Accountant · Salary Comparison · 2026
Accountant Salary: Louisville, KY vs Boston, MA
Side-by-side comparison of salary, taxes, cost of living, and take-home pay for Accountants in Louisville, KY and Boston, MA, based on BLS OEWS 2026 data.
1Which City Pays More After Tax?
Higher Gross Salary
✓ Boston, MA
$58,000 vs $88,000
Better Purchasing Power
✓ Louisville, KY
$66,667 vs $54,321
Best Take-Home (COL-Adj)
✓ Louisville, KY
$59,136 vs $47,683
2
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Louisville, KY | Boston, MA | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Annual Salary | $58,000 | $88,000▲ | -$30,000 |
| 25th Percentile | $44,000 | $67,000▲ | -$23,000 |
| 75th Percentile | $75,000 | $114,000▲ | -$39,000 |
| 90th Percentile | $94,000 | $143,000▲ | -$49,000 |
| Cost of Living Index | 87 | 162 | -75 |
| State Income Tax | 4%▲ | 5% | -1% |
| COL-Adjusted Median | $66,667▲ | $54,321 | +$12,346 |
| Est. Annual Take-Home | $51,448 | $77,246▲ | -$25,798 |
| COL-Adj. Take-Home | $59,136▲ | $47,683 | +$11,453 |
| Total Employment | 7,000 | 20,000 | -13,000 |
▲ = Higher value wins for this metric. Diff = Louisville, KY minus Boston, MA.
3Summary Analysis
On paper, Boston, MA pays $30,000 more (median: $58,000 vs $88,000). However, after adjusting for cost of living (index 87 vs 162), Louisville, KY provides better purchasing power ($66,667 vs $54,321 equivalent). Louisville, KY has the lower state tax rate (4% vs 5%).
Data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS · 2026 · Cost-of-living indices from composite metro area data. Take-home estimates approximate only — consult a tax professional for accurate figures.