Fast Food and Counter Worker salary in Kentucky
Updated Updated for 2026 tax law
A fast food and counter worker in Kentucky earns a median of $27,130 a year ($13.04/hour equivalent), 13.0% below the national median of $31,200. Kentucky ranks #44 of 51 states. About 41,860 people do this job in Kentucky.
Take-home pay in Kentucky
At the Kentucky median, a single filer keeps about $23,120 a year after federal, FICA and Kentucky taxes — $889 every two weeks. Try your own numbers with the Kentucky paycheck calculator.
- Gross pay
- $1,043.46
- Federal income tax
- −$42.42
- Social Security (6.2%)
- −$64.69
- Medicare (1.45%)
- −$15.13
- Kentucky income tax
- −$32.00
- Take-home pay
- $889.22
Annual breakdown
- Gross
- $27,130
- Federal
- $1,103
- FICA
- $2,075
- State + local
- $832
- Net
- $23,120
- Marginal federal rate
- 10.0%
- 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 | California | $42,280 |
| #2 | Washington | $37,710 |
| #3 | District of Columbia | $37,430 |
| #4 | Colorado | $36,270 |
| #5 | Vermont | $36,030 |
| #44 | Kentucky | $27,130 |
| #49 | Oklahoma | $23,430 |
| #50 | Louisiana | $22,800 |
| #51 | Mississippi | $22,610 |
See the national fast food and counter worker salary page for the full pay range and all states.
BLS occupation: Fast Food and Counter Workers (SOC 35-3023), May 2025, state estimates.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a fast food and counter worker make in Kentucky?
The median salary is $27,130 a year and the average is $26,890 (BLS May 2025).
Is Kentucky a good state for fast food and counter workers?
Kentucky ranks #44 of 51 states for median pay in this job, 13% below the national median of $31,200.
What is $27,130 after taxes in Kentucky?
About $23,120 a year ($889 every two weeks) for a single filer in 2026.
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Estimates for information only — not tax, legal or financial advice.