Respiratory Therapist salary in Kentucky
Updated Updated for 2026 tax law
A respiratory therapist in Kentucky earns a median of $72,750 a year ($34.98/hour equivalent), 11.6% below the national median of $82,280. Kentucky ranks #45 of 51 states. About 2,530 people do this job in Kentucky.
Take-home pay in Kentucky
At the Kentucky median, a single filer keeps about $57,581 a year after federal, FICA and Kentucky taxes — $2,215 every two weeks. Try your own numbers with the Kentucky paycheck calculator.
- Gross pay
- $2,798.08
- Federal income tax
- −$275.96
- Social Security (6.2%)
- −$173.48
- Medicare (1.45%)
- −$40.57
- Kentucky income tax
- −$93.41
- Take-home pay
- $2,214.65
Annual breakdown
- Gross
- $72,750
- Federal
- $7,175
- FICA
- $5,565
- State + local
- $2,429
- Net
- $57,581
- 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 | District of Columbia | $111,950 |
| #2 | New York | $107,810 |
| #3 | California | $104,820 |
| #4 | Massachusetts | $102,170 |
| #5 | Washington | $101,130 |
| #45 | Kentucky | $72,750 |
| #49 | South Dakota | $68,240 |
| #50 | Alabama | $66,150 |
| #51 | Mississippi | $63,270 |
See the national respiratory therapist salary page for the full pay range and all states.
BLS occupation: Respiratory Therapists (SOC 29-1126), May 2025, state estimates.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a respiratory therapist make in Kentucky?
The median salary is $72,750 a year and the average is $72,470 (BLS May 2025).
Is Kentucky a good state for respiratory therapists?
Kentucky ranks #45 of 51 states for median pay in this job, 12% below the national median of $82,280.
What is $72,750 after taxes in Kentucky?
About $57,581 a year ($2,215 every two weeks) for a single filer in 2026.
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Estimates for information only — not tax, legal or financial advice.