Paycheck · Kentucky (KY) · 2026

Kentucky Paycheck Calculator

Kentucky taxes wages at a flat 3.5%, and some localities add their own tax. Enter hourly or salary pay to see your 2026 take-home after federal and Kentucky payroll taxes.

By Work & Money Editorial Team · Last reviewed October 9, 2026 · Calculation tax.paycheck v4.0.0

Your pay and filing details

2026 federal rules (or a 2027 preview) plus your state's income tax, local tax and payroll programs. Your numbers stay in your browser.

State you live and work in

We assume you live and work in the same state.

Local income tax rate (optional)

Most Kentucky cities and many counties (and some school districts) levy occupational license taxes on wages, typically about 1%-2.5% combined (e.g., Louisville Metro, Lexington-Fayette); these apply to gross wages where you work and aren't included in these estimates. Tax Foundation estimates the average local effective rate at about 0.93%.

How you're paid

Salary (yearly)Hourly

Annual gross pay from this job

Before any deductions.

Hourly rate

Regular hours a week

Overtime hours a week (optional)

Overtime pay rate (optional)

Filing status

Pay frequency

Tax year

Pick 2027 to see your paychecks from January.

Dependents (optional)

Used for state exemptions and credits. For federal credits, use the fields below.

Spouse's yearly wages (optional)

Affects the yearly tax estimate on a joint return. If blank, we show the result as if there is no other household income — and say so.

Pre-tax deductions (per year)

Reduce income tax only (optional)

Usually traditional 401(k) or 403(b) contributions. Social Security and Medicare still apply.

Reduce income tax and Social Security/Medicare (optional)

Usually health, dental or vision premiums and health FSA, HSA or dependent care FSA contributions through a Section 125 plan. California and New Jersey tax HSA money for state income tax, and New Jersey also taxes premiums and FSAs. Check your pay stub or ask payroll.

Federal tax credits you expect to claim (optional)

For the yearly estimate only, e.g. the child tax credit. We don't work out eligibility.

Form W-4 entries (optional — affects federal withholding)

W-4 Step 1(c) filing status

Step 2 box checked (two jobs, or spouse works)

Step 3: claim dependents and other credits (optional)

Step 4(a): other income (per year) (optional)

Step 4(b): deductions (per year) (optional)

The 2026 W-4 worksheet lets you include expected tips, overtime, car-loan interest and senior deductions here.

Step 4(c): extra withholding per paycheck (optional)

Estimated take-home pay per paycheck

$1,861.83

after federal, Kentucky taxes

Estimate · tax rules

2026 tax rules.

Each paycheck · 26 a year

Gross pay: $2,307.69
Pre-tax deductions: −$0.00
Federal income tax withheld: −$193.08
Social Security (6.2%): −$143.08
Medicare (1.45%): −$33.46
State income tax (estimate): −$76.25
Local income tax (estimate): −$0.00
State payroll deductions: −$0.00
Take-home pay: $1,861.83
Change vs 2026 (average per paycheck): —

For the whole year

Gross pay: $60,000.00
Take-home pay: $48,407.60
Share of gross you keep: 80.7%
Federal income tax owed (estimate): $5,020.00
Federal effective / marginal rate: 8.4% / 12%
State income tax owed (estimate): $1,982.40
State effective / marginal rate: 3.3% / 3.5%

Kentucky details

State taxable income: $56,640.00
State income tax for the year: $1,982.40

City and county occupational taxes (common in Kentucky, often 1–2.5%) aren't included unless you enter a local rate.
Married couples can sometimes save by filing separately on a combined return; that choice isn't modelled.

Kentucky paycheck guide: rates, deductions and sources

Federal withholding vs. estimated federal tax

Federal income tax withheld over the year: $5,020.00
Difference: About even

A positive difference suggests a federal refund; a negative one suggests you may owe. Other income, deductions and credits change it.

Federal tax brackets applied to your taxable income

How your federal taxable income is taxed
Rate	Income in this bracket	Tax
10%	$12,400.00	$1,240.00
12%	$31,500.00	$3,780.00

How state tax is estimated

We estimate the state income tax you'll owe for the year — wages, minus pre-tax deductions your state allows, minus its standard deduction and exemptions — then apply the state's 2026 brackets and credits, and divide by your number of paychecks. Your employer's withholding uses each state's own formula, so individual paychecks can differ by a few dollars. Employee-paid state programs (disability insurance, paid family leave and similar) are shown separately with their wage caps.

Calculation tax.state-wages v3.1.0; paycheck tax.paycheck v4.0.0; federal tax.federal-paycheck v1.0.0.

Kentucky paycheck taxes at a glance

Kentucky payroll taxes for 2026
Item	Kentucky
State income tax on wages	Flat 3.5%
Brackets	One rate
Standard deduction (single)	$3,360
Local income tax	Most Kentucky cities and many counties (and some school districts) levy occupational license taxes on wages, typically about 1%-2.5% combined (e.g., Louisville Metro, Lexington-Fayette); these apply to gross wages where you work and aren't included in these estimates. Tax Foundation estimates the average local effective rate at about 0.93%.
Employee-paid state programs	None
Take-home on $60,000 (single, biweekly)	$1,861.83 per paycheck · $48,408 a year
Rank for take-home on $60,000	26 of 51 (1 = keeps the most)

Kentucky income tax brackets

Kentucky uses one rate for taxable income. Taxable income is your wages minus the pre-tax deductions Kentucky allows and the deductions and exemptions below.

Kentucky 2026 income tax brackets (taxable income)
Rate	Taxable income (all filers)
3.5%	Over $0

Deductions, exemptions and credits

Kentucky standard deduction, exemptions and personal credits
Filing status	Standard deduction	Personal exemption	Personal credit
Single	$3,360	None	None
Married filing jointly	$3,360	None	None
Married filing separately	$3,360	None	None
Head of household	$3,360	None	None

Dependents: no state dependent exemption or credit in this estimate.
Traditional 401(k) contributions reduce Kentucky taxable wages.
Section 125 health premiums reduce Kentucky taxable wages.

Local income taxes

Enter your local rate in the calculator's Local income tax rate field to include it.

Example paychecks in Kentucky

Single filer, biweekly pay, no pre-tax deductions
Annual pay	Gross per paycheck	Federal tax + FICA	State & local tax	State programs	Take-home per paycheck	Share kept
$40,000	$1,538.46	$218.46	$49.32	$0.00	$1,270.68	82.6%
$60,000	$2,307.69	$369.62	$76.25	$0.00	$1,861.83	80.7%
$80,000	$3,076.92	$572.69	$103.17	$0.00	$2,401.06	78%
$100,000	$3,846.15	$800.77	$130.09	$0.00	$2,915.29	75.8%
$150,000	$5,769.23	$1,392.65	$197.40	$0.00	$4,179.18	72.4%

Kentucky vs. neighboring states

Single filer, $60,000 a year, biweekly, no local tax
State	Income tax on wages	Take-home a year	Per paycheck
Kentucky	Flat 3.5%	$48,408	$1,861.83
Illinois	Flat 4.95%	$47,565	$1,829.41
Indiana	Flat 2.95%	$48,650	$1,871.13
Missouri	2% to 4.7%	$48,507	$1,865.67
Ohio	Flat 2.75%	$49,184	$1,891.67
Tennessee	No income tax on wages	$50,390	$1,938.08
Virginia	2% to 5.75%	$47,754	$1,836.70
West Virginia	2.11% to 4.58%	$48,524	$1,866.30

See all 50 states and DC side by side at any salary.

Bonuses and other supplemental pay

Federal withholding on a bonus paid separately is usually a flat 22% (37% on supplemental pay over $1 million in a year). Kentucky doesn't publish a single flat rate we could confirm, so employers typically add the bonus to regular pay for the period when working out state withholding. Use the bonus tax calculator to see what a bonus check will look like.

What this estimate leaves out

City and county occupational taxes (common in Kentucky, often 1–2.5%) aren't included unless you enter a local rate.
Married couples can sometimes save by filing separately on a combined return; that choice isn't modelled.
Only wages are taxed here. For Kentucky income tax on investment and self-employment income for the whole year, use the state income tax calculator.
We assume you live and work in Kentucky. Federal limitations are listed on the main paycheck calculator.

Sources and verification

Figures checked on October 9, 2026 (read from the state's own publications). 3.5% rate and $3,360 standard deduction read from Kentucky DOR 2026 Withholding Formula and DOR news release; cross-checked with Tax Foundation 2026 table (3.50%, $3,360 single and couple).

2026 Withholding Formula — Kentucky Department of Revenue. Accessed 2026-10-09.
Kentucky DOR Announces 2026 Standard Deduction — Kentucky Department of Revenue. Accessed 2026-10-09.
State Individual Income Tax Rates and Brackets, 2026 — Tax Foundation. Accessed 2026-10-09.

Take-home on common salaries in Kentucky

Full 2026 tax breakdown, paychecks and state comparison for each salary.

Take-home on common hourly rates in Kentucky

Weekly and yearly take-home, overtime, the state minimum wage and a state comparison for each rate.