CalcArcade.

Kentucky Paycheck Calculator

Enter your gross pay, how often you are paid and your filing status. Kentucky is already selected. Kentucky taxes wages at a flat 3.5%. The state also allows a standard deduction of $3,360 for single filers and $3,360 for married couples filing jointly, which this estimate subtracts before applying the rate (confirmed on the state revenue department pages, 2026-10-30).

Your numbers

This state taxes income in brackets and the calculator uses its 2026 bracket table. Type a rate only to override it; it is then applied to all taxable pay.

Counts toward state dependent exemptions or credits where the state has them. The federal child tax credit is not included.

Some cities and counties tax income. Leave empty if yours does not.

Result

Estimate for information only, not professional advice. Last reviewed .

Tax year 2026. Tax figures last updated October 29, 2026. Sources.

How we calculate it

Your yearly gross pay is the pay per period times the number of periods. Federal income tax comes from the 2026 IRS brackets after the standard deduction and your pre-tax 401(k) and health insurance. Social Security and Medicare are taken from wages as well.

Kentucky taxes wages at a flat 3.5%. The state also allows a standard deduction of $3,360 for single filers and $3,360 for married couples filing jointly, which this estimate subtracts before applying the rate (confirmed on the state revenue department pages, 2026-10-30).

On $2,500 gross every two weeks with 5% to a 401(k) and $100 of health insurance, a single filer in Kentucky takes home about $1,827.14 per paycheck: federal income tax $189.15, Social Security $148.80, Medicare $34.80 and state income tax $75.10.

Take-home pay in Kentucky at five salaries (single filer paid every two weeks, 5% to a 401(k), $100 of health insurance, 2026 tax data): $40,000: $1,128.83 per paycheck; $60,000: $1,687.48 per paycheck; $80,000: $2,219.59 per paycheck; $100,000: $2,705.17 per paycheck; $150,000: $3,905.19 per paycheck.

Kentucky compared with the other 50 states and DC (rank 1 is the lowest): state income tax on $75,000 of wages for a single filer is about $2,507 a year, rank 23 of 51 (median $2,550); the combined state and average local sales tax rate is 6%, rank 11 (median 7%); the effective property tax rate is 0.717%, rank 21 (median 0.789%). The income tax figure comes from this calculator’s bracket data, the property tax figure from the Census Bureau, and the sales tax figure from the same file as the rates above.

Beyond your paycheck in Kentucky: the median home value is $242,000 and homeowners pay a median of $1,734 a year in property tax (about $145 a month), $2,003 for homes with a mortgage and $1,327 for homes without one (U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2025). With the state rate and the average local rate combined (6%), every $1,000 of taxable purchases carries about $60.00 of sales tax.

Assumptions and limits

  • An estimate for tax year 2026 using the standard deduction. Your employer withholds from your Form W-4 and the state’s withholding tables, so real paychecks can differ.
  • Kentucky is one of the states where some counties or cities charge an income tax (Tax Foundation, 2026: Alabama, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Missouri, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania). Type your local rate in the optional local income tax field.
  • The federal child tax credit and other credits are not included.
  • Verification of the Kentucky figures: rates and brackets were compared with the official source on 2026-10-29. Kentucky Department of Revenue 2026 withholding formula: 3.5% flat Standard deduction $3,360 for 2026 (Kentucky Department of Revenue 2026 withholding formula and K-4). Source: https://revenue.ky.gov/Forms/2026%20Withholding%20Formula.pdf

Frequently asked questions

Does Kentucky have a state income tax?

Yes. Kentucky has a flat income tax of 3.5% for 2026.

How much is taken out of a $2,500 biweekly paycheck in Kentucky?

On $2,500 gross every two weeks with 5% to a 401(k) and $100 of health insurance, a single filer in Kentucky takes home about $1,827.14 per paycheck: federal income tax $189.15, Social Security $148.80, Medicare $34.80 and state income tax $75.10.

Is there a local income tax in Kentucky?

Kentucky is one of the states where some counties or cities charge an income tax (Tax Foundation, 2026: Alabama, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Missouri, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania). Type your local rate in the optional local income tax field.

What are the sales and property taxes in Kentucky?

Kentucky’s state sales tax rate is 6%. The typical homeowner pays about $1,734 a year in property tax, an effective rate of 0.717% (U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2025).

Why is my real Kentucky paycheck different from this estimate?

Employers withhold using your Form W-4 and the state’s tables. A second job, extra withholding, dependents, benefits and local taxes all change the result. This calculator estimates the tax for the year and divides it by your pay periods.

Paycheck calculator by state

Related calculators

Worked example (a fixed example using the starting numbers, it does not change as you type)

Inputs: Gross pay per pay period ($) = 2500; How often you are paid = Every two weeks (26); Filing status = Single; State you work in = Kentucky; Dependents (for state exemptions) = 0; Pre-tax 401(k) contribution (% of pay) = 5; Pre-tax health insurance per pay period ($) = 100; Extra federal withholding per pay period ($) = 0.

  • Take-home pay per biweekly paycheck $1,827.14
  • Gross pay per biweekly paycheck $2,500.00
  • Federal income tax $189.15
  • Social Security $148.80
  • Medicare $34.80
  • State income tax $75.10
  • Local income tax $0.00
  • 401(k) contribution $125.00
  • Health insurance $100.00
  • Take-home pay per year $47,505.75
  • Total tax as a share of gross pay 17.91%
  • Federal marginal rate 12%

More financial calculators

Last reviewed: . Formulas and assumptions are described on our methodology page. For information only; not professional advice.