Actuary · Salary Comparison · 2026
Actuary Salary: Louisville, KY vs San Francisco, CA
Side-by-side comparison of salary, taxes, cost of living, and take-home pay for Actuarys in Louisville, KY and San Francisco, CA, based on BLS OEWS 2026 data.
1Which City Pays More After Tax?
Higher Gross Salary
✓ San Francisco, CA
$88,000 vs $154,000
Better Purchasing Power
✓ Louisville, KY
$101,149 vs $82,796
Best Take-Home (COL-Adj)
✓ Louisville, KY
$89,724 vs $69,388
2
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Louisville, KY | San Francisco, CA | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Annual Salary | $88,000 | $154,000▲ | -$66,000 |
| 25th Percentile | $67,760 | $118,580▲ | -$50,820 |
| 75th Percentile | $112,640 | $197,120▲ | -$84,480 |
| 90th Percentile | $140,800 | $246,400▲ | -$105,600 |
| Cost of Living Index | 87 | 186 | -99 |
| State Income Tax | 4%▲ | 9.3% | -5.300000000000001% |
| COL-Adjusted Median | $101,149▲ | $82,796 | +$18,353 |
| Est. Annual Take-Home | $78,060 | $129,062▲ | -$51,002 |
| COL-Adj. Take-Home | $89,724▲ | $69,388 | +$20,336 |
| Total Employment | 8,000 | 41,600 | -33,600 |
▲ = Higher value wins for this metric. Diff = Louisville, KY minus San Francisco, CA.
3Summary Analysis
On paper, San Francisco, CA pays $66,000 more (median: $88,000 vs $154,000). However, after adjusting for cost of living (index 87 vs 186), Louisville, KY provides better purchasing power ($101,149 vs $82,796 equivalent). Louisville, KY has the lower state tax rate (4% vs 9.3%).
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.