Kentucky · 2026 take-home pay

$30 an hour after taxes in Kentucky

At $30 an hour in Kentucky you keep about $24.16 of every hour — $966 a week, $4,188 a month or $50,252 a year full time — after 2026 federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare and Kentucky income tax. Kentucky has a flat 3.5% income tax, and its minimum wage is $7.25 an hour.

By Work & Money Editorial Team · Last reviewed October 14, 2026

Where $30 an hour goes

$30 an hour full time in Kentucky, single filer, 2026
A yearA weekAn hour
Gross pay$62,400$1,200$30.00
Federal income tax−$5,308−$102−$2.55
Social Security (6.2%)−$3,869−$74−$1.86
Medicare (1.45%+)−$905−$17−$0.44
Kentucky income tax−$2,066−$40−$0.99
Take-home pay$50,252$966$24.16

Effective tax rate 19.5% · federal bracket 12% · Kentucky bracket 3.5%.

Take-home per paycheck

40 hours a week, different pay schedules
PaidGrossTake-home
Weekly (52 paychecks)$1,200.00$966.38
Every two weeks (26)$2,400.00$1,932.77
Twice a month (24)$2,600.00$2,093.83
Monthly (12)$5,200.00$4,187.67

Change hours, overtime and deductions

$30 an hour at different hours

Take-home in Kentucky for part-time, full-time and overtime weeks. Overtime is paid at 1.5 times $30 an hour for hours over 40, as federal law requires for most hourly workers.

$30 an hour in Kentucky: weekly hours and take-home, 2026
ScheduleGross a weekTake-home a weekTake-home a year
20 hours a week*$600$505$26,275
30 hours a week$900$736$38,263
40 hours a week$1,200$966$50,252
40 hours + 5 overtime$1,425$1,125$58,483
40 hours + 10 overtime$1,650$1,275$66,305

*If this is your only job. With a second job, withholding on each is likely too low unless you adjust your W-4.

Is $30 an hour good pay in Kentucky?

  • Minimum wage: $30 an hour is 4.1 times Kentucky's minimum wage of $7.25 an hour.
  • Among Kentucky workers: It's about the 69th percentile of hourly pay in Kentucky (BLS, May 2025) — roughly 69 in 100 workers earn less. The median is $22.56 an hour.
  • Local prices: Kentucky's price level is 90.2% of the U.S. average (BEA Regional Price Parities), so $50,252 a year buys about what $55,737 would at national-average prices.
  • Rent: the 30% rule points to about $1,560 a month. Check it with your debts.
  • A 50/30/20 budget: about $2,094 a month for needs, $1,256 for wants and $838 for savings. Plan it in the budget calculator.

Jobs in Kentucky that pay about $30 an hour

Occupations whose median wage in Kentucky is within 4% of $30 an hour, most common first. Source: BLS OEWS May 2025.

How Kentucky compares on $30 an hour

Kentucky ranks 26th of 51 for take-home pay on $30 an hour (1st = keeps the most). Here it is next to its neighbors.

Take-home on $30 an hour, 40 hours a week, single filer, 2026
StateAfter tax, per hourA yearMinimum wagevs Kentucky
Kentucky$24.16$50,252$7.25—
Illinois$23.74$49,374$15.00−$878 a year
Indiana$24.28$50,507$7.25+$255 a year
Missouri$24.19$50,323$15.00+$71 a year
Ohio$24.54$51,046$11.00+$794 a year
Tennessee$25.15$52,318$7.25+$2,066 a year
Virginia$23.82$49,545$12.77−$707 a year
West Virginia$24.21$50,350$8.75+$98 a year

How the federal tax on $62,400 ($30 an hour) is worked out

Taxable income is $62,400 minus the 2026 standard deduction ($16,100) = $46,300. Each slice is taxed at its own rate:

2026 federal income tax by bracket, single filer
RateIncome in this bracketTax
10%$12,400$1,240
12%$33,900$4,068
Total$46,300$5,308

How the Kentucky income tax on $62,400 ($30 an hour) is worked out

Taxable income is $62,400 of Kentucky wages minus $3,360 standard deduction = $59,040.

Kentucky income tax by bracket, single filer, 2026 rules
RateIncome in this bracketTax
3.5%$59,040$2,066
Total$59,040$2,066

Common questions

How much is $30 an hour after taxes in Kentucky?

About $24.16 for every hour you work, or $50,252 a year at 40 hours a week ($62,400 gross). Taxes take about 19.5% of your pay, for a single filer in 2026 with no pre-tax deductions.

How much is $30 an hour a week after taxes in Kentucky?

About $966 a week at 40 hours, from $1,200 gross. Paid every two weeks, each paycheck is about $1,933.

How much is $30 an hour a month after taxes in Kentucky?

About $4,188 a month at 40 hours a week, from $5,200 gross.

Is $30 an hour good pay in Kentucky?

$30 an hour is 4.1 times Kentucky's minimum wage of $7.25 an hour. It's about the 69th percentile of hourly pay in Kentucky (BLS, May 2025) — roughly 69 in 100 workers earn less. The median hourly wage for all jobs in Kentucky is $22.56. After taxes and local prices, $50,252 a year buys about what $55,737 would at national-average prices.

Is Kentucky a high-tax state for $30 an hour?

It ranks 26th of 51 among the 50 states and D.C. for take-home on $30 an hour. The most you'd keep is $52,318 a year, in 8 places including Florida, North Dakota, New Hampshire; the least, $47,723 in Oregon.

Sources and method

Our 2026 engine applies IRS Publication 15-T withholding, Social Security and Medicare, Kentucky's income tax rules (methodology). Local income taxes are not included. Minimum wages: U.S. Department of Labor. Wage distribution and jobs: BLS OEWS May 2025. Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities.

  1. Publication 15-T (2026), Federal Income Tax Withholding Methods — Internal Revenue Service. Accessed October 14, 2026.
  2. State Minimum Wage Laws — U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division. Accessed October 14, 2026.
  3. Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 — U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Accessed October 14, 2026.
  4. Regional Price Parities by State — U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. Accessed October 14, 2026.