Security Guard salary in Kentucky
Updated Updated for 2026 tax law
A security guard in Kentucky earns a median of $35,420 a year ($17.03/hour equivalent), 6.8% below the national median of $38,020. Kentucky ranks #45 of 51 states. About 13,580 people do this job in Kentucky.
Take-home pay in Kentucky
At the Kentucky median, a single filer keeps about $29,518 a year after federal, FICA and Kentucky taxes — $1,135 every two weeks. Try your own numbers with the Kentucky paycheck calculator.
- Gross pay
- $1,362.31
- Federal income tax
- −$79.63
- Social Security (6.2%)
- −$84.46
- Medicare (1.45%)
- −$19.75
- Kentucky income tax
- −$43.16
- Take-home pay
- $1,135.30
Annual breakdown
- Gross
- $35,420
- Federal
- $2,070
- FICA
- $2,710
- State + local
- $1,122
- Net
- $29,518
- 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 | District of Columbia | $64,210 |
| #2 | Alaska | $47,480 |
| #3 | Washington | $47,100 |
| #4 | Vermont | $45,550 |
| #5 | Oregon | $45,500 |
| #45 | Kentucky | $35,420 |
| #49 | Louisiana | $32,240 |
| #50 | Mississippi | $29,180 |
| #51 | West Virginia | $28,800 |
See the national security guard salary page for the full pay range and all states.
BLS occupation: Security Guards (SOC 33-9032), May 2025, state estimates.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a security guard make in Kentucky?
The median salary is $35,420 a year and the average is $38,540 (BLS May 2025).
Is Kentucky a good state for security guards?
Kentucky ranks #45 of 51 states for median pay in this job, 7% below the national median of $38,020.
What is $35,420 after taxes in Kentucky?
About $29,518 a year ($1,135 every two weeks) for a single filer in 2026.
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Estimates for information only — not tax, legal or financial advice.