$15 an hour after taxes in Kentucky
$15 an hour is $31,200 a year before tax at 40 hours a week. After 2026 federal, FICA and Kentucky taxes:
You keep
$26,275
a year after taxes
- Every two weeks
- $1,011
- A month
- $2,190
- Effective tax rate
- 15.8%
KY A flat 3.5% income tax
| Line | Every two weeks | Year |
|---|---|---|
GROSS Gross pay |
$1,200.00 | $31,200.00 |
FED Federal income tax |
-$60.15 | -$1,564.00 |
OASDI Social Security tax |
-$74.40 | -$1,934.40 |
MED Medicare tax |
-$17.40 | -$452.40 |
ST Kentucky income tax |
-$37.48 | -$974.40 |
NET Take-home pay | $1,010.57 | $26,274.80 |
$15 an hour per paycheck, month and day in Kentucky
| Period | Gross | Taxes | Take-home |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year | $31,200 | -$4,925 | $26,275 |
| Month | $2,600 | -$410 | $2,190 |
| Every two weeks | $1,200 | -$189 | $1,011 |
| Week | $600 | -$95 | $505 |
| Day | $120 | -$19 | $101 |
Biweekly means 26 paychecks a year. A day is one of 260 working days (five a week). "Taxes and deductions" includes every line on the stub above.
If you work more or fewer hours
| Hours a week | Yearly gross | Yearly take-home |
|---|---|---|
| 20 | $15,600 | $13,978 |
| 25 | $19,500 | $17,103 |
| 30 | $23,400 | $20,179 |
| 35 | $27,300 | $23,254 |
| 40 | $31,200 | $26,275 |
| 45 (5 overtime) | $37,050 | $31,005 |
| 50 (10 overtime) | $42,900 | $35,734 |
From 2026, federal income tax exempts the overtime premium (the extra half of time-and-a-half) up to $12,500 a year for single filers. Social Security, Medicare and Kentucky tax still apply to it in this estimate.
What $15 an hour affords in Kentucky
- Rent at 30% of gross pay
- $780 a month
- Needs (50% of take-home)
- $1,095 a month
- Wants (30%)
- $657 a month
- Savings and debt (20%)
- $438 a month
The 30% rule is the benchmark HUD uses for housing cost burden. The 50/30/20 split applies to the $2,190 monthly take-home figure above.
How Kentucky compares
Kentucky taxes wages at a flat 3.5%. On $15 an hour ($31,200 a year) the state takes $974 in income tax (3.1% of gross), the 40th lowest of 51 jurisdictions.
| State | State taxes | Take-home a year |
|---|---|---|
| Kentucky | $974 | $26,275 |
| Illinois | $1,400 | $25,850 |
| Indiana | $891 | $26,358 |
| Missouri | $511 | $26,739 |
| Ohio | $388 | $26,862 |
| Tennessee | $0 | $27,249 |
| Virginia | $980 | $26,269 |
Questions people ask about $15 an hour in Kentucky
How much is $15 an hour a year after taxes in Kentucky?
Working 40 hours a week for 52 weeks, $15 an hour is $31,200 before tax. After $1,564 federal income tax, $2,387 Social Security and Medicare, and $974 in Kentucky state taxes, you take home $26,275 a year as a single filer in 2026.
How much is $15 an hour biweekly after taxes in Kentucky?
$15 an hour is $1,200 gross every two weeks. After taxes a biweekly paycheck comes to about $1,011.
$15 an hour is how much a month?
$15 an hour is $2,600 a month before tax and about $2,190 after tax in Kentucky, averaged over 12 months.
How much rent can I afford on $15 an hour?
The 30% rule puts rent at $780 a month on $2,600 gross. Budgeting from take-home pay with 50/30/20, all needs including rent get $1,095.
How much is $15 an hour with overtime in Kentucky?
At 50 hours a week (10 hours at $22.50), you earn $42,900 a year and keep $35,734. The 2026 federal overtime deduction takes $3,900 of overtime premium out of federal taxable income; Social Security and Medicare still apply.
How much Kentucky state tax comes out of $15 an hour?
$974 a year, or $37 per biweekly paycheck, in Kentucky income tax. Local income taxes, where they exist, are not included.
Try your own numbers
Sources and assumptions
Tax year 2026. Annual tax for a filer with no dependents, no other income and no credits, working 52 weeks. Hours over 40 a week are paid at 1.5×. Local income taxes are not included: Many Kentucky cities/counties levy occupational license taxes on wages (excluded). How we calculate.
- IRS Revenue Procedure 2025-32: federal brackets and standard deduction (retrieved 2026-09-26)
- Social Security Administration: 2026 wage base; IRS: Medicare and Additional Medicare Tax
- Kentucky tax source (retrieved 2026-09-26)