Kentucky's Minimum Wage in 2026
The minimum wage in Kentucky is $7.25 an hour, the same as the federal minimum wage. No increase is scheduled yet. Full time, that is $15,080 a year before taxes. Source
After federal and state taxes, a single full-time worker keeps about $13,516 a year, or $519.85 every two weeks.
What the Kentucky minimum wage pays
| At $7.25 | |
|---|---|
| Per hour | $7.25 |
| Per 8-hour day | $58.00 |
| Per 40-hour week | $290.00 |
| Every two weeks | $580.00 |
| Per month | $1,256.67 |
| Per year (2,080 hours) | $15,080.00 |
| Take-home every two weeks | $519.85 |
| Take-home per year | $13,516.10 |
Before taxes, except the take-home rows: after federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare and Kentucky income tax and payroll programs, single filer, 2026 Form W-4, no other deductions. Part time at 20 hours a week, the minimum wage is $7,540 a year and about $6,817 after taxes.
Kentucky minimum wage rules
Each rule links to the official source. Checked Oct 25, 2026. The federal minimum of $7.25 applies wherever a state rate is lower. Source
| Topic | The rule | Official source |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage | Kentucky's minimum wage is $7.25 an hour, the same as the federal rate. It has been $7.25 since July 1, 2009, and no increase has been announced. | Kentucky Labor Cabinet, Wages and Hours |
| Tipped employees | Kentucky follows the federal tipped wage. If you regularly get more than $30 a month in tips, your employer can pay $2.13 an hour in cash, as long as tips bring you up to $7.25. | US Department of Labor, Minimum Wages for Tipped Employees |
| Overtime and seventh-day pay | You earn time and a half for hours over 40 in a workweek. Kentucky also requires time and a half for hours on the seventh day if you work all seven days of a workweek and more than 40 hours in total. | Kentucky Revised Statutes, KRS 337.050 Time and a half for seventh day work |
How Kentucky's minimum wage compares
Kentucky is one of 20 states where the federal $7.25 is the minimum: Alabama, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Hampshire, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Wisconsin, Wyoming.
The typical (median) worker in Kentucky earns $22.56 an hour, so the minimum wage is 32% of the median wage. 10% of Kentucky workers earn less than $13.45 an hour and 25% less than $17.02 (BLS, May 2025, all 2,000,360 jobs). Source
The jobs with the lowest typical pay in Kentucky, among those with at least 1,000 workers:
| Job | Median hourly | Jobs |
|---|---|---|
| Cooks, Fast Food | $11.30 | 21,750 |
| Ushers, Lobby Attendants, and Ticket Takers | $12.46 | 1,110 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $12.66 | 3,350 |
| Food Preparation Workers | $12.91 | 15,390 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $13.03 | 5,120 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $13.04 | 41,860 |
BLS figures are from May 2025, before some recent increases. Tipped jobs can show a median below the minimum wage where the law lets employers count tips toward it (see the tipped rules above).
Tax credits and rent on the minimum wage
A full-time minimum-wage worker earns $15,080 a year. At that income the 2026 Earned Income Tax Credit could be about:
| Qualifying children | Single or head of household | Married, one earner |
|---|---|---|
| 0 children | $341 | $664 |
| 1 child | $4,427 | $4,427 |
| 2 children | $6,032 | $6,032 |
| 3 children or more | $6,786 | $6,786 |
An estimate from the IRS 2026 amounts and phaseouts; the credit is paid when you file your return. Source
By the HUD guideline that housing should take no more than 30% of income, $15,080 a year covers rent and utilities up to about $377 a month; two minimum-wage earners up to $754. Source
Kentucky minimum wage questions
What is the minimum wage in Kentucky?
$7.25 an hour, the federal minimum wage, which applies because the state rate is not higher.
How much is the Kentucky minimum wage a year?
$15,080 a year at 40 hours a week for 52 weeks, or $1,257 a month, before taxes. After taxes a single filer keeps about $13,516.
How much is the Kentucky minimum wage after taxes?
About $519.85 every two weeks for a full-time single filer, after federal income tax, Social Security and Medicare and Kentucky taxes.
Is Kentucky's minimum wage going up?
No increase has been scheduled as of Oct 25, 2026.
What is time and a half at the Kentucky minimum wage?
$10.88 an hour for overtime hours.
States with a similar minimum wage
Alabama minimum wage ($7.25) · Georgia minimum wage ($7.25) · Idaho minimum wage ($7.25) · Indiana minimum wage ($7.25) · Iowa minimum wage ($7.25) · Kansas minimum wage ($7.25) · Louisiana minimum wage ($7.25) · Mississippi minimum wage ($7.25)
Related
Kentucky paycheck calculator · Minimum wage in every state · Minimum wage increases in 2027 · Hourly paycheck at $7.25
Rates checked Oct 25, 2026. Wage data: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025.