Last updated: 2025 BLS data · Page refreshed:
How much does a Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors actually take home in Kentucky?
4.0% flat rate — 19.0% effective total tax rateData: BLS OEWS 2025 + IRS/State Tax Brackets 2024 • Updated 2026-05-19
Detailed line-by-line tax calculation for a Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors earning $43,100 in Kentucky (single filer, standard deduction).
| Tax Component | Annual Amount | Effective Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary (Median) | $43,100 | — |
| Federal Income Tax | -$3,188 | 7.4% |
| Kentucky State Income Tax | -$1,724 | 4.0% |
| Social Security (OASDI) | -$2,672 | 6.2% |
| Medicare | -$624 | 1.5% |
| Total Taxes | -$8,209 | 19.0% |
| Take-Home Pay | $34,890 | 81.0% |
Take-home pay varies significantly across experience levels. Here is the after-tax breakdown for each salary percentile of Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors in Kentucky.
| Percentile | Gross Salary | Total Taxes | Take-Home Pay | Tax Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile (P10) | $29,610 | -$5,018 | $24,591 | 16.9% |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $34,710 | -$6,224 | $28,485 | 17.9% |
| Median (P50) | $43,100 | -$8,209 | $34,890 | 19.0% |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $48,870 | -$9,573 | $39,296 | 19.6% |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $56,170 | -$11,300 | $44,869 | 20.1% |
After federal income tax ($3,188), state tax ($1,724), and FICA ($3,297), a Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors in Kentucky takes home $34,890 per year — or $2,907 per month. The effective tax rate of 19.0% is relatively low compared to the national range.
A Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors in Kentucky faces an effective total tax rate of only 19.0%, keeping 81.0% of every gross dollar. That leaves $34,891 net out of $43,100 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 Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors salary that contributes $1,724 to the 4.0% effective state-tax burden.
Federal tax on this Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors salary is $3,188 (39%), but combined state ($1,724, 21%) + FICA ($3,297, 40%) make up the other 61% of the bill.
A Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors earning this gross in a no-income-tax state (e.g., Texas, Florida) would take home approximately $36,615 — only $1,724 (4.9%) more than in Kentucky.
Kentucky sits near the bottom (#41 of 51) for Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors after-tax earnings. Relocation, negotiation, or credential stacking typically show the clearest ROI in bottom-quartile states.
Translated into paycheck cadences, $34,891 net/year works out to $2,908/month or $1,342/bi-weekly for this Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors in Kentucky — the numbers that actually hit a checking account after every deduction.
Where does a Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors keep the most of their paycheck? Top 10 states ranked by after-tax take-home pay.
Kentucky ranks #41 out of 51 states for Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors after-tax take-home pay.
A Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors in Kentucky earning a median salary of $43,100 will take home approximately $34,890 per year after federal income tax ($3,188), state income tax ($1,724), and FICA ($3,297). That is $2,907 per month or $1,341 per bi-weekly paycheck.
The effective total tax rate for a Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors in Kentucky is 19.0%, broken down as: federal income tax 7.4%, 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 Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors's median salary of $43,100, the state income tax amounts to $1,724 per year, which is an effective state rate of 4.0%.
After all taxes, a Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors in Kentucky takes home approximately $2,907 per month, or about $16.77 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 $43,100 for Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors 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 — $34,890/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