Bartender salary in Kentucky
Updated Updated for 2026 tax law
A bartender in Kentucky earns a median of $28,780 a year ($13.84/hour equivalent), 16.2% below the national median of $34,340. Kentucky ranks #32 of 51 states. About 6,870 people do this job in Kentucky.
Take-home pay in Kentucky
At the Kentucky median, a single filer keeps about $24,415 a year after federal, FICA and Kentucky taxes — $939 every two weeks. Try your own numbers with the Kentucky paycheck calculator.
- Gross pay
- $1,106.92
- Federal income tax
- −$48.98
- Social Security (6.2%)
- −$68.63
- Medicare (1.45%)
- −$16.05
- Kentucky income tax
- −$34.22
- Take-home pay
- $939.04
Annual breakdown
- Gross
- $28,780
- Federal
- $1,274
- FICA
- $2,202
- State + local
- $890
- Net
- $24,415
- Marginal federal rate
- 12.0%
- Marginal state rate
- 3.5%
2026 federal brackets (Rev. Proc. 2025-32) and 2026 state rules. Estimates assume wages are your only income and use annual liability, so your actual withholding can differ slightly.
How Kentucky compares
| Rank | State | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| #1 | Hawaii | $76,490 |
| #2 | New York | $61,210 |
| #3 | Washington | $55,830 |
| #4 | District of Columbia | $53,920 |
| #5 | Maine | $48,920 |
| #32 | Kentucky | $28,780 |
| #49 | Iowa | $21,720 |
| #50 | Louisiana | $20,850 |
| #51 | South Carolina | $19,370 |
See the national bartender salary page for the full pay range and all states.
BLS occupation: Bartenders (SOC 35-3011), May 2025, state estimates.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a bartender make in Kentucky?
The median salary is $28,780 a year and the average is $34,970 (BLS May 2025).
Is Kentucky a good state for bartenders?
Kentucky ranks #32 of 51 states for median pay in this job, 16% below the national median of $34,340.
What is $28,780 after taxes in Kentucky?
About $24,415 a year ($939 every two weeks) for a single filer in 2026.
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Estimates for information only — not tax, legal or financial advice.