hours a week — an effective rate of 17.6%.
- What taxes come out of my paycheck in Kentucky?
- Federal income tax, Social Security (6.2% up to $184,500), Medicare (1.45%), and Kentucky state income tax. Local city taxes are not included in this estimate.