Elementary Teacher salary in Kentucky
Updated Updated for 2026 tax law
An Elementary Teacher in Kentucky earns a median of $60,610 a year ($29.14/hour equivalent), 5.3% below the national median of $63,970. Kentucky ranks #35 of 51 states. About 19,080 people do this job in Kentucky.
Take-home pay in Kentucky
At the Kentucky median, a single filer keeps about $48,876 a year after federal, FICA and Kentucky taxes — $1,880 every two weeks. Try your own numbers with the Kentucky paycheck calculator.
- Gross pay
- $2,331.15
- Federal income tax
- −$195.89
- Social Security (6.2%)
- −$144.53
- Medicare (1.45%)
- −$33.80
- Kentucky income tax
- −$77.07
- Take-home pay
- $1,879.86
Annual breakdown
- Gross
- $60,610
- Federal
- $5,093
- FICA
- $4,637
- State + local
- $2,004
- Net
- $48,876
- 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 | Washington | $102,350 |
| #2 | California | $99,650 |
| #3 | District of Columbia | $96,580 |
| #4 | Massachusetts | $94,000 |
| #5 | Rhode Island | $90,930 |
| #35 | Kentucky | $60,610 |
| #49 | South Dakota | $50,130 |
| #50 | Mississippi | $49,790 |
| #51 | Oklahoma | $48,200 |
See the national Elementary Teacher salary page for the full pay range and all states.
BLS occupation: Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education (SOC 25-2021), May 2025, state estimates.
Frequently asked questions
How much does an Elementary Teacher make in Kentucky?
The median salary is $60,610 a year and the average is $59,870 (BLS May 2025).
Is Kentucky a good state for elementary school teachers?
Kentucky ranks #35 of 51 states for median pay in this job, 5% below the national median of $63,970.
What is $60,610 after taxes in Kentucky?
About $48,876 a year ($1,880 every two weeks) for a single filer in 2026.
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Estimates for information only — not tax, legal or financial advice.