Salaries › Press Machine Operator › Kentucky
Press Machine Operator Salary in Kentucky (2026)
$22.00 per hour · take-home ≈ $37,347/year ($3,112/month) for a single filer
Kentucky ranks 30th of 49 states for Press Machine Operator pay, with a median about 1% below the national average. Of the 7,290 Press Machine Operator jobs BLS counts in Kentucky, the typical worker earns $45,760 a year — though pay ranges from $34,920 for newcomers to $66,280 at the top.
Press Machine Operator pay range in Kentucky
| Percentile | Annual wage | Meaning |
| 10th percentile (entry) | $34,920 | Lowest-paid 10% earn less than this |
| 25th percentile | $39,300 | A quarter earn less |
| Median (50th) | $45,760 | Half earn more, half earn less |
| 75th percentile | $60,230 | Top quarter starts here |
| 90th percentile (top) | $66,280 | Highest-paid 10% earn more than this |
BLS reports 7,290 Press Machine Operator jobs in Kentucky (occupation code 51-4031, “Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic”).
Gross vs. take-home in Kentucky
A median Press Machine Operator salary of $45,760 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 $37,347 — an effective tax rate of 18.4%.
| Gross (median) | $45,760 |
| Federal income tax | −$3,311 |
| Social Security + Medicare | −$3,501 |
| Kentucky state income tax | −$1,602 |
| Take-home (annual) | $37,347 |
| Take-home (monthly) | $3,112 |
Want your exact numbers — married, 401(k), different salary? Use the free Kentucky paycheck calculator on PaycheckTally.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Press Machine Operator make in Kentucky?
- The median Press Machine Operator salary in Kentucky is $45,760 per year ($22.00 per hour) according to the latest BLS data. The middle 50% earn between $39,300 and $60,230.
- What is the take-home pay for a Press Machine Operator in Kentucky?
- On the median salary of $45,760, a single filer in Kentucky takes home about $37,347 per year ($3,112 per month) after federal tax, FICA, and state income tax — an effective tax rate of 18.4%.
- How many Press Machine Operator jobs are there in Kentucky?
- BLS counts 7,290 Press Machine Operator jobs in Kentucky in the latest survey (May 2025).
Top-paying states for Press 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.