Salaries › Payroll Clerk › Kentucky
Payroll Clerk Salary in Kentucky (2026)
$25.43 per hour · take-home ≈ $42,826/year ($3,569/month) for a single filer
Kentucky ranks 38th of 51 states for Payroll Clerk pay, with a median about 8% below the national average. Of the 1,670 Payroll Clerk jobs BLS counts in Kentucky, the typical worker earns $52,890 a year — though pay ranges from $36,600 for newcomers to $76,590 at the top.
Payroll Clerk pay range in Kentucky
| Percentile | Annual wage | Meaning |
| 10th percentile (entry) | $36,600 | Lowest-paid 10% earn less than this |
| 25th percentile | $43,800 | A quarter earn less |
| Median (50th) | $52,890 | Half earn more, half earn less |
| 75th percentile | $62,710 | Top quarter starts here |
| 90th percentile (top) | $76,590 | Highest-paid 10% earn more than this |
BLS reports 1,670 Payroll Clerk jobs in Kentucky (occupation code 43-3051, “Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks”).
Gross vs. take-home in Kentucky
A median Payroll Clerk salary of $52,890 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 $42,826 — an effective tax rate of 19.0%.
| Gross (median) | $52,890 |
| Federal income tax | −$4,167 |
| Social Security + Medicare | −$4,046 |
| Kentucky state income tax | −$1,851 |
| Take-home (annual) | $42,826 |
| Take-home (monthly) | $3,569 |
Want your exact numbers — married, 401(k), different salary? Use the free Kentucky paycheck calculator on PaycheckTally.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Payroll Clerk make in Kentucky?
- The median Payroll Clerk salary in Kentucky is $52,890 per year ($25.43 per hour) according to the latest BLS data. The middle 50% earn between $43,800 and $62,710.
- What is the take-home pay for a Payroll Clerk in Kentucky?
- On the median salary of $52,890, a single filer in Kentucky takes home about $42,826 per year ($3,569 per month) after federal tax, FICA, and state income tax — an effective tax rate of 19.0%.
- How many Payroll Clerk jobs are there in Kentucky?
- BLS counts 1,670 Payroll Clerk jobs in Kentucky in the latest survey (May 2025).
Top-paying states for Payroll Clerks
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.