Independence Hourly Wage & Salary 2026
Independence, KY: $24.12/hr median hourly wage, $50,170 median annual salary, cost of living index 86.7, and $7.25/hr minimum wage. Calculate take-home pay with federal and Kentucky taxes.
Independence Hourly Wage Quick Answer
The median hourly wage in Independence, 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 Independence 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
86.7
US avg = 100
Minimum Wage
$7.25
per hour
Unemployment
3.4%
rate
Independence, KY Overview
Population
28,488
Median Salary
$50,170
Average Salary
$67,370
Avg Commute
18 min
Median Home Price
$174,000
Median Rent
$710/mo
Job Growth
+0.6%
Sales Tax
6%
Independence is located in Kentucky with a population of 28,488. 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 18 minutes, and the city has a job growth rate of +0.6%.
Independence Salary by Experience Level (2026)
Wage distribution in Independence, 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.
Independence Paycheck Calculator
Enter your annual salary to see your estimated take-home pay in Independence, KY, after federal, state, and local taxes.
Estimated Annual Take-Home Pay
$39,905
$3,325.42/month · $1,534.81/biweekly · Effective Rate: 20.5%
Biweekly paycheck estimate: this salary equals about $1,534.81 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
-$948
FICA
-$3,838
Net Pay
$39,905
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 (1.89%) | -$79.02 | -$948.21 |
| Social Security (6.2%) | -$259.21 | -$3,110.54 |
| Medicare (1.45%) | -$60.62 | -$727.47 |
| Net Take-Home Pay | $3,325.42 | $39,905.03 |
Salary Comparison: Independence vs Other Cities
See how Independence's median salary and cost of living compare to the national average and similar cities.
| City | Median Salary | COL Index | Adj. Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| Independence, KY | $50,170 | 86.7 | $57,866 |
| 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 Independence
Independence's cost of living index is 86.7 (national average = 100). Living in Independence is 13.299999999999997% less expensive than the national average.
Median Home Price
$174,000
Median Monthly Rent
$710
Annual Rent Cost
$8,520
Your Salary's Purchasing Power
Your $39,905 annual take-home pay in Independence has the purchasing power of approximately $46,027 in an average-cost US area. Your $50,170 salary stretches further here than in most US cities.
Top Industries in Independence
Independence'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 Independence Workers
- Your salary goes further here. Independence has a cost of living 13.299999999999997% below the national average. A salary of $50,170 here has the purchasing power of about $57,866 in an average-cost area.
- Research top industries. Independence'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 Independence 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 Independence indexed at 86.7.
- 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 Independence was $38,969.
- Tax burden reflects Kentucky 2026 state income tax brackets and standard deduction (top rate 3.5%), plus Independence local tax of 1.89%, sales tax (6%), and federal taxes per IRS 2026 brackets.
- Unemployment rate for Independence: 3.4%, sourced from BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS).
- Top industries: Automotive, Healthcare, Bourbon, based on QCEW employment concentration data.
- Job growth: 0.6% projected through 2034, derived from BLS Employment Projections program for Kentucky.
- Housing context: median home price $174,000, median rent $710/mo, sourced from Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
Authoritative US data sources for Independence, KY:
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), metropolitan area salary data
- BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, Independence unemployment rate
- U.S. Census Bureau, Independence 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. Independence'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
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the hourly wage in Independence, KY?
The median hourly wage in Independence, 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 Independence, KY?
The median salary in Independence, 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 Independence, KY?
Independence's cost of living index is 86.7 (national average = 100), meaning it is 13.299999999999997% less expensive compared to the national average. The median home price is $174,000 and the median monthly rent is $710.
What are the best industries in Independence?
The top industries in Independence, KY include Automotive, Healthcare, Bourbon. The city has a job growth rate of 0.6% and an unemployment rate of 3.4%. Workers in these industries often earn above the city's median salary of $50,170.
How does Independence's salary compare to other cities?
Independence's median salary of $50,170 is 1.6% below the national median of $50,980. However, when adjusted for cost of living (index: 86.7), the real purchasing power is approximately $57,866.
What is the minimum wage in Independence, KY?
The minimum wage in Independence, 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.