Last updated: 2025 BLS data · Page refreshed:
How much does a Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity actually take home in Kentucky?
4.0% flat rate — 20.0% effective total tax rateData: BLS OEWS 2025 + IRS/State Tax Brackets 2024 • Updated 2026-05-19
Detailed line-by-line tax calculation for a Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity earning $54,550 in Kentucky (single filer, standard deduction).
| Tax Component | Annual Amount | Effective Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary (Median) | $54,550 | — |
| Federal Income Tax | -$4,562 | 8.4% |
| Kentucky State Income Tax | -$2,182 | 4.0% |
| Social Security (OASDI) | -$3,382 | 6.2% |
| Medicare | -$790 | 1.5% |
| Total Taxes | -$10,917 | 20.0% |
| Take-Home Pay | $43,632 | 80.0% |
Take-home pay varies significantly across experience levels. Here is the after-tax breakdown for each salary percentile of Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity in Kentucky.
| Percentile | Gross Salary | Total Taxes | Take-Home Pay | Tax Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile (P10) | $32,020 | -$5,588 | $26,431 | 17.5% |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $38,310 | -$7,076 | $31,233 | 18.5% |
| Median (P50) | $54,550 | -$10,917 | $43,632 | 20.0% |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $61,100 | -$12,466 | $48,633 | 20.4% |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $61,590 | -$12,582 | $49,007 | 20.4% |
After federal income tax ($4,562), state tax ($2,182), and FICA ($4,173), a Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity in Kentucky takes home $43,632 per year — or $3,636 per month. The effective tax rate of 20.0% is relatively low compared to the national range.
With an effective total rate of 20.0%, a Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity in Kentucky keeps $43,633 of $54,550 gross — roughly typical for U.S. middle-income earners once federal, FICA and state taxes are combined.
Kentucky applies a flat state income tax — every dollar of wage income is taxed at the same rate. For this Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity salary that contributes $2,182 to the 4.0% effective state-tax burden.
Federal tax on this Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity salary is $4,562 (42%), but combined state ($2,182, 20%) + FICA ($4,173, 38%) make up the other 58% of the bill.
A Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity earning this gross in a no-income-tax state (e.g., Texas, Florida) would take home approximately $45,815 — only $2,182 (5.0%) more than in Kentucky.
Kentucky ranks #21 of 51 states for Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity after-tax pay — comfortably in the upper half.
Translated into paycheck cadences, $43,633 net/year works out to $3,636/month or $1,678/bi-weekly for this Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity in Kentucky — the numbers that actually hit a checking account after every deduction.
Where does a Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity keep the most of their paycheck? Top 10 states ranked by after-tax take-home pay.
Kentucky ranks #21 out of 51 states for Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity after-tax take-home pay.
A Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity in Kentucky earning a median salary of $54,550 will take home approximately $43,632 per year after federal income tax ($4,562), state income tax ($2,182), and FICA ($4,173). That is $3,636 per month or $1,678 per bi-weekly paycheck.
The effective total tax rate for a Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity in Kentucky is 20.0%, broken down as: federal income tax 8.4%, Kentucky state tax 4.0%, and FICA (Social Security + Medicare) 7.6%. This assumes a single filer with the standard deduction for 2024.
Kentucky has a 4.0% flat rate. On a Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity's median salary of $54,550, the state income tax amounts to $2,182 per year, which is an effective state rate of 4.0%.
After all taxes, a Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity in Kentucky takes home approximately $3,636 per month, or about $20.98 per hour (based on a standard 2,080-hour work year). These figures assume a single filer, standard deduction, and no additional pre-tax deductions.
We start with the 2025 BLS median salary of $54,550 for Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity in Kentucky, then subtract: federal income tax using 2024 IRS brackets ($14,600 standard deduction), Kentucky state income tax (4.0% flat rate), Social Security (6.2% up to $168,600), and Medicare (1.45%). The result — $43,632/yr — does not include local taxes, pre-tax deductions (401k, HSA), or tax credits.
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This estimate assumes a single filer using the 2024 standard deduction ($14,600), with W-2 employment income only. It does not account for: itemized deductions, tax credits (e.g. earned income credit, child tax credit), local/city taxes, pre-tax contributions (401k, HSA, FSA), self-employment tax, or additional income sources. Actual take-home pay may differ. Consult a tax professional for personalized advice.
Our Methodology · Data Sources · Salary: BLS OEWS · Tax: IRS + State DOR