Working full time at $14 an hour ($29,120 a year) in Kentucky, a single filer takes home about $24,676 a year, $2,056 a month or $11.86 an hour, after federal tax, FICA and $902 Kentucky income tax.
#42 of 51for take-home at this pay
Where the money goes
Breakdown
| Yearly | Monthly | |
|---|---|---|
| Gross pay | $29,120 | $2,427 |
| Federal income tax | $1,314 | $110 |
| Social Security (6.2%) | $1,805 | $150 |
| Medicare | $422 | $35 |
| Kentucky income tax | $902 | $75 |
| Take-home | $24,676 | $2,056 |
| Federal marginal rate | 12% | |
| Kentucky marginal rate | 3.50% |
Same pay in other states
Highest take-home at this pay: Alaska. Middle: Vermont. Lowest: Oregon.
Your tax bracket at this pay
Your federal taxable income is about $13,020 (after the $16,100 standard deduction), which puts the top slice of your pay in the 12% bracket ($12,400 to $50,400). You have about $37,380 of room before the next dollar is taxed at 22%. Only that top slice is taxed at 12%: your average federal rate is 4.5%, and all taxes together (federal, FICA, state) take 15.3% of gross pay. A $1,000 raise would add about $768 to your take-home.
| Federal bracket | Your income in it | Tax |
|---|---|---|
| 10% on $0–$12,400 | $12,400 | $1,240 |
| 12% on $12,400–$50,400 | $620 | $74 |
| Rate | Federal | Combined with state and FICA |
|---|---|---|
| Marginal (next dollar) | 12% | 23.1% |
| Effective (average) | 4.5% | 15.3% |
Compared with the Kentucky median
$29,120 is 46% of the Kentucky median household income of $63,726 (Census ACS 2020–2024 median; households can have more than one earner, so a single salary is not directly comparable).
Affordability snapshot
| Amount | |
|---|---|
| Rent budget (30% of gross) | $728/mo |
| Home price at 30% of gross (10% down) | $102,000 |
| Kentucky median home value | $205,600 (Census 2020–2024) |
Rule of thumb only: housing at 30% of gross monthly pay. Home price assumes a 30-year fixed at the Freddie Mac average of 7.40% (week of 2026-10-15), 10% down, the Kentucky median effective property tax rate and about 0.35% a year for insurance. Lenders also weigh debts, credit and PMI.
401(k) and HSA effect
| Contribution | Saved | Take-home cut | Tax saved |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6% to a 401(k) ($1,747/yr) | $1,747 | $1,499 | $248 |
| Max HSA, self-only ($4,400, via payroll) | $4,400 | $3,457 | $943 |
Pre-tax 401(k) deferrals cut federal and Kentucky income tax but not Social Security or Medicare; payroll HSA contributions also skip FICA. 2026 limits: 401(k) $24,500 (under 50), HSA $4,400 self-only (IRS). Some states tax HSA contributions; this estimate assumes they follow federal rules.
What applies at this income
- You are under the 2026 Roth IRA income limit for single filers ($153,000 of modified AGI), so you can contribute the full amount.
- Maxing out a 401(k) ($24,500) would take more than half your gross pay at this level, so most people here contribute a percentage instead.
Kentucky jobs that typically pay about $29,120
$29,120 is above the median pay of 10 of the 100 common occupations we track in Kentucky (BLS OEWS, May 2025). These have a Kentucky median between $28,080 and $30,160:
| Occupation | Kentucky median | vs this pay |
|---|---|---|
| Cashiers | $28,590 | −$530 |
| Bartenders | $28,780 | −$340 |
| Childcare Workers | $28,920 | −$200 |
| Dishwashers | $29,060 | −$60 |
| Retail Salespersons | $29,650 | +$530 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $29,660 | +$540 |
| Short-Term Substitute Teachers | $29,730 | +$610 |
| Preschool Teachers | $29,780 | +$660 |
Where $29,120 lands inside other Kentucky jobs
For 2 of these occupations, $29,120 is what experienced or top earners make (75th–90th percentile); for 8, it is entry-level pay (10th–25th percentile).
| Occupation | Percentile | Kentucky pay at that percentile |
|---|---|---|
| Security Guards | 10th | $28,450 |
| Restaurant Cooks | 25th | $28,850 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | 25th | $28,880 |
| Janitors and Cleaners | 25th | $29,220 |
| Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment | 25th | $29,240 |
| Hand Packers and Packagers | 10th | $29,430 |
| Customer Service Representatives | 10th | $29,440 |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | 10th | $29,500 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | 75th | $29,550 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | 75th | $29,680 |
Previous and next pay level
Related
- $12 an hour in Kentucky$1,784/mo
- $13 an hour in Kentucky$1,921/mo
- $15 an hour in Kentucky$2,190/mo
- $16 an hour in Kentucky$2,323/mo
- Kentucky income tax brackets2026
- Minimum wage in Kentucky2026
- Kentucky property taxby county
Single filer, W-2 wages only; 2026 IRS brackets and $16,100 standard deduction, FICA (Social Security to $184,500, Medicare +0.9% over $200,000) and state rules per the Tax Foundation (Jan 1, 2026). Local taxes and payroll deductions are excluded. Sources: IRS, SSA, Tax Foundation. Not tax advice.
Frequently asked questions
How much is $14 an hour after taxes in Kentucky?
Working full time at $14 an hour ($29,120 a year) in Kentucky, a single filer takes home about $24,676 a year, $2,056 a month or $11.86 an hour, after federal tax, FICA and $902 Kentucky income tax.
How much is $14 an hour per month after taxes in Kentucky?
About $2,056 a month, or $949 per biweekly paycheck.
How much state tax do I pay on $14 an hour in Kentucky?
About $902 a year (marginal rate 3.50%).