Dental Hygienist · Salary Comparison · 2026
Dental Hygienist Salary: Louisville, KY vs San Francisco, CA
Side-by-side comparison of salary, taxes, cost of living, and take-home pay for Dental Hygienists 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
$45,000 vs $79,000
Better Purchasing Power
✓ Louisville, KY
$51,724 vs $42,473
Best Take-Home (COL-Adj)
✓ Louisville, KY
$45,882 vs $35,595
2
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Louisville, KY | San Francisco, CA | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Annual Salary | $45,000 | $79,000▲ | -$34,000 |
| 25th Percentile | $34,650 | $60,830▲ | -$26,180 |
| 75th Percentile | $57,600 | $101,120▲ | -$43,520 |
| 90th Percentile | $72,000 | $126,400▲ | -$54,400 |
| Cost of Living Index | 87 | 186 | -99 |
| State Income Tax | 4%▲ | 9.3% | -5.300000000000001% |
| COL-Adjusted Median | $51,724▲ | $42,473 | +$9,251 |
| Est. Annual Take-Home | $39,917 | $66,207▲ | -$26,290 |
| COL-Adj. Take-Home | $45,882▲ | $35,595 | +$10,287 |
| Total Employment | 25,000 | 130,000 | -105,000 |
▲ = Higher value wins for this metric. Diff = Louisville, KY minus San Francisco, CA.
3Summary Analysis
On paper, San Francisco, CA pays $34,000 more (median: $45,000 vs $79,000). However, after adjusting for cost of living (index 87 vs 186), Louisville, KY provides better purchasing power ($51,724 vs $42,473 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.