Kentucky minimum wage (2026)
The minimum wage in Kentucky is $7.25 an hour – $15,080 a year for full-time work. Compare it with what common jobs in Kentucky actually pay.
Kentucky minimum wage$7.25/hr
Full-time minimum-wage pay
Gross pay before taxes for a full-time job at $7.25/hr.
Typical pay in Kentucky
2,000,360 jobs$22.56/hr$46,920 a year
The minimum wage equals 32% of the state's median hourly wage.
What common jobs pay in Kentucky
Median wage in Kentucky for its most common jobs (BLS, May 2025).
57,930 jobs in Kentucky$20.56/hrGeneral and Operations Managers
52,100 jobs in Kentucky$38.16/hrRetail Salespersons
51,250 jobs in Kentucky$14.26/hrRegistered Nurses
50,300 jobs in Kentucky$38.96/hrStockers and Order Fillers
47,730 jobs in Kentucky$17.70/hrCashiers
44,550 jobs in Kentucky$13.75/hrFast Food and Counter Workers
41,860 jobs in Kentucky$13.04/hrCustomer Service Representatives
38,630 jobs in Kentucky$18.61/hrHeavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers
31,760 jobs in Kentucky$27.09/hrHome Health and Personal Care Aides
31,260 jobs in Kentucky$17.52/hr
Nearby in the ranking
All states ranked ›Sources: U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division – State Minimum Wage Laws and the Kentucky labor department (rates, checked October 28, 2026); BLS OEWS (wages). Local and tipped rates are not shown.
Questions & answers
What is the minimum wage in Kentucky in 2026?
Kentucky's minimum wage is $7.25 an hour.
Is Kentucky's minimum wage going up?
No statewide increase is scheduled as of October 28, 2026.
How much is a full-time minimum-wage job in Kentucky per year?
At $7.25 an hour, 40 hours a week for 52 weeks (2,080 hours) comes to $15,080 a year before taxes, or about $290.00 a week.
What is the typical wage in Kentucky?
The median wage for all jobs in Kentucky was $22.56 an hour ($46,920 a year) in May 2025, according to BLS. The minimum wage is 32% of that.
Can my city have a higher minimum wage?
Yes, if Kentucky allows local minimum wages, a city or county can set a higher rate, and employers must pay whichever rate is highest: federal, state or local. Check your city's labor office.