Last updated: 2025 BLS data · Page refreshed:
How much does a Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic actually take home in Kentucky?
4.0% flat rate — 18.9% effective total tax rateData: BLS OEWS 2025 + IRS/State Tax Brackets 2024 • Updated 2026-05-19
Detailed line-by-line tax calculation for a Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic earning $41,590 in Kentucky (single filer, standard deduction).
| Tax Component | Annual Amount | Effective Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary (Median) | $41,590 | — |
| Federal Income Tax | -$3,006 | 7.2% |
| Kentucky State Income Tax | -$1,663 | 4.0% |
| Social Security (OASDI) | -$2,578 | 6.2% |
| Medicare | -$603 | 1.5% |
| Total Taxes | -$7,852 | 18.9% |
| Take-Home Pay | $33,737 | 81.1% |
Take-home pay varies significantly across experience levels. Here is the after-tax breakdown for each salary percentile of Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic in Kentucky.
| Percentile | Gross Salary | Total Taxes | Take-Home Pay | Tax Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile (P10) | $31,330 | -$5,425 | $25,904 | 17.3% |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $37,990 | -$7,000 | $30,989 | 18.4% |
| Median (P50) | $41,590 | -$7,852 | $33,737 | 18.9% |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $46,680 | -$9,055 | $37,624 | 19.4% |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $48,320 | -$9,443 | $38,876 | 19.5% |
After federal income tax ($3,006), state tax ($1,663), and FICA ($3,181), a Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic in Kentucky takes home $33,737 per year — or $2,811 per month. The effective tax rate of 18.9% is relatively low compared to the national range.
A Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic in Kentucky faces an effective total tax rate of only 18.9%, keeping 81.1% of every gross dollar. That leaves $33,738 net out of $41,590 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 Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic salary that contributes $1,664 to the 4.0% effective state-tax burden.
Federal tax on this Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic salary is $3,007 (38%), but combined state ($1,664, 21%) + FICA ($3,182, 41%) make up the other 62% of the bill.
A Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic earning this gross in a no-income-tax state (e.g., Texas, Florida) would take home approximately $35,402 — only $1,664 (4.9%) more than in Kentucky.
Kentucky sits near the bottom (#43 of 48) for Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic after-tax earnings. Relocation, negotiation, or credential stacking typically show the clearest ROI in bottom-quartile states.
Translated into paycheck cadences, $33,738 net/year works out to $2,811/month or $1,298/bi-weekly for this Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic in Kentucky — the numbers that actually hit a checking account after every deduction.
Where does a Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic keep the most of their paycheck? Top 10 states ranked by after-tax take-home pay.
Kentucky ranks #43 out of 48 states for Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic after-tax take-home pay.
A Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic in Kentucky earning a median salary of $41,590 will take home approximately $33,737 per year after federal income tax ($3,006), state income tax ($1,663), and FICA ($3,181). That is $2,811 per month or $1,297 per bi-weekly paycheck.
The effective total tax rate for a Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic in Kentucky is 18.9%, broken down as: federal income tax 7.2%, 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 Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic's median salary of $41,590, the state income tax amounts to $1,663 per year, which is an effective state rate of 4.0%.
After all taxes, a Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic in Kentucky takes home approximately $2,811 per month, or about $16.22 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 $41,590 for Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic 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 — $33,737/yr — does not include local taxes, pre-tax deductions (401k, HSA), or tax credits.
Some links are affiliate links. See our disclosure.
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