Salaries › Waiter / Waitress › Kentucky
Waiter / Waitress Salary in Kentucky (2026)
$14.26 per hour · take-home ≈ $24,974/year ($2,081/month) for a single filer
Waiter / Waitress pay range in Kentucky
| Percentile | Annual wage | Meaning |
| 10th percentile (entry) | $16,520 | Lowest-paid 10% earn less than this |
| 25th percentile | $18,170 | A quarter earn less |
| Median (50th) | $29,660 | Half earn more, half earn less |
| 75th percentile | $45,710 | Top quarter starts here |
| 90th percentile (top) | $62,030 | Highest-paid 10% earn more than this |
BLS reports 27,150 Waiter / Waitress jobs in Kentucky (occupation code 35-3031, “Waiters and Waitresses”).
Gross vs. take-home in Kentucky
A median Waiter / Waitress salary of $29,660 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 $24,974 — an effective tax rate of 15.8%.
| Gross (median) | $29,660 |
| Federal income tax | −$1,379 |
| Social Security + Medicare | −$2,269 |
| Kentucky state income tax | −$1,038 |
| Take-home (annual) | $24,974 |
| Take-home (monthly) | $2,081 |
Want your exact numbers — married, 401(k), different salary? Use the free Kentucky paycheck calculator on PaycheckTally.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Waiter / Waitress make in Kentucky?
- The median Waiter / Waitress salary in Kentucky is $29,660 per year ($14.26 per hour) according to the latest BLS data. The middle 50% earn between $18,170 and $45,710.
- What is the take-home pay for a Waiter / Waitress in Kentucky?
- On the median salary of $29,660, a single filer in Kentucky takes home about $24,974 per year ($2,081 per month) after federal tax, FICA, and state income tax — an effective tax rate of 15.8%.
- How many Waiter / Waitress jobs are there in Kentucky?
- BLS counts 27,150 Waiter / Waitress jobs in Kentucky in the latest survey (May 2025).
Top-paying states for Waiter / Waitresss
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.