How much does a CDL-A job in Kentucky really pay, and how much of it do you keep? We pulled the numbers from our own job database and ran them through 2026 tax rates.
What Kentucky CDL-A jobs pay right now
In our database there are 36 open CDL-A jobs that hire drivers in Kentucky, and 34 of them list an average pay figure from the carrier.
| Weekly pay (carrier-reported average) | |
|---|---|
| Middle of the pack (median) | $1,300 |
| Lower quarter of jobs | $1,200 or less |
| Top quarter of jobs | $1,520 or more |
Other numbers worth knowing:
- 0 of these jobs get you home daily, 15 home weekly.
- 0 are local and 8 are dedicated.
- 17 accept brand-new CDL-A drivers.
Why Kentucky is different
Louisville is home to the UPS Worldport air hub, so the area has a lot of package, parcel and distribution freight, and Kentucky sits on I-65, I-64 and I-75, which makes it a natural place for regional and dedicated runs across the Midwest and South. Many jobs start at night, so ask about shift times before you compare pay.
What you keep after taxes
Take a driver in Kentucky at the median: about $1,300 a week, 50 working weeks, so about $65,000 a year as a W-2 company driver, single, standard deduction.
| Per year | |
|---|---|
| Gross pay | $65,000 |
| Federal income tax | −$5,620 |
| Kentucky state income tax | −$2,157 |
| Social Security + Medicare | −$4,972 |
| Take-home | $52,250 (about $1,045 a week) |
Kentucky tax in short: a flat 3.5% state income tax in 2026 with a standard deduction. Many Kentucky cities and counties also charge an occupational license tax of about 1% to 2.5%, which is not in the table above, so check the rate where the terminal is.
For comparison, the same paycheck in Texas (no state income tax) would leave about $2,157 more a year. Want to run your own numbers, or compare two offers after taxes? Use our free pay calculator: pick your state and it shows the take-home for both offers, including 1099 jobs.
These are estimates for a single filer with no other income, before health insurance, 401(k) and local taxes. Your real numbers depend on your situation; this is not tax advice.
Where the jobs are
Browse open Kentucky jobs by metro: Louisville, or see all Kentucky CDL-A jobs.
Sources: pay figures are carrier-reported averages from our job database (October 2026); federal brackets and standard deduction from the IRS 2026 inflation adjustments; state rates from the Tax Foundation's 2026 state income tax table; Social Security wage base from the SSA.
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