Last updated: 2025 BLS data · Page refreshed:
How much does a Recreational Therapists actually take home in Kentucky?
4.0% flat rate — 20.3% effective total tax rateData: BLS OEWS 2025 + IRS/State Tax Brackets 2024 • Updated 2026-05-19
Detailed line-by-line tax calculation for a Recreational Therapists earning $59,240 in Kentucky (single filer, standard deduction).
| Tax Component | Annual Amount | Effective Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary (Median) | $59,240 | — |
| Federal Income Tax | -$5,124 | 8.7% |
| Kentucky State Income Tax | -$2,369 | 4.0% |
| Social Security (OASDI) | -$3,672 | 6.2% |
| Medicare | -$858 | 1.5% |
| Total Taxes | -$12,026 | 20.3% |
| Take-Home Pay | $47,213 | 79.7% |
Take-home pay varies significantly across experience levels. Here is the after-tax breakdown for each salary percentile of Recreational Therapists in Kentucky.
| Percentile | Gross Salary | Total Taxes | Take-Home Pay | Tax Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile (P10) | $37,850 | -$6,967 | $30,882 | 18.4% |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $49,280 | -$9,670 | $39,609 | 19.6% |
| Median (P50) | $59,240 | -$12,026 | $47,213 | 20.3% |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $64,150 | -$13,427 | $50,722 | 20.9% |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $77,590 | -$17,950 | $59,639 | 23.1% |
After federal income tax ($5,124), state tax ($2,369), and FICA ($4,531), a Recreational Therapists in Kentucky takes home $47,213 per year — or $3,934 per month. The effective tax rate of 20.3% is relatively low compared to the national range.
With an effective total rate of 20.3%, a Recreational Therapists in Kentucky keeps $47,214 of $59,240 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 Recreational Therapists salary that contributes $2,370 to the 4.0% effective state-tax burden.
Federal tax on this Recreational Therapists salary is $5,125 (43%), but combined state ($2,370, 20%) + FICA ($4,532, 38%) make up the other 57% of the bill.
A Recreational Therapists earning this gross in a no-income-tax state (e.g., Texas, Florida) would take home approximately $49,583 — only $2,370 (5.0%) more than in Kentucky.
Kentucky ranks #25 of 48 states for Recreational Therapists after-tax pay — lower half of the national distribution. Either gross wages trail the national median, state tax is elevated, or both.
Translated into paycheck cadences, $47,214 net/year works out to $3,934/month or $1,816/bi-weekly for this Recreational Therapists in Kentucky — the numbers that actually hit a checking account after every deduction.
Where does a Recreational Therapists keep the most of their paycheck? Top 10 states ranked by after-tax take-home pay.
Kentucky ranks #25 out of 48 states for Recreational Therapists after-tax take-home pay.
A Recreational Therapists in Kentucky earning a median salary of $59,240 will take home approximately $47,213 per year after federal income tax ($5,124), state income tax ($2,369), and FICA ($4,531). That is $3,934 per month or $1,815 per bi-weekly paycheck.
The effective total tax rate for a Recreational Therapists in Kentucky is 20.3%, broken down as: federal income tax 8.7%, 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 Recreational Therapists's median salary of $59,240, the state income tax amounts to $2,369 per year, which is an effective state rate of 4.0%.
After all taxes, a Recreational Therapists in Kentucky takes home approximately $3,934 per month, or about $22.70 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 $59,240 for Recreational Therapists 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 — $47,213/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