Food Preparation Worker salary in Kentucky
Updated Updated for 2026 tax law
A food preparation worker in Kentucky earns a median of $26,850 a year ($12.91/hour equivalent), 24.0% below the national median of $35,320. Kentucky ranks #49 of 51 states. About 15,390 people do this job in Kentucky.
Take-home pay in Kentucky
At the Kentucky median, a single filer keeps about $22,899 a year after federal, FICA and Kentucky taxes — $881 every two weeks. Try your own numbers with the Kentucky paycheck calculator.
- Gross pay
- $1,032.69
- Federal income tax
- −$41.35
- Social Security (6.2%)
- −$64.03
- Medicare (1.45%)
- −$14.97
- Kentucky income tax
- −$31.62
- Take-home pay
- $880.72
Annual breakdown
- Gross
- $26,850
- Federal
- $1,075
- FICA
- $2,054
- State + local
- $822
- Net
- $22,899
- 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 | Washington | $40,910 |
| #2 | District of Columbia | $39,600 |
| #3 | California | $39,350 |
| #4 | Colorado | $38,960 |
| #5 | Massachusetts | $38,900 |
| #49 | Kentucky | $26,850 |
| #50 | Mississippi | $26,240 |
| #51 | Louisiana | $23,620 |
See the national food preparation worker salary page for the full pay range and all states.
BLS occupation: Food Preparation Workers (SOC 35-2021), May 2025, state estimates.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a food preparation worker make in Kentucky?
The median salary is $26,850 a year and the average is $28,760 (BLS May 2025).
Is Kentucky a good state for food preparation workers?
Kentucky ranks #49 of 51 states for median pay in this job, 24% below the national median of $35,320.
What is $26,850 after taxes in Kentucky?
About $22,899 a year ($881 every two weeks) for a single filer in 2026.
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Estimates for information only — not tax, legal or financial advice.