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Kentucky Paycheck Calculator (2026)

Last reviewed: April 20, 2026

Kentucky applies a flat 4% state income tax to wage income, the result of phased reductions from 5% under HB 8. Many Kentucky cities and counties layer an occupational license tax on wages earned within their jurisdiction, with notable rates including Louisville Metro at about 2.28% and Lexington-Fayette at 2.25%. These local taxes can roughly double the income tax burden for residents of major cities relative to other parts of the state. Kentucky has no State Disability Insurance program funded by employee payroll deductions. This calculator estimates 2026 Kentucky take-home pay after federal tax, FICA, the state flat rate, and supported city or county occupational license rates. It supports pre-tax 401(k) and HSA contributions, single and married filing jointly, and standard or itemized deductions.

vs. baseline ($85,000 single filer)

A $85,000 salary in Kentucky takes home approximately $3,400 less than the same salary in a no-income-tax state like Texas or Florida.

Kentucky state tax breakdown

Single-filer state income tax brackets used by the calculator for 2026.

Taxable IncomeRate
$0+4%

Cities in Kentucky

Local jurisdictions with employee payroll tax. Linked entries have a dedicated city page; others can be selected in the calculator below.

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Type above or pick a quick salary to see your 2026 take-home pay instantly.

Kentucky paycheck FAQ

How does Louisville Metro's occupational tax work?
Louisville/Jefferson County levies an occupational license tax of roughly 2.28% on wages earned within the metro. It applies to residents and to non-residents who work in the metro. Combined with the 4% state rate, a Louisville Metro worker sees roughly 6.28% in state plus local income tax.
Has Kentucky been reducing the flat state rate?
Yes. Kentucky stepped the rate down from 5% to 4% under the HB 8 framework, with further reductions tied to state revenue triggers. The 4% rate is the operative figure used by the calculator for 2026.
Does Kentucky have State Disability Insurance?
No. Kentucky does not run a State Disability Insurance program funded by employee payroll. Workers who want short-term disability coverage typically obtain it through their employer or a private policy.
How does Kentucky compare to neighboring Tennessee or Indiana?
Tennessee does not tax wages, so the gap at the KY/TN border is wide for residents. Indiana is 3.05% flat plus county locals (often 1% to 2%). Kentucky at 4% plus city occupational tax often lands higher than Indiana for residents of Louisville or Lexington.

Take-home at common salaries for Kentucky

Dedicated salary-anchor pages with a federal-state-FICA breakdown, vs-baseline callouts, and a calculator pre-set to that salary and Kentucky.

$50,000 after taxesin Kentucky$75,000 after taxesin Kentucky$100,000 after taxesin Kentucky$150,000 after taxesin Kentucky$200,000 after taxesin Kentucky$250,000 after taxesin Kentucky

See also

Run the full US paycheck calculatorCompare to Indiana paycheck calculatorCompare to Ohio paycheck calculatorCompare to West Virginia paycheck calculatorCompare to Virginia paycheck calculatorCompare to Tennessee paycheck calculatorCompare to Missouri paycheck calculatorCompare to Illinois paycheck calculatorCompare paycheck taxes between two locationsPaycheck and tax glossaryHow we calculate paycheck taxes

Reviewed

How This Page Is Reviewed

The Kentucky paycheck page is reviewed against primary federal and state sources before each major tax-year update. Source links below are the references used to validate brackets, wage bases, and supported local taxes.

Reviewed by

PaycheckCalc Research Desk

Last reviewed

2026-04-20