Last updated: 2025 BLS data · Page refreshed:
How much does a Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers actually take home in Kentucky?
4.0% flat rate — 16.7% effective total tax rateData: BLS OEWS 2025 + IRS/State Tax Brackets 2024 • Updated 2026-05-19
Detailed line-by-line tax calculation for a Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers earning $28,520 in Kentucky (single filer, standard deduction).
| Tax Component | Annual Amount | Effective Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary (Median) | $28,520 | — |
| Federal Income Tax | -$1,438 | 5.0% |
| Kentucky State Income Tax | -$1,140 | 4.0% |
| Social Security (OASDI) | -$1,768 | 6.2% |
| Medicare | -$413 | 1.5% |
| Total Taxes | -$4,760 | 16.7% |
| Take-Home Pay | $23,759 | 83.3% |
Take-home pay varies significantly across experience levels. Here is the after-tax breakdown for each salary percentile of Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers in Kentucky.
| Percentile | Gross Salary | Total Taxes | Take-Home Pay | Tax Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile (P10) | $20,280 | -$2,930 | $17,349 | 14.5% |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $22,190 | -$3,344 | $18,845 | 15.1% |
| Median (P50) | $28,520 | -$4,760 | $23,759 | 16.7% |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $30,620 | -$5,257 | $25,362 | 17.2% |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $33,250 | -$5,879 | $27,370 | 17.7% |
After federal income tax ($1,438), state tax ($1,140), and FICA ($2,181), a Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers in Kentucky takes home $23,759 per year — or $1,979 per month. The effective tax rate of 16.7% is relatively low compared to the national range.
A Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers in Kentucky faces an effective total tax rate of only 16.7%, keeping 83.3% of every gross dollar. That leaves $23,759 net out of $28,520 gross — a favorable outcome compared to states with combined rates above 30%.
Kentucky applies a flat state income tax — every dollar of wage income is taxed at the same rate. For this Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers salary that contributes $1,141 to the 4.0% effective state-tax burden.
Federal tax on this Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers salary is $1,438 (30%), but combined state ($1,141, 24%) + FICA ($2,182, 46%) make up the other 70% of the bill.
A Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers earning this gross in a no-income-tax state (e.g., Texas, Florida) would take home approximately $24,900 — only $1,141 (4.8%) more than in Kentucky.
Kentucky sits near the bottom (#39 of 51) for Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers after-tax earnings. Relocation, negotiation, or credential stacking typically show the clearest ROI in bottom-quartile states.
Translated into paycheck cadences, $23,759 net/year works out to $1,980/month or $914/bi-weekly for this Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers in Kentucky — the numbers that actually hit a checking account after every deduction.
Where does a Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers keep the most of their paycheck? Top 10 states ranked by after-tax take-home pay.
Kentucky ranks #39 out of 51 states for Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers after-tax take-home pay.
A Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers in Kentucky earning a median salary of $28,520 will take home approximately $23,759 per year after federal income tax ($1,438), state income tax ($1,140), and FICA ($2,181). That is $1,979 per month or $913 per bi-weekly paycheck.
The effective total tax rate for a Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers in Kentucky is 16.7%, broken down as: federal income tax 5.0%, Kentucky state tax 4.0%, and FICA (Social Security + Medicare) 7.7%. This assumes a single filer with the standard deduction for 2024.
Kentucky has a 4.0% flat rate. On a Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers's median salary of $28,520, the state income tax amounts to $1,140 per year, which is an effective state rate of 4.0%.
After all taxes, a Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers in Kentucky takes home approximately $1,979 per month, or about $11.42 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 $28,520 for Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers 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 — $23,759/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