Tax year 2026 · Updated September 3, 2026

Kentucky Hourly Paycheck Calculator

Enter your hourly rate, hours and overtime to see what lands in your account each pay period in Kentucky. Kentucky's flat rate dropped to 3.5% for 2026, and many cities and counties, including Louisville and Lexington, levy occupational taxes on wages.

Kentucky hourly paycheck calculator

Estimates for tax year 2026. Results update as you type.

Pay type

SalaryHourly

Hourly rate

Hours per week

Overtime hours per week (paid at 1.5×)

Pay frequency

Filing status (Form W-4, Step 1)

Local occupational taxMany Kentucky cities and counties levy an occupational license tax on wages (Louisville Metro 2.2%, Lexington-Fayette 2.25%).

W-4 details, retirement and benefits

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

Step 3: dependents credit (annual $)

$2,200 per qualifying child under 17, $500 per other dependent.

Step 4(c): extra withholding per paycheck

Step 4(a): other annual income

Step 4(b): deductions beyond the standard deduction

401(k) / 403(b) contribution

Percent of gross pay, pre-tax (traditional).

Health premiums, HSA, FSA per paycheck

Section 125 items also reduce Social Security and Medicare wages.

After-tax deductions per paycheck

Roth 401(k), union dues, garnishments.

Dependents for Kentucky exemptions

Estimated take-home pay per week$720.46$37,464.16 per year · $3,122.01 per month

Effective tax rate

18.1%

Federal marginal rate

12%

Kentucky marginal rate

3.50%

Line	Per paycheck	Per year
Gross pay	$880.00	$45,760.00
Pre-tax retirement	$0.00	$0.00
Health, HSA, FSA (pre-tax)	$0.00	$0.00
Federal income tax	$63.68	$3,311.20
Social Security (6.2%)	$54.56	$2,837.12
Medicare (1.45%)	$12.76	$663.52
Kentucky income tax	$28.54	$1,484.00
Local income tax	$0.00	$0.00
After-tax deductions	$0.00	$0.00
Take-home pay	$720.46	$37,464.16

Federal withholding follows IRS Publication 15-T for a 2020-or-later W-4. Social Security applies to the first $184,500 of wages in 2026. Kentucky tax uses the 2026 rate schedule (top rate 3.5%).

Hourly wage to take-home pay in Kentucky (2026)

Weekly take-home pay for a single filer working 40 hours with a standard W-4 and no pre-tax deductions.

Weekly take-home pay by hourly rate in Kentucky
Hourly rate	Gross per week	Take-home per week	Take-home per year	Effective tax
$15.00 / hour	$600.00	$505.28	$26,275	15.8%
$20.00 / hour	$800.00	$658.98	$34,267	17.6%
$25.00 / hour	$1,000.00	$812.68	$42,260	18.7%
$30.00 / hour	$1,200.00	$966.38	$50,252	19.5%

Kentucky taxes on hourly pay

Kentucky has a flat income tax of 3.5%. Because the rate is flat, your marginal and effective state rates are close together; deductions and exemptions are what separate them.

Before the rates apply, Kentucky allows a standard deduction of $3,360 for single filers and $3,360 for joint filers. The calculator applies these automatically based on your filing status and the dependents you enter.

Many Kentucky cities and counties levy an occupational license tax on wages (Louisville Metro 2.2%, Lexington-Fayette 2.25%).

Kentucky 2026 income tax brackets
Rate	Single filers and joint filers
3.5%	over $0

Standard deduction: $3,360 single, $3,360 joint. Married filing separately and head of household use the single schedule in this estimate.

Frequently asked questions

How is hourly take-home pay calculated in Kentucky?

Gross pay is your hourly rate × hours, with overtime hours at 1.5× your rate. The calculator annualises that amount, works out federal withholding under IRS Publication 15-T, applies Social Security (6.2%) and Medicare (1.45%), then applies Kentucky's 2026 income tax rates, deductions and exemptions, and divides everything back into your pay period.

What is $20 an hour after taxes in Kentucky?

At 40 hours a week, $20 an hour is $800.00 gross per week. For a single filer with a standard W-4 in 2026, take-home pay is about $658.98 a week, or $34,267 a year (an effective tax rate of 17.6%).

How is overtime taxed in Kentucky?

Overtime is taxed like any other wages: it is added to your gross pay before federal, FICA and Kentucky taxes are calculated. A large overtime week can push more of your pay into a higher federal withholding band for that period, which is why the withholding on an overtime-heavy paycheck looks disproportionately high; it evens out on your annual return.

Does Kentucky have state income tax on hourly wages?

Yes. Kentucky withholds income tax from hourly wages at a flat 3.5% after its deductions and exemptions, exactly as it does for salaried employees.

How many hours count as full time for this calculator?

The calculator uses whatever you enter. 40 hours is the usual full-time week; hours above 40 in a workweek are paid at 1.5× under the federal Fair Labor Standards Act for non-exempt employees, and some states have daily overtime rules the calculator does not model.

Hourly paycheck calculators for other states

Sources and updates

Figures are for tax year 2026 and were checked against the sources below on September 3, 2026. Rates change every January; we review every data file at the start of each year and whenever a state announces a mid-year change.

This calculator gives estimates for information only and is not tax, legal or financial advice. Your employer's payroll system, local taxes, benefits and year-to-date wages can change the exact amounts on your pay stub. See how we calculate.