Working full time at $18 an hour ($37,440 a year) in Kentucky, a single filer takes home about $31,070 a year, $2,589 a month or $14.94 an hour, after federal tax, FICA and $1,193 Kentucky income tax.
#37 of 51for take-home at this pay
Where the money goes
Breakdown
| Yearly | Monthly | |
|---|---|---|
| Gross pay | $37,440 | $3,120 |
| Federal income tax | $2,313 | $193 |
| Social Security (6.2%) | $2,321 | $193 |
| Medicare | $543 | $45 |
| Kentucky income tax | $1,193 | $99 |
| Take-home | $31,070 | $2,589 |
| Federal marginal rate | 12% | |
| Kentucky marginal rate | 3.50% |
Same pay in other states
Highest take-home at this pay: Alaska. Middle: Idaho. Lowest: Oregon.
Your tax bracket at this pay
Your federal taxable income is about $21,340 (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 $29,060 of room before the next dollar is taxed at 22%. Only that top slice is taxed at 12%: your average federal rate is 6.2%, and all taxes together (federal, FICA, state) take 17.0% of gross pay. A $1,000 raise would add about $769 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 | $8,940 | $1,073 |
| Rate | Federal | Combined with state and FICA |
|---|---|---|
| Marginal (next dollar) | 12% | 23.1% |
| Effective (average) | 6.2% | 17.0% |
Compared with the Kentucky median
$37,440 is 59% 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) | $936/mo |
| Home price at 30% of gross (10% down) | $131,000 |
| 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) ($2,246/yr) | $2,246 | $1,898 | $348 |
| Max HSA, self-only ($4,400, via payroll) | $4,400 | $3,381 | $1,019 |
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 $37,440
$37,440 is above the median pay of 28 of the 100 common occupations we track in Kentucky (BLS OEWS, May 2025). These have a Kentucky median between $36,400 and $38,480:
| Occupation | Kentucky median | vs this pay |
|---|---|---|
| Home Health and Personal Care Aides | $36,440 | −$1,000 |
| Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers | $36,670 | −$770 |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | $36,810 | −$630 |
| Hand Packers and Packagers | $36,850 | −$590 |
| Driver/Sales Workers | $37,030 | −$410 |
| Social and Human Service Assistants | $37,440 | +$0 |
| General Office Clerks | $37,870 | +$430 |
| Nursing Assistants | $38,370 | +$930 |
Where $37,440 lands inside other Kentucky jobs
For 6 of these occupations, $37,440 is what experienced or top earners make (75th–90th percentile); for 4, it is entry-level pay (10th–25th percentile).
| Occupation | Percentile | Kentucky pay at that percentile |
|---|---|---|
| Teaching Assistants | 75th | $37,100 |
| Electricians | 10th | $37,110 |
| Restaurant Cooks | 75th | $37,200 |
| General Maintenance and Repair Workers | 25th | $37,220 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | 90th | $37,330 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | 75th | $37,370 |
| Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks | 25th | $37,450 |
| Construction Laborers | 25th | $37,700 |
| Janitors and Cleaners | 75th | $37,810 |
| Food Preparation Workers | 90th | $37,830 |
Previous and next pay level
Related
- $16 an hour in Kentucky$2,323/mo
- $17 an hour in Kentucky$2,456/mo
- $19 an hour in Kentucky$2,722/mo
- $20 an hour in Kentucky$2,856/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 $18 an hour after taxes in Kentucky?
Working full time at $18 an hour ($37,440 a year) in Kentucky, a single filer takes home about $31,070 a year, $2,589 a month or $14.94 an hour, after federal tax, FICA and $1,193 Kentucky income tax.
How much is $18 an hour per month after taxes in Kentucky?
About $2,589 a month, or $1,195 per biweekly paycheck.
How much state tax do I pay on $18 an hour in Kentucky?
About $1,193 a year (marginal rate 3.50%).