How Much Do Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders Make in Kentucky?
Median wage from BLS May 2025 — and the after-tax number the salary sites skip. Tax year 2026.
Quick answer
According to payandtaxes.com's analysis of BLS May 2025 data and 2026 tax law, the median Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders in Kentucky earns $41,800 per year and takes home $34,421 ($2,868/month) — a keep-rate of 82.3%, with 300 employed in the state.
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| Gross pay | $3,483.33 |
| Federal income tax | $236.33 |
| Social Security | $215.97 |
| Medicare | $50.51 |
| Kentucky state income tax | $112.12 |
| You keep | $2,868.41 |
How much do Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders make in Kentucky?
The median Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders in Kentucky earns $41,800 per year (BLS May 2025), about $20.09 per hour.
What is that after taxes?
$41,800 gross in Kentucky keeps $34,421 after federal income tax ($2,836), FICA ($3,198) and state income tax ($1,345) — $2,868 per month, a 82.3% keep-rate.
How does Kentucky compare to the national median for Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders?
The Kentucky median is $210 above the national median of $41,590.
Which state pays Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders the most?
Washington has the highest median gross for Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders at $51,100 — but compare take-home, not gross: state taxes change the order.
Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders salary in every state · Kentucky paycheck calculator · Kentucky minimum wage