Working full time at $26 an hour ($54,080 a year) in Kentucky, a single filer takes home about $43,858 a year, $3,655 a month or $21.09 an hour, after federal tax, FICA and $1,775 Kentucky income tax.
#32 of 51for take-home at this pay
Where the money goes
Breakdown
| Yearly | Monthly | |
|---|---|---|
| Gross pay | $54,080 | $4,507 |
| Federal income tax | $4,310 | $359 |
| Social Security (6.2%) | $3,353 | $279 |
| Medicare | $784 | $65 |
| Kentucky income tax | $1,775 | $148 |
| Take-home | $43,858 | $3,655 |
| Federal marginal rate | 12% | |
| Kentucky marginal rate | 3.50% |
Same pay in other states
Highest take-home at this pay: Alaska. Middle: Missouri. Lowest: Oregon.
Your tax bracket at this pay
Your federal taxable income is about $37,980 (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 $12,420 of room before the next dollar is taxed at 22%. Only that top slice is taxed at 12%: your average federal rate is 8.0%, and all taxes together (federal, FICA, state) take 18.9% 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 | $25,580 | $3,070 |
| Rate | Federal | Combined with state and FICA |
|---|---|---|
| Marginal (next dollar) | 12% | 23.1% |
| Effective (average) | 8.0% | 18.9% |
Compared with the Kentucky median
$54,080 is 85% 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) | $1,352/mo |
| Home price at 30% of gross (10% down) | $189,000 |
| 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) ($3,245/yr) | $3,245 | $2,742 | $503 |
| Max 401(k) ($24,500) | $24,500 | $20,702 | $3,798 |
| 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.
Kentucky jobs that typically pay about $54,080
$54,080 is above the median pay of 56 of the 100 common occupations we track in Kentucky (BLS OEWS, May 2025). These have a Kentucky median between $53,040 and $55,120:
| Occupation | Kentucky median | vs this pay |
|---|---|---|
| Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors | $54,190 | +$110 |
Nationally, jobs paying about $54,080
Fewer Kentucky occupations land in this pay range, so here is where it sits in US-wide pay (BLS OEWS, May 2025):
| Occupation | US percentile | US pay |
|---|---|---|
| Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | median | $53,750 |
| General Office Clerks | 75th | $54,300 |
| Social and Human Service Assistants | 75th | $54,350 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | 75th | $54,570 |
Where $54,080 lands inside other Kentucky jobs
for 3, it is entry-level pay (10th–25th percentile).
| Occupation | Percentile | Kentucky pay at that percentile |
|---|---|---|
| General and Operations Managers | 25th | $53,820 |
| Construction Managers | 10th | $53,850 |
| Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses | 25th | $54,290 |
Previous and next pay level
Related
- $24 an hour in Kentucky$3,388/mo
- $25 an hour in Kentucky$3,522/mo
- $27 an hour in Kentucky$3,788/mo
- $28 an hour in Kentucky$3,921/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 $26 an hour after taxes in Kentucky?
Working full time at $26 an hour ($54,080 a year) in Kentucky, a single filer takes home about $43,858 a year, $3,655 a month or $21.09 an hour, after federal tax, FICA and $1,775 Kentucky income tax.
How much is $26 an hour per month after taxes in Kentucky?
About $3,655 a month, or $1,687 per biweekly paycheck.
How much state tax do I pay on $26 an hour in Kentucky?
About $1,775 a year (marginal rate 3.50%).