Lawyer salary in Kentucky
Updated Updated for 2026 tax law
A lawyer in Kentucky earns a median of $101,550 a year ($48.82/hour equivalent), 36.4% below the national median of $159,670. Kentucky ranks #48 of 51 states. About 5,770 people do this job in Kentucky.
Take-home pay in Kentucky
At the Kentucky median, a single filer keeps about $76,834 a year after federal, FICA and Kentucky taxes — $2,955 every two weeks. Try your own numbers with the Kentucky paycheck calculator.
- Gross pay
- $3,905.77
- Federal income tax
- −$519.65
- Social Security (6.2%)
- −$242.16
- Medicare (1.45%)
- −$56.63
- Kentucky income tax
- −$132.18
- Take-home pay
- $2,955.15
Annual breakdown
- Gross
- $101,550
- Federal
- $13,511
- FICA
- $7,769
- State + local
- $3,437
- Net
- $76,834
- Marginal federal rate
- 22.0%
- 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 | New York | $207,860 |
| #2 | District of Columbia | $195,190 |
| #3 | California | $195,080 |
| #4 | Massachusetts | $176,680 |
| #5 | Delaware | $173,510 |
| #48 | Kentucky | $101,550 |
| #49 | Wyoming | $100,130 |
| #50 | Arkansas | $98,880 |
| #51 | Mississippi | $91,690 |
See the national lawyer salary page for the full pay range and all states.
BLS occupation: Lawyers (SOC 23-1011), May 2025, state estimates.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a lawyer make in Kentucky?
The median salary is $101,550 a year and the average is $120,730 (BLS May 2025).
Is Kentucky a good state for lawyers?
Kentucky ranks #48 of 51 states for median pay in this job, 36% below the national median of $159,670.
What is $101,550 after taxes in Kentucky?
About $76,834 a year ($2,955 every two weeks) for a single filer in 2026.
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Estimates for information only — not tax, legal or financial advice.