Laborer and Freight salary in Kentucky
Updated Updated for 2026 tax law
A laborer and freight in Kentucky earns a median of $42,770 a year ($20.56/hour equivalent), 6.3% above the national median of $40,240. Kentucky ranks #18 of 51 states. About 57,930 people do this job in Kentucky.
Take-home pay in Kentucky
At the Kentucky median, a single filer keeps about $35,166 a year after federal, FICA and Kentucky taxes — $1,353 every two weeks. Try your own numbers with the Kentucky paycheck calculator.
- Gross pay
- $1,645.00
- Federal income tax
- −$113.55
- Social Security (6.2%)
- −$101.99
- Medicare (1.45%)
- −$23.85
- Kentucky income tax
- −$53.05
- Take-home pay
- $1,352.55
Annual breakdown
- Gross
- $42,770
- Federal
- $2,952
- FICA
- $3,272
- State + local
- $1,379
- Net
- $35,166
- 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 | Minnesota | $46,280 |
| #2 | Washington | $46,190 |
| #3 | District of Columbia | $45,740 |
| #4 | North Dakota | $45,690 |
| #5 | Colorado | $45,370 |
| #18 | Kentucky | $42,770 |
| #49 | Mississippi | $36,400 |
| #50 | Arkansas | $35,920 |
| #51 | Louisiana | $35,340 |
See the national laborer and freight salary page for the full pay range and all states.
BLS occupation: Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand (SOC 53-7062), May 2025, state estimates.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a laborer and freight make in Kentucky?
The median salary is $42,770 a year and the average is $41,960 (BLS May 2025).
Is Kentucky a good state for laborers and freight?
Kentucky ranks #18 of 51 states for median pay in this job, 6% above the national median of $40,240.
What is $42,770 after taxes in Kentucky?
About $35,166 a year ($1,353 every two weeks) for a single filer in 2026.
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Estimates for information only — not tax, legal or financial advice.