Waiter and Waitress salary in Kentucky
Updated Updated for 2026 tax law
A waiter and waitress in Kentucky earns a median of $29,660 a year ($14.26/hour equivalent), 15.8% below the national median of $35,230. Kentucky ranks #33 of 51 states. About 27,150 people do this job in Kentucky.
Take-home pay in Kentucky
At the Kentucky median, a single filer keeps about $25,091 a year after federal, FICA and Kentucky taxes — $965 every two weeks. Try your own numbers with the Kentucky paycheck calculator.
- Gross pay
- $1,140.77
- Federal income tax
- −$53.05
- Social Security (6.2%)
- −$70.73
- Medicare (1.45%)
- −$16.54
- Kentucky income tax
- −$35.40
- Take-home pay
- $965.05
Annual breakdown
- Gross
- $29,660
- Federal
- $1,379
- FICA
- $2,269
- State + local
- $921
- Net
- $25,091
- 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 | Hawaii | $62,390 |
| #2 | Vermont | $59,140 |
| #3 | Washington | $56,130 |
| #4 | Oregon | $48,410 |
| #5 | District of Columbia | $47,850 |
| #33 | Kentucky | $29,660 |
| #49 | South Carolina | $18,370 |
| #50 | Oklahoma | $17,910 |
| #51 | Louisiana | $15,080 |
See the national waiter and waitress salary page for the full pay range and all states.
BLS occupation: Waiters and Waitresses (SOC 35-3031), May 2025, state estimates.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a waiter and waitress make in Kentucky?
The median salary is $29,660 a year and the average is $35,410 (BLS May 2025).
Is Kentucky a good state for waiters and waitresses?
Kentucky ranks #33 of 51 states for median pay in this job, 16% below the national median of $35,230.
What is $29,660 after taxes in Kentucky?
About $25,091 a year ($965 every two weeks) for a single filer in 2026.
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Estimates for information only — not tax, legal or financial advice.