Kentucky Minimum Wage 2026
Last updated: · Source: Kentucky Department of Labor
Kentucky · Minimum Wage 2026
Effective 2009-07-01
Data last verified: 2026-07-09
Tipped Rate
$2.13/hr
Tip Credit
$5.12/hr
Exempt Salary
$684/wk
Effective Date
2009-07-01
Kentucky Wage Calculator
Current Kentucky Minimum Wage
The minimum wage in Kentucky is $7.25 per hour in 2026, effective 2009-07-01. Kentucky follows the federal minimum wage set by the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), which has remained at $7.25/hr since 2009. See the federal minimum wage page for how the FLSA floor applies nationwide.
Under the Fair Labor Standards Act, employers must pay the highest minimum wage that legally applies to a work location, whether set federally, by the state, or by a city or county ordinance.
Kentucky Tipped Minimum Wage
In Kentucky, tipped employees may be paid a direct cash wage of $2.13/hr. Employers may claim a tip credit of up to $5.12/hr, but the employee's total hourly earnings (direct wages + tips) must equal at least the full minimum wage of $7.25/hr. If tips fall short, the employer must make up the difference.
| Component | Rate | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Direct cash wage | $2.13/hr | Minimum employer must pay directly |
| Tip credit | $5.12/hr | Maximum credit employer may claim |
| Total required | $7.25/hr | Wages + tips must reach this floor |
Kentucky Exempt Employee Salary Threshold (2026)
An "exempt" employee is a salaried worker who, by law, isn't entitled to overtime pay (time-and-a-half) for hours worked beyond 40 in a week. Whether a salaried employee actually qualifies as exempt depends on both their pay and their job duties. Kentucky follows the federal FLSA salary threshold. To qualify for the white-collar (executive, administrative, or professional) overtime exemption, salaried employees must earn at least $684/week ($35,568/year) in 2026.
City & County Minimum Wages in Kentucky
A 2016 Kentucky Supreme Court ruling (Kentucky Restaurant Association v. Louisville/Jefferson County Metro Government) held that local governments lack authority to set their own minimum wage since the state already occupies that field, invalidating Louisville's and Lexington's local minimum wage ordinances.
| City / County | 2026 Rate | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Louisville | $7.25/hr (state rate) | Follows Kentucky state/federal rate; the city's local minimum wage ordinance was struck down by the state Supreme Court in 2016. |
| Lexington | $7.25/hr (state rate) | Follows Kentucky state/federal rate; the city's local minimum wage ordinance was voluntarily set aside after the Louisville ruling. |
| Bowling Green | $7.25/hr (state rate) | Follows Kentucky state/federal rate. |
| Owensboro | $7.25/hr (state rate) | Follows Kentucky state/federal rate. |
Kentucky Minimum Wage History
The following table shows minimum wage rates in Kentucky over the past several years.
| Year | Minimum Wage | Effective Date | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | $7.25/hr | 2009-07-01 |
Frequently Asked Questions
The minimum wage in Kentucky is $7.25 per hour in 2026, effective 2009-07-01. Tipped employees may be paid $2.13 per hour provided tips bring total earnings to at least $7.25/hr.
Kentucky's minimum wage remains $7.25/hr in 2026 after Senate Bill 16, which would have phased in increases to $15.00/hr and allowed local governments to set their own rates, failed to advance out of committee before the legislature adjourned.
In Kentucky, tipped employees must be paid at least $2.13 per hour directly. Employers may claim a tip credit of up to $5.12/hr, but total compensation including tips must reach $7.25/hr.
Kentucky follows the federal FLSA salary threshold. Salaried exempt employees must earn at least $684/week ($35,568/year) to qualify for the white-collar overtime exemption in 2026.
A 2016 Kentucky Supreme Court ruling (Kentucky Restaurant Association v. Louisville/Jefferson County Metro Government) held that local governments lack authority to set their own minimum wage since the state already occupies that field, invalidating Louisville's and Lexington's local minimum wage ordinances.