Massage Therapist salary in Kentucky
Updated Updated for 2026 tax law
A massage therapist in Kentucky earns a median of $59,790 a year ($28.75/hour equivalent), 2.3% above the national median of $58,450. Kentucky ranks #25 of 50 states. About 780 people do this job in Kentucky.
Take-home pay in Kentucky
At the Kentucky median, a single filer keeps about $48,246 a year after federal, FICA and Kentucky taxes — $1,856 every two weeks. Try your own numbers with the Kentucky paycheck calculator.
- Gross pay
- $2,299.62
- Federal income tax
- −$192.11
- Social Security (6.2%)
- −$142.58
- Medicare (1.45%)
- −$33.34
- Kentucky income tax
- −$75.96
- Take-home pay
- $1,855.62
Annual breakdown
- Gross
- $59,790
- Federal
- $4,995
- FICA
- $4,574
- State + local
- $1,975
- Net
- $48,246
- 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 | Alaska | $134,930 |
| #2 | Washington | $87,360 |
| #3 | Oregon | $86,970 |
| #4 | Hawaii | $81,280 |
| #5 | New Hampshire | $80,360 |
| #25 | Kentucky | $59,790 |
| #48 | New Mexico | $37,840 |
| #49 | Oklahoma | $36,630 |
| #50 | Louisiana | $36,480 |
See the national massage therapist salary page for the full pay range and all states.
BLS occupation: Massage Therapists (SOC 31-9011), May 2025, state estimates.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a massage therapist make in Kentucky?
The median salary is $59,790 a year and the average is $65,060 (BLS May 2025).
Is Kentucky a good state for massage therapists?
Kentucky ranks #25 of 50 states for median pay in this job, 2% above the national median of $58,450.
What is $59,790 after taxes in Kentucky?
About $48,246 a year ($1,856 every two weeks) for a single filer in 2026.
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Estimates for information only — not tax, legal or financial advice.