---
title: "Kentucky Exempt Salary Threshold 2026 ($35,568/yr Salary & Overtime Test)"
source_url: "https://statepayrules.com/salaried-exempt/kentucky/"
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description: "2026 Kentucky salaried exempt minimum threshold ($35,568/yr or $684/wk), FLSA $35,568 floor vs $58,656 DOL benchmark, and unpaid overtime calculator under KRS 337.275."
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> **Canonical Source:** [https://statepayrules.com/salaried-exempt/kentucky/](https://statepayrules.com/salaried-exempt/kentucky/)
>
> *2026 Kentucky salaried exempt minimum threshold ($35,568/yr or $684/wk), FLSA $35,568 floor vs $58,656 DOL benchmark, and unpaid overtime calculator under KRS 337.275.*

### Managing payroll or shift workers in Kentucky?

Avoid Department of Labor non-compliance fines. Automate state-specific overtime, double-time rules, tip credits, and statutory tax withholdings with **Gusto Payroll Automation**.

## Interactive Kentucky Salary Exemption Audit Tool

Instant 30-second check: Are you legally entitled to 1.5x overtime?

Loading audit calculation...

If your salary is under $35,568, your employer may owe you back overtime pay.

## Federal FLSA vs Kentucky Exemption Matrix (2026)

Where state law grants greater protection or higher salary thresholds than federal standards, **state law supersedes federal FLSA regulations** under 29 U.S.C. § 218(a).

| Compliance Standard | Federal FLSA Floor | Kentucky Statutory Mandate |
| :--- | :--- | :--- |
| Annual Minimum Salary | $35,568 / yr (Vacated DOL rule: $58,656/yr) | $35,568 / yr |
| Weekly Minimum Salary | $684 / wk (Vacated DOL rule: $1,128/wk) | $684 / wk |
| Primary Duties Test | 29 C.F.R. § 541 (Exec/Admin/Prof) | KRS 337.275 Duties Rule |
| Overtime Rate if Below Threshold | 1.5x Regular Rate | 1.5x Regular Rate |

## The Mandatory Two-Part Exemption Test in Kentucky

Paying an employee a fixed salary does **NOT** automatically disqualify them from overtime pay. In Kentucky, an employer MUST satisfy both statutory prongs under 29 C.F.R. § 541 and KRS 337.275:

### Salary Threshold Test

Employee must earn at least **$35,568 annually** ($684/wk) on a true, non-deductible salary basis.

### Primary Duties Test

Actual daily work must consist primarily of executive leadership, administrative judgment, or specialized professional knowledge (not routine labor).

## FLSA & State Duty Exemptions Breakdown

### Help Kentucky Coworkers Audit Unpaid Wage Violations

Over $3 Billion in statutory overtime, daily premiums, and meal break penalty pay goes uncollected every year. Share this free statutory utility with your team or shift coworkers.

### Statutory Summary

Kentucky minimum wage is $7.25/hr. Includes a 7th consecutive day overtime rule requiring 1.5x pay for employees working 7 days in a single workweek.

### Audit Your Kentucky Overtime

Check if your employer owes you back overtime pay under KY state law.

## Audit Your Kentucky Salary Exemption & Overtime Rights

Over $3 Billion in unpaid overtime & statutory wage violations go uncollected every year. Audit your 2026 Kentucky salary floor ($35,568/yr) and FLSA duty tests in seconds.

### Statutory Compliance Internal Mesh

#### Kentucky Statutory Guides

- [Kentucky Payday Laws →](https://statepayrules.com/payday-laws/kentucky)
- [Kentucky Meal & Rest Breaks →](https://statepayrules.com/break-laws/kentucky)
- [Kentucky Salaried Exempt Rules →](https://statepayrules.com/salaried-exempt/kentucky)
- [Kentucky Payroll Tax Rates →](https://statepayrules.com/payroll-taxes/kentucky)

#### Compare Kentucky Pay Rules

- [Kentucky vs Ohio →](https://statepayrules.com/calculator/compare/kentucky-vs-ohio)
- [Kentucky vs Indiana →](https://statepayrules.com/calculator/compare/kentucky-vs-indiana)
- [Kentucky vs Tennessee →](https://statepayrules.com/calculator/compare/kentucky-vs-tennessee)

#### Kentucky Profession Tools

- [Kentucky Registered Nurse →](https://statepayrules.com/calculator/kentucky/registered-nurse)
- [Kentucky Fast Food & Counter Worker →](https://statepayrules.com/calculator/kentucky/fast-food-worker)
- [Kentucky Construction Laborer →](https://statepayrules.com/calculator/kentucky/construction-laborer)
- [Kentucky Electrician →](https://statepayrules.com/calculator/kentucky/electrician)

#### Davis-Bacon Prevailing Wages

- [LA County Prevailing Wage →](https://statepayrules.com/prevailing-wage/california/los-angeles-county)
- [Harris County TX Wage →](https://statepayrules.com/prevailing-wage/texas/harris-county)
- [Cook County IL Wage →](https://statepayrules.com/prevailing-wage/illinois/cook-county)

## Structured FAQ Summary (Schema.org Grounded)
- **What is the minimum wage in Kentucky for 2026?** The 2026 statutory minimum wage in Kentucky is $7.25 per hour under KRS 337.275.
- **Does Kentucky require daily overtime pay?** Kentucky does not require daily overtime. Overtime is calculated weekly for hours exceeding 40 hours under FLSA 29 U.S.C. § 207.
- **Are employers in Kentucky allowed to take a tip credit?** Yes, Kentucky allows employers to take a maximum tip credit of $5.12/hr against tipped workers, requiring a minimum direct cash wage of $7.25/hr.
- **What is the minimum exempt salary threshold in Kentucky for 2026?** In Kentucky, the minimum salary threshold for salaried exempt employees is $35,568 per year ($684 per week) under KRS 337.275. Following the federal court vacatur of the DOL's $43,888/$58,656 rule, states without a higher statutory state floor revert to the federal FLSA minimum of $35,568/yr ($684/wk), while states with independent wage orders enforce their higher state threshold.
- **What happens if a salaried employee is paid below the threshold or fails the duties test in Kentucky?** If a salaried employee earns less than $35,568/yr in Kentucky—or earns above the threshold but performs primarily non-exempt operational work—they are legally entitled to 1.5x overtime pay for all hours over 40 plus up to 100% FLSA liquidated damages (double back pay).

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