Last updated: 2025 BLS data · Page refreshed:
How much does a Meter Readers, Utilities actually take home in Kentucky?
4.0% flat rate — 19.2% effective total tax rateData: BLS OEWS 2025 + IRS/State Tax Brackets 2024 • Updated 2026-05-19
Detailed line-by-line tax calculation for a Meter Readers, Utilities earning $44,450 in Kentucky (single filer, standard deduction).
| Tax Component | Annual Amount | Effective Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary (Median) | $44,450 | — |
| Federal Income Tax | -$3,350 | 7.5% |
| Kentucky State Income Tax | -$1,778 | 4.0% |
| Social Security (OASDI) | -$2,755 | 6.2% |
| Medicare | -$644 | 1.4% |
| Total Taxes | -$8,528 | 19.2% |
| Take-Home Pay | $35,921 | 80.8% |
Take-home pay varies significantly across experience levels. Here is the after-tax breakdown for each salary percentile of Meter Readers, Utilities in Kentucky.
| Percentile | Gross Salary | Total Taxes | Take-Home Pay | Tax Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile (P10) | $32,200 | -$5,631 | $26,568 | 17.5% |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $37,940 | -$6,988 | $30,951 | 18.4% |
| Median (P50) | $44,450 | -$8,528 | $35,921 | 19.2% |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $50,760 | -$10,020 | $40,739 | 19.7% |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $62,690 | -$12,936 | $49,753 | 20.6% |
After federal income tax ($3,350), state tax ($1,778), and FICA ($3,400), a Meter Readers, Utilities in Kentucky takes home $35,921 per year — or $2,993 per month. The effective tax rate of 19.2% is relatively low compared to the national range.
A Meter Readers, Utilities in Kentucky faces an effective total tax rate of only 19.2%, keeping 80.8% of every gross dollar. That leaves $35,922 net out of $44,450 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 Meter Readers, Utilities salary that contributes $1,778 to the 4.0% effective state-tax burden.
Federal tax on this Meter Readers, Utilities salary is $3,350 (39%), but combined state ($1,778, 21%) + FICA ($3,400, 40%) make up the other 61% of the bill.
A Meter Readers, Utilities earning this gross in a no-income-tax state (e.g., Texas, Florida) would take home approximately $37,700 — only $1,778 (4.9%) more than in Kentucky.
Kentucky sits near the bottom (#31 of 39) for Meter Readers, Utilities after-tax earnings. Relocation, negotiation, or credential stacking typically show the clearest ROI in bottom-quartile states.
Translated into paycheck cadences, $35,922 net/year works out to $2,993/month or $1,382/bi-weekly for this Meter Readers, Utilities in Kentucky — the numbers that actually hit a checking account after every deduction.
Where does a Meter Readers, Utilities keep the most of their paycheck? Top 10 states ranked by after-tax take-home pay.
Kentucky ranks #31 out of 39 states for Meter Readers, Utilities after-tax take-home pay.
A Meter Readers, Utilities in Kentucky earning a median salary of $44,450 will take home approximately $35,921 per year after federal income tax ($3,350), state income tax ($1,778), and FICA ($3,400). That is $2,993 per month or $1,381 per bi-weekly paycheck.
The effective total tax rate for a Meter Readers, Utilities in Kentucky is 19.2%, broken down as: federal income tax 7.5%, 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 Meter Readers, Utilities's median salary of $44,450, the state income tax amounts to $1,778 per year, which is an effective state rate of 4.0%.
After all taxes, a Meter Readers, Utilities in Kentucky takes home approximately $2,993 per month, or about $17.27 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 $44,450 for Meter Readers, Utilities 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 — $35,921/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