Covington Hourly Wage & Salary 2026
Covington, KY: $24.12/hr median hourly wage, $50,170 median annual salary, cost of living index 88.5, and $7.25/hr minimum wage. Calculate take-home pay with federal and Kentucky taxes.
Covington Hourly Wage Quick Answer
The median hourly wage in Covington, KY is $24.12/hr,and the median annual wage is $50,170. Entry-level pay estimates around $14.95/hr, senior-level pay estimates around $34.25/hr, and the local minimum wage is $7.25/hr.
Median figures: BLS OEWS May 2025, all occupations, Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN metropolitan statistical area (1,101,030 jobs). BLS publishes wages by metro area, not by city, so Covington shares this figure with the rest of its metro. Entry and senior levels are Salario estimates.
Median Salary
$50,170
$24.12/hr
Cost of Living
88.5
US avg = 100
Minimum Wage
$7.25
per hour
Unemployment
4.4%
rate
Covington, KY Overview
Population
40,735
Median Salary
$50,170
Average Salary
$67,370
Avg Commute
20 min
Median Home Price
$175,000
Median Rent
$720/mo
Job Growth
+2.6%
Sales Tax
6%
Covington is located in Kentucky with a population of 40,735. The median annual wage across all occupations is $50,170 ($24.12/hour, BLS OEWS May 2025, Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN metro), which is $810 below the national median of $50,980. The national median is the BLS OEWS May 2025 all-occupations median annual wage. The average commute time is 20 minutes, and the city has a job growth rate of +2.6%.
Covington Salary by Experience Level (2026)
Wage distribution in Covington, KY built around the $50,170 median salary (BLS OEWS May 2025, all occupations, Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN metro). Entry-level represents 10th–25th percentile; mid-level is the median; senior-level represents 75th–90th percentile. The non-median rows are Salario estimates.
| Experience Level | Annual Salary | Hourly Wage | Years Exp |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry-Level | $31,105 | $14.95/hr | 0–2 years |
| Mid-Level (Median) | $50,170 | $24.12/hr | 3–7 years |
| Senior-Level | $71,241 | $34.25/hr | 8–15 years |
| Top 10% (90th Percentile) | $89,303 | $42.93/hr | 15+ years / leadership |
Percentile multipliers (62%, 100%, 142%, 178%) are Salario approximations of the typical all-occupations wage spread in BLS OEWS metro tables; only the median row is a published BLS value. Specific roles vary; see jobs by city for role-specific data.
Covington Paycheck Calculator
Enter your annual salary to see your estimated take-home pay in Covington, KY, after federal, state, and local taxes.
Estimated Annual Take-Home Pay
$40,347
$3,362.21/month · $1,551.79/biweekly · Effective Rate: 19.6%
Biweekly paycheck estimate: this salary equals about $1,551.79 take-home per paycheck after estimated Kentucky and federal taxes. For the 26-paycheck formula, three-paycheck months, and withholding examples, see the Biweekly Paycheck Calculator.
Gross Pay
$50,170
Federal Tax
-$3,840
State Tax
-$1,638
Local Tax
-$507
FICA
-$3,838
Net Pay
$40,347
Pay Breakdown
| Item | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary | $4,180.83 | $50,170.00 |
| Federal Income Tax | -$320.03 | -$3,840.40 |
| Kentucky State Tax (3.27% eff.) | -$136.53 | -$1,638.35 |
| Local Tax (1.01%) | -$42.23 | -$506.72 |
| Social Security (6.2%) | -$259.21 | -$3,110.54 |
| Medicare (1.45%) | -$60.62 | -$727.47 |
| Net Take-Home Pay | $3,362.21 | $40,346.53 |
Salary Comparison: Covington vs Other Cities
See how Covington's median salary and cost of living compare to the national average and similar cities.
| City | Median Salary | COL Index | Adj. Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| Covington, KY | $50,170 | 88.5 | $56,689 |
| National Average | $50,980 | 100 | $50,980 |
| Cincinnati, OH | $50,170 | 90 | $55,744 |
| Hamilton, OH | $50,170 | 93.9 | $53,429 |
| Middletown, OH | $50,170 | 89.2 | $56,244 |
| Fairfield, OH | $50,170 | 88.8 | $56,498 |
Adjusted salary reflects purchasing power when cost of living is factored in. A higher adjusted salary means your money goes further.
Cost of Living in Covington
Covington's cost of living index is 88.5 (national average = 100). Living in Covington is 11.5% less expensive than the national average.
Median Home Price
$175,000
Median Monthly Rent
$720
Annual Rent Cost
$8,640
Your Salary's Purchasing Power
Your $40,347 annual take-home pay in Covington has the purchasing power of approximately $45,589 in an average-cost US area. Your $50,170 salary stretches further here than in most US cities.
Top Industries in Covington
Covington's economy is driven by these key industries. Workers in top industries often earn significantly above the median salary of $50,170.
Salary Tips for Covington Workers
- Your salary goes further here. Covington has a cost of living 11.5% below the national average. A salary of $50,170 here has the purchasing power of about $56,689 in an average-cost area.
- Research top industries. Covington's top industries include Automotive, Healthcare, Bourbon. Targeting roles in these sectors can help you earn above the $50,170 median salary.
- Review your W-4 withholding. If you regularly receive large tax refunds, adjust your W-4 to increase your per-paycheck take-home pay instead of giving the government an interest-free loan.
Methodology & Local Economy Data Sources
How we calculate Covington salary data: The median annual wage, median hourly wage and mean wage are the official BLS OEWS May 2025 all-occupations values for the Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN metropolitan statistical area, retrieved from the BLS Public Data API on September 17, 2026. BLS does not publish city-level wages, so every city inside that metro shows the same figure. The entry/senior/top-10% rows, the paycheck estimate and the purchasing-power conversion are Salario calculations built on that median. Cost-of-living adjustments use the C2ER Cost of Living Index baseline of 100 (national average), with Covington indexed at 88.5.
- Median salary: $50,170 annual, $24.12 hourly, BLS OEWS May 2025, all occupations, Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN MSA (1,101,030 jobs surveyed). Mean wage $67,370 (BLS). Salario's previous modeled median for Covington was $32,346.
- Tax burden reflects Kentucky 2026 state income tax brackets and standard deduction (top rate 3.5%), plus Covington local tax of 1.01%, sales tax (6%), and federal taxes per IRS 2026 brackets.
- Unemployment rate for Covington: 4.4%, sourced from BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS).
- Top industries: Automotive, Healthcare, Bourbon, based on QCEW employment concentration data.
- Job growth: 2.6% projected through 2034, derived from BLS Employment Projections program for Kentucky.
- Housing context: median home price $175,000, median rent $720/mo, sourced from Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
Authoritative US data sources for Covington, KY:
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), metropolitan area salary data
- BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, Covington unemployment rate
- U.S. Census Bureau, Covington QuickFacts, population, housing, demographics
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW), county-level industry employment
- BLS Economy at a Glance, Kentucky, state economic indicators
- U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), local GDP and personal income data
- BLS Consumer Price Index (CPI-U), regional inflation tracking
Disclaimer: Salary and cost data are estimates for general guidance. Individual compensation varies by employer, experience, education, negotiation, and skills. Covington's rapidly changing economy can shift these baselines, always verify with current job listings, employer offers, and recent Kentucky labor market reports for the most current figures.
Reviewed by Harlan Voss · Last updated September 17, 2026 · Wage figures: BLS OEWS May 2025 release (published May 2026) · Census data current as of latest releases
Explore Salaries Across the US
Compare salary data and cost of living for hundreds of US cities. Find out where your paycheck goes the furthest.
Related Salary Tools
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the hourly wage in Covington, KY?
The median hourly wage in Covington, KY is $24.12 per hour, the BLS OEWS May 2025 median for all occupations in the Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN metropolitan area, and the BLS median annual wage is $50,170. Entry-level workers are estimated around $14.95/hr, while senior-level workers are estimated around $34.25/hr before overtime, bonuses, or benefits (Salario estimates, not BLS percentiles).
What is the median salary in Covington, KY?
The median salary in Covington, KY is $50,170 per year, or $24.12 per hour (BLS OEWS May 2025, all occupations, Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN metro area). The BLS mean salary is $67,370. This is $810 below the BLS national median of $50,980.
What is the cost of living in Covington, KY?
Covington's cost of living index is 88.5 (national average = 100), meaning it is 11.5% less expensive compared to the national average. The median home price is $175,000 and the median monthly rent is $720.
What are the best industries in Covington?
The top industries in Covington, KY include Automotive, Healthcare, Bourbon. The city has a job growth rate of 2.6% and an unemployment rate of 4.4%. Workers in these industries often earn above the city's median salary of $50,170.
How does Covington's salary compare to other cities?
Covington's median salary of $50,170 is 1.6% below the national median of $50,980. However, when adjusted for cost of living (index: 88.5), the real purchasing power is approximately $56,689.
What is the minimum wage in Covington, KY?
The minimum wage in Covington, KY is $7.25 per hour. This equals approximately $15,080 per year for a full-time worker (40 hours/week). This matches the federal minimum wage of $7.25/hour.