Salaries › Packaging Machine Operator › Kentucky
Packaging Machine Operator Salary in Kentucky (2026)
$21.85 per hour · take-home ≈ $37,108/year ($3,092/month) for a single filer
Packaging Machine Operator pay range in Kentucky
| Percentile | Annual wage | Meaning |
| 10th percentile (entry) | $35,250 | Lowest-paid 10% earn less than this |
| 25th percentile | $38,640 | A quarter earn less |
| Median (50th) | $45,450 | Half earn more, half earn less |
| 75th percentile | $52,620 | Top quarter starts here |
| 90th percentile (top) | $61,250 | Highest-paid 10% earn more than this |
BLS reports 8,640 Packaging Machine Operator jobs in Kentucky (occupation code 51-9111, “Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders”).
Gross vs. take-home in Kentucky
A median Packaging Machine Operator salary of $45,450 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 $37,108 — an effective tax rate of 18.4%.
| Gross (median) | $45,450 |
| Federal income tax | −$3,274 |
| Social Security + Medicare | −$3,477 |
| Kentucky state income tax | −$1,591 |
| Take-home (annual) | $37,108 |
| Take-home (monthly) | $3,092 |
Want your exact numbers — married, 401(k), different salary? Use the free Kentucky paycheck calculator on PaycheckTally.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Packaging Machine Operator make in Kentucky?
- The median Packaging Machine Operator salary in Kentucky is $45,450 per year ($21.85 per hour) according to the latest BLS data. The middle 50% earn between $38,640 and $52,620.
- What is the take-home pay for a Packaging Machine Operator in Kentucky?
- On the median salary of $45,450, a single filer in Kentucky takes home about $37,108 per year ($3,092 per month) after federal tax, FICA, and state income tax — an effective tax rate of 18.4%.
- How many Packaging Machine Operator jobs are there in Kentucky?
- BLS counts 8,640 Packaging Machine Operator jobs in Kentucky in the latest survey (May 2025).
Top-paying states for Packaging Machine Operators
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.