Hourly to Salary for Kentucky (2026)
Kentucky (KY) Key Facts
Minimum Wage
$7.25/hr
Minimum Annual Salary (at 40 hrs/wk)
$15,080
Median Hourly Rate
$26.44/hr
Median Household Income
$55,000
State Income Tax Rate
4%
How This Calculator Works in Kentucky
This calculator converts an hourly wage to its annual, monthly, biweekly, and weekly salary equivalents for workers in Kentucky. Enter your hourly rate and work schedule to see the breakdown. It uses the standard 2,080-hour work year by default and can be adjusted for different weekly hours or weeks per year to match your actual schedule.
Kentucky Overview
Kentucky's minimum wage is $7.25/hr per hour — Kentucky matches the federal minimum wage of $7.25/hr. Louisville has attempted to set a higher local minimum but was preempted by state law. The median hourly wage in Kentucky is approximately $26.44/hr, and the median household income is $55,000. Kentucky requires overtime on the 7th consecutive day worked, giving it a slightly more worker-friendly overtime rule than states that follow only the 40-hour federal standard.
How Kentucky Compares
Kentucky's minimum wage of $7.25 matches neighboring Tennessee's $7.25. The median hourly rate of $26.44 is below Tennessee's $26.92. States with higher minimum wages generally have higher costs of living — Kentucky's cost of living index is 90 compared to the national average of 100.
| State | Top Rate | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Tennessee | $7.25/hr min wage | Tennessee has a minimum wage of $7.25, a median hourly rate of approximately $26.92, and no state income tax. |
| Virginia | $12.41/hr min wage | Virginia has a minimum wage of $12.41, a median hourly rate of approximately $38.46, and a state income tax rate up to 5.75%. |
| West Virginia | $8.75/hr min wage | West Virginia has a minimum wage of $8.75, a median hourly rate of approximately $23.08, and a state income tax rate up to 5.12%. |
The federal minimum wage is $7.25 per hour, which translates to $15,080 annually at full time. Kentucky's minimum wage of $7.25 yields an annual salary of $15,080. The median hourly wage in Kentucky is approximately $26.44, which is near the national median of roughly $26.44 per hour.
Tips for Kentucky Residents
- 1Kentucky uses the federal $7.25/hr minimum but adds a 7th-consecutive-day overtime rule. The state's very low cost of living stretches those earnings further. Use the state minimum as a baseline when evaluating hourly job offers in Kentucky.
- 2The standard conversion assumes 2,080 working hours per year (40 hours/week times 52 weeks). Adjust for unpaid time off if your employer does not offer paid vacation.
- 3Kentucky has a state income tax with a top rate of 4%. Factor in both state and federal taxes when estimating take-home pay from your hourly rate.
- 4If you regularly work overtime in Kentucky, your effective annual salary will be higher than the standard 40-hour calculation. Use the overtime calculator for a more precise estimate.
- 5When comparing hourly pay to a salaried offer, add the value of benefits like health insurance, retirement contributions, and paid time off — these typically represent 20-30% of additional compensation value.