Salaries › Food Prep Worker › Kentucky
Food Prep Worker Salary in Kentucky (2026)
$12.91 per hour · take-home ≈ $22,781/year ($1,898/month) for a single filer
Food Prep Worker pay range in Kentucky
| Percentile | Annual wage | Meaning |
| 10th percentile (entry) | $20,900 | Lowest-paid 10% earn less than this |
| 25th percentile | $22,790 | A quarter earn less |
| Median (50th) | $26,850 | Half earn more, half earn less |
| 75th percentile | $33,890 | Top quarter starts here |
| 90th percentile (top) | $37,830 | Highest-paid 10% earn more than this |
BLS reports 15,390 Food Prep Worker jobs in Kentucky (occupation code 35-2021, “Food Preparation Workers”).
Gross vs. take-home in Kentucky
A median Food Prep Worker salary of $26,850 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 $22,781 — an effective tax rate of 15.2%.
| Gross (median) | $26,850 |
| Federal income tax | −$1,075 |
| Social Security + Medicare | −$2,054 |
| Kentucky state income tax | −$940 |
| Take-home (annual) | $22,781 |
| Take-home (monthly) | $1,898 |
Want your exact numbers — married, 401(k), different salary? Use the free Kentucky paycheck calculator on PaycheckTally.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Food Prep Worker make in Kentucky?
- The median Food Prep Worker salary in Kentucky is $26,850 per year ($12.91 per hour) according to the latest BLS data. The middle 50% earn between $22,790 and $33,890.
- What is the take-home pay for a Food Prep Worker in Kentucky?
- On the median salary of $26,850, a single filer in Kentucky takes home about $22,781 per year ($1,898 per month) after federal tax, FICA, and state income tax — an effective tax rate of 15.2%.
- How many Food Prep Worker jobs are there in Kentucky?
- BLS counts 15,390 Food Prep Worker jobs in Kentucky in the latest survey (May 2025).
Top-paying states for Food Prep Workers
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.