Take-home pay in Kentucky on a 2025 paycheck.
On a $80,000 single-filer salary, Kentucky keeps $61,598/yr after federal income tax, FICA, and Kentucky's state income tax (−$461 vs the 51-state average of $62,059).
Kentucky take-home at common income points
| Salary | Filing | Take-home | Effective rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| $50,000 | Single | $40,345 | 19.3% |
| $80,000 | Single | $61,598 | 23.0% |
| $80,000 | MFJ (2) | $65,420 | 18.2% |
| $150,000 | Single | $107,407 | 28.4% |
| $150,000 | MFJ (4) | $120,560 | 19.6% |
| $250,000 | Single | $172,873 | 30.9% |
Effective rate = total federal + FICA + state tax as a share of gross. Excludes pre-tax deductions, local tax, and SDI.
How Kentucky compares
On the standard $80,000 single-filer benchmark, Kentucky keeps $61,598 — $461 less than the 51-state average. The Kentucky top marginal individual income tax rate is 4.00%, and the state’s standard deduction for single filers is $3,270.00. For the live cross-state comparison and a state-locked “compare to” view, see the interactive paycheck map.
Top 3 Kentucky metros for paycheck comparison
Take-home is identical at the state level — but cost of living varies dramatically between Louisville and the rest of Kentucky. Pick a metro to see paycheck vs cost-of-living together.
- Louisvillepop 1.4M · COL 87median $59,600 →
- Lexingtonpop 0.5M · COL 90median $61,200 →
- Bowling Greenpop 0.2M · COL 85median $48,500 →
More Kentucky metros coming as we expand city coverage.
Kentucky paycheck — common questions
What is the Kentucky state income tax rate in 2025?
Kentucky taxes individual income at marginal rates topping out at 4.00% on the highest bracket. The standard deduction for single filers is $3,270.00; for MFJ it is $6,540.00.
How much take-home will I have on $80,000 in Kentucky?
A single filer earning $80,000 in Kentucky takes home approximately $61,598/yr (77.0% of gross). A married couple filing jointly earning $80,000 takes home $65,420/yr due to the larger MFJ standard deduction. These figures exclude pre-tax 401(k), HSA, and health insurance contributions.
Are there any Kentucky-specific paycheck deductions I should know about?
Kentucky has a flat 4.0% income tax (2024, dropping to 3.5% in 2026 if revenue triggers met) PLUS local occupational/license taxes in 200+ jurisdictions — Louisville Metro 2.2%, Lexington 2.25%.
Does Kentucky have local income taxes?
Yes — see the Kentucky paycheck quirk above for the local-tax detail.
Reviewed by CalcFi Editorial · Last verified against KY Department of Revenue tax tables on 2026-04-19. Methodology + sources at /about/editorial.