Salaries › Firefighter › Kentucky
Firefighter Salary in Kentucky (2026)
$17.86 per hour · take-home ≈ $30,730/year ($2,561/month) for a single filer
Firefighter pay range in Kentucky
| Percentile | Annual wage | Meaning |
| 10th percentile (entry) | $27,870 | Lowest-paid 10% earn less than this |
| 25th percentile | $33,390 | A quarter earn less |
| Median (50th) | $37,150 | Half earn more, half earn less |
| 75th percentile | $48,120 | Top quarter starts here |
| 90th percentile (top) | $60,720 | Highest-paid 10% earn more than this |
BLS reports 5,150 Firefighter jobs in Kentucky (occupation code 33-2011, “Firefighters”).
Gross vs. take-home in Kentucky
A median Firefighter salary of $37,150 doesn’t all reach your bank account. After federal income tax, Social Security, and Medicare, plus Kentucky state income tax, a single filer keeps about $30,730 — an effective tax rate of 17.3%.
| Gross (median) | $37,150 |
| Federal income tax | −$2,278 |
| Social Security + Medicare | −$2,842 |
| Kentucky state income tax | −$1,300 |
| Take-home (annual) | $30,730 |
| Take-home (monthly) | $2,561 |
Want your exact numbers — married, 401(k), different salary? Use the free Kentucky paycheck calculator on PaycheckTally.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Firefighter make in Kentucky?
- The median Firefighter salary in Kentucky is $37,150 per year ($17.86 per hour) according to the latest BLS data. The middle 50% earn between $33,390 and $48,120.
- What is the take-home pay for a Firefighter in Kentucky?
- On the median salary of $37,150, a single filer in Kentucky takes home about $30,730 per year ($2,561 per month) after federal tax, FICA, and state income tax — an effective tax rate of 17.3%.
- How many Firefighter jobs are there in Kentucky?
- BLS counts 5,150 Firefighter jobs in Kentucky in the latest survey (May 2025).
Top-paying states for Firefighters
Other salaries in Kentucky
Sources and methodology
Wage and employment figures: BLS OEWS May 2025 (state file, released April 2026) — the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey, the most authoritative public salary dataset. Take-home estimate: 2026 federal brackets, FICA, and verified Kentucky state tax rules (single filer, standard deduction, no credits or local taxes). Estimates only — not financial advice.
- BLS OEWS — official occupational wage data.
- PaycheckTally — interactive 2026 take-home calculator for Kentucky.