$15 an Hour Is How Much a Year After Taxes in Kentucky?
Full time, $15 an hour is $31,200 a year before taxes. After 2026 federal, Kentucky, and FICA taxes, a single filer in Kentucky takes home about $26,275 a year: $2,190 a month, or $12.63 for each hour worked.
Take-home pay on $15/hour full-time in Kentucky (single filer, 2026)
- Per year
- $26,275
- Per month
- $2,190
- Every 2 weeks
- $1,011
- Per hour
- $12.63
Total tax $4,925 · effective rate 15.8% · federal bracket 12%
$15 an hour before and after taxes
| Period | Before tax | After tax |
|---|---|---|
| Hourly | $15.00 | $12.63 |
| Daily (8 hours) | $120.00 | $101.06 |
| Weekly (40 hours) | $600 | $505 |
| Biweekly | $1,200 | $1,011 |
| Semimonthly | $1,300 | $1,095 |
| Monthly | $2,600 | $2,190 |
| Yearly | $31,200 | $26,275 |
Where the taxes go
| Item | Year | Month | Biweekly |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross pay | $31,200 | $2,600 | $1,200 |
| Federal income tax | -$1,564 | -$130 | -$60 |
| Kentucky income tax | -$974 | -$81 | -$37 |
| Social Security (6.2%) | -$1,934 | -$161 | -$74 |
| Medicare (1.45%) | -$452 | -$38 | -$17 |
| Take-home pay | $26,275 | $2,190 | $1,011 |
How $15 an hour is taxed in Kentucky
Full time, $15 an hour is $31,200 a year (2,080 hours). Here is how each tax on that income is calculated.
1. Federal income tax: $1,564
Start with $31,200 of wages and subtract the $16,100 standard deduction. That leaves $15,100 of taxable income, taxed in brackets:
| Taxable income band | Rate | Income taxed | Tax |
|---|---|---|---|
| $0 to $12,400 | 10% | $12,400 | $1,240 |
| $12,400 to $50,400 | 12% | $2,700 | $324 |
| Federal income tax | $1,564 | ||
2. Kentucky income tax: $974
Kentucky starts from your wages, $31,200. It subtracts the $3,360 Kentucky standard deduction. That leaves $27,840 of Kentucky taxable income.
| Taxable income band | Rate | Income taxed | Tax |
|---|---|---|---|
| Over $0 | 3.5% | $27,840 | $974 |
| Kentucky income tax | $974 | ||
3. Social Security and Medicare: $2,387
Social Security is 6.2% of wages up to the $184,500 wage base ($1,934), and Medicare is 1.45% of all wages ($452).
Result: $31,200 minus $4,925 in total tax leaves $26,275 a year, an effective tax rate of 15.8%.
What this income means in Kentucky
With only a $3,360 standard deduction, Kentucky taxes lower incomes more than most states do. A single filer earning $30,000 pays $932 to the state, an effective 3.11%, and at $50,000 the bill is $1,632, leaving $40,723 before local tax. An hourly job grossing $41,600 a year costs $1,338 in Kentucky tax and nets $34,268. Kentucky's family size tax credit can reduce or erase state tax for low-income households, and a 2% city rate still adds several hundred dollars.
More in the Kentucky paycheck guide.
Part-time and overtime at $15 an hour
| Schedule | Yearly gross | Take-home | Tax rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20 hours/week | $15,600 | $13,979 | 10.4% |
| 30 hours/week | $23,400 | $20,179 | 13.8% |
| 40 hours/week | $31,200 | $26,275 | 15.8% |
| 40 hours + 5 overtime | $37,050 | $30,771 | 16.9% |
Overtime is shown at time and a half ($22.50/hour) with normal withholding. For 2025 through 2028, eligible workers can also deduct the premium half of qualified overtime pay on their federal return (up to $12,500, or $25,000 filing jointly), which is not reflected in paycheck withholding.
$15 an hour in Kentucky cities with local tax
| City (resident) | Local rate | Local tax | Take-home |
|---|---|---|---|
| No local tax | — | $0 | $26,275 |
| Louisville | 2.2% / 1.45% | $686 | $25,589 |
| Lexington | 2.75% / 2.25% | $858 | $25,417 |
| Bowling Green | 2% | $624 | $25,651 |
| Owensboro | 1.78% | $555 | $25,720 |
| Covington | 2.45% | $764 | $25,511 |
| Georgetown | 2% | $624 | $25,651 |
| Richmond | 2% | $624 | $25,651 |
| Florence | 2% | $624 | $25,651 |
| Elizabethtown | 1.95% | $608 | $25,667 |
| Hopkinsville | 2% | $624 | $25,651 |
$15 an hour in nearby states
Kentucky ranks 42nd of 51 for take-home pay at this wage. See $15 an hour after taxes in every state.
| State | State tax | Take-home | vs Kentucky |
|---|---|---|---|
| Missouri | $511 | $26,738 | +$463 |
| Illinois | $1,400 | $25,849 | -$426 |
| Indiana | $891 | $26,358 | +$83 |
| Ohio | $77 | $27,172 | +$897 |
| West Virginia | $765 | $26,484 | +$209 |
| Virginia | $980 | $26,269 | -$6 |
| Tennessee | $0 | $27,249 | +$974 |
| Texas | $0 | $27,249 | +$974 |
Use your exact hours
Convert other hours and wages with the hourly-to-salary calculator, or add deductions in the Kentucky paycheck calculator.
$15 an hour in Kentucky: FAQ
$15 an hour is how much a year after taxes in Kentucky?
Working 40 hours a week, $15 an hour is $31,200 a year before taxes. After federal, Kentucky, and FICA taxes, a single filer takes home about $26,275 a year, or $12.63 for every hour worked.
How much is $15 an hour per month after taxes in Kentucky?
About $2,190 a month after taxes ($2,600 before taxes). A biweekly paycheck is about $1,011 and a weekly paycheck about $505.
How much is $15 an hour part-time in Kentucky?
At 20 hours a week, $15 an hour is $15,600 a year, and take-home pay is about $13,979 ($1,165 a month). Lower annual income means a lower effective tax rate: 10.4% versus 15.8% full-time.
How is overtime taxed at $15 an hour?
Overtime is paid at $22.50 an hour (time and a half). Five overtime hours every week would raise yearly gross pay to $37,050 and take-home to about $30,771. Federal law for 2025-2028 also lets eligible workers deduct the premium half of qualified overtime pay (up to $12,500, or $25,000 filing jointly, phasing out above $150,000 of income) when they file, which can mean a refund even though withholding is unchanged.