Police Officer salary in Kentucky
Updated Updated for 2026 tax law
A Police Officer in Kentucky earns a median of $60,490 a year ($29.08/hour equivalent), 20.6% below the national median of $76,210. Kentucky ranks #39 of 51 states. About 7,890 people do this job in Kentucky.
Take-home pay in Kentucky
At the Kentucky median, a single filer keeps about $48,784 a year after federal, FICA and Kentucky taxes — $1,876 every two weeks. Try your own numbers with the Kentucky paycheck calculator.
- Gross pay
- $2,326.54
- Federal income tax
- −$195.34
- Social Security (6.2%)
- −$144.25
- Medicare (1.45%)
- −$33.73
- Kentucky income tax
- −$76.91
- Take-home pay
- $1,876.31
Annual breakdown
- Gross
- $60,490
- Federal
- $5,079
- FICA
- $4,627
- State + local
- $2,000
- Net
- $48,784
- 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 | California | $118,880 |
| #2 | Washington | $102,080 |
| #3 | Illinois | $100,520 |
| #4 | Alaska | $99,130 |
| #5 | Colorado | $97,350 |
| #39 | Kentucky | $60,490 |
| #49 | Louisiana | $48,380 |
| #50 | Arkansas | $47,670 |
| #51 | Mississippi | $46,140 |
See the national Police Officer salary page for the full pay range and all states.
BLS occupation: Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers (SOC 33-3051), May 2025, state estimates.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Police Officer make in Kentucky?
The median salary is $60,490 a year and the average is $59,840 (BLS May 2025).
Is Kentucky a good state for police and sheriff's patrol officers?
Kentucky ranks #39 of 51 states for median pay in this job, 21% below the national median of $76,210.
What is $60,490 after taxes in Kentucky?
About $48,784 a year ($1,876 every two weeks) for a single filer in 2026.
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Estimates for information only — not tax, legal or financial advice.