Kentucky Minimum Wage 2026
$7.25
per hour (federal minimum) since July 1, 2009
Kentucky's minimum wage is $7.25 an hour, the same as the federal minimum wage. No increase to the Kentucky minimum wage is scheduled for 2027.
Reviewed by Slava Akulov, CEO & Co-Founder at Jupid · Last updated: October 2026
Up to 40. Hours over 40 in a workweek go in the overtime field.
Paid at 1.5 times the rate ($10.88 an hour).
Weekly
$290
Monthly (average)
$1,257
Annual
$15,080
Gross pay before taxes. For take-home pay after federal, state and payroll taxes, use the Kentucky hourly paycheck calculator.
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Kentucky Minimum Wage at a Glance
2026 minimum wage
$7.25
Since July 1, 2009
Tipped cash wage
$2.13
Tip credit up to $5.12
Next change
None scheduled
No law scheduled
Overtime
Weekly
1.5 times the regular rate
Kentucky law sets $7.25 and automatically matches any higher federal rate.
Local Minimum Wages in Kentucky
Cities cannot set their own minimum wage: in 2016 the Kentucky Supreme Court struck down Louisville Metro's ordinance because state wage law covers the field.
Tipped Minimum Wage in Kentucky
Employers in Kentucky can pay tipped employees a cash wage of $2.13 an hour and count up to $5.12 an hour of tips toward the $7.25 minimum. If tips fall short, the employer makes up the difference. A tipped employee customarily and regularly receives more than $30 a month in tips, and employer records must show tips plus wages reach $7.25.
Cash wage
$2.13
Maximum tip credit
$5.12
Cash wage plus tips must reach
$7.25
Overtime Rules in Kentucky
Overtime is due after 40 hours in a workweek, plus time and a half on the seventh day when an employee works all seven days of a workweek. Overtime is paid at 1.5 times the regular rate, so at the $7.25 minimum an overtime hour pays at least $10.88. To work out overtime on any hourly rate, use the overtime pay calculator.
Kentucky Minimum Wage History
| Effective | Hourly rate |
|---|---|
| July 1, 2009 (current) | $7.25 |
| July 1, 2008 | $6.55 |
| June 26, 2007 | $5.85 |
Kentucky Minimum Wage in 2027
No increase to the Kentucky minimum wage is scheduled for 2027. No scheduled increase.
Kentucky Minimum Wage FAQ
More Pay Tools for Kentucky
Kentucky Hourly Paycheck Calculator
Take-home pay for hourly work, with overtime and taxes.
Kentucky Paycheck Calculator
Salary take-home pay after federal and state taxes.
Overtime Pay Calculator
Time-and-a-half and double-time pay for any rate.
Employee Cost Calculator
What an hourly hire costs with payroll taxes added.
Minimum Wage in Other States
State minimum wages range from the federal $7.25 to $18.40 an hour in 2026. Pick a state to see its rate, tipped wage and 2027 change.
Official References
- Kentucky Education and Labor Cabinet, Division of Wages and Hours
- Kentucky Wage and Hour Laws poster
- KRS 337.275
- Kentucky Restaurant Ass'n v. Louisville/Jefferson County Metro Gov't (Ky. 2016)
- U.S. Department of Labor: State Minimum Wage Laws
- U.S. Department of Labor: Minimum Wages for Tipped Employees
Rates verified against the sources above on October 30, 2026. The calculator shows gross pay only. Industry rates, exemptions and local ordinances can change during the year; check the agency page before setting pay. This page is general information, not legal advice.
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