How Much Do Food Preparation Workers 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 Preparation Workers in Kentucky earns $26,850 per year and takes home $22,899 ($1,908/month) — a keep-rate of 85.3%, with 15,390 employed in the state.
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| Gross pay | $2,237.50 |
| Federal income tax | $89.58 |
| Social Security | $138.73 |
| Medicare | $32.44 |
| Kentucky state income tax | $68.51 |
| You keep | $1,908.24 |
How much do Food Preparation Workers make in Kentucky?
The median Food Preparation Workers in Kentucky earns $26,850 per year (BLS May 2025), about $12.91 per hour.
What is that after taxes?
$26,850 gross in Kentucky keeps $22,899 after federal income tax ($1,075), FICA ($2,054) and state income tax ($822) — $1,908 per month, a 85.3% keep-rate.
How does Kentucky compare to the national median for Food Preparation Workers?
The Kentucky median is $8,470 below the national median of $35,320.
Which state pays Food Preparation Workers the most?
Washington has the highest median gross for Food Preparation Workers at $40,910 — but compare take-home, not gross: state taxes change the order.
Food Preparation Workers salary in every state · Kentucky paycheck calculator · Kentucky minimum wage