Actuary · Salary Comparison · 2026
Actuary Salary: Louisville, KY vs New York, NY
Side-by-side comparison of salary, taxes, cost of living, and take-home pay for Actuarys in Louisville, KY and New York, NY, based on BLS OEWS 2026 data.
1Which City Pays More After Tax?
Higher Gross Salary
✓ New York, NY
$88,000 vs $148,000
Better Purchasing Power
✓ Louisville, KY
$101,149 vs $79,144
Best Take-Home (COL-Adj)
✓ Louisville, KY
$89,724 vs $68,120
2
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Louisville, KY | New York, NY | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Annual Salary | $88,000 | $148,000▲ | -$60,000 |
| 25th Percentile | $67,760 | $113,960▲ | -$46,200 |
| 75th Percentile | $112,640 | $189,440▲ | -$76,800 |
| 90th Percentile | $140,800 | $236,800▲ | -$96,000 |
| Cost of Living Index | 87 | 187 | -100 |
| State Income Tax | 4%▲ | 6.85% | -2.8499999999999996% |
| COL-Adjusted Median | $101,149▲ | $79,144 | +$22,005 |
| Est. Annual Take-Home | $78,060 | $127,384▲ | -$49,324 |
| COL-Adj. Take-Home | $89,724▲ | $68,120 | +$21,604 |
| Total Employment | 8,000 | 54,400 | -46,400 |
▲ = Higher value wins for this metric. Diff = Louisville, KY minus New York, NY.
3Summary Analysis
On paper, New York, NY pays $60,000 more (median: $88,000 vs $148,000). However, after adjusting for cost of living (index 87 vs 187), Louisville, KY provides better purchasing power ($101,149 vs $79,144 equivalent). Louisville, KY has the lower state tax rate (4% vs 6.85%).
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.