Welder salary in Kentucky
Updated Updated for 2026 tax law
A Welder in Kentucky earns a median of $51,470 a year ($24.75/hour equivalent), 4.2% below the national median of $53,750. Kentucky ranks #33 of 51 states. About 6,630 people do this job in Kentucky.
Take-home pay in Kentucky
At the Kentucky median, a single filer keeps about $41,852 a year after federal, FICA and Kentucky taxes — $1,610 every two weeks. Try your own numbers with the Kentucky paycheck calculator.
- Gross pay
- $1,979.62
- Federal income tax
- −$153.71
- Social Security (6.2%)
- −$122.74
- Medicare (1.45%)
- −$28.70
- Kentucky income tax
- −$64.76
- Take-home pay
- $1,609.70
Annual breakdown
- Gross
- $51,470
- Federal
- $3,996
- FICA
- $3,937
- State + local
- $1,684
- Net
- $41,852
- 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 | $80,840 |
| #2 | Hawaii | $79,000 |
| #3 | Connecticut | $64,880 |
| #4 | Wyoming | $63,820 |
| #5 | Washington | $63,020 |
| #33 | Kentucky | $51,470 |
| #49 | Georgia | $48,430 |
| #50 | Tennessee | $48,040 |
| #51 | Arkansas | $47,970 |
See the national Welder salary page for the full pay range and all states.
BLS occupation: Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers (SOC 51-4121), May 2025, state estimates.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Welder make in Kentucky?
The median salary is $51,470 a year and the average is $53,710 (BLS May 2025).
Is Kentucky a good state for welders?
Kentucky ranks #33 of 51 states for median pay in this job, 4% below the national median of $53,750.
What is $51,470 after taxes in Kentucky?
About $41,852 a year ($1,610 every two weeks) for a single filer in 2026.
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Estimates for information only — not tax, legal or financial advice.