DevOps Engineer · Salary Comparison · 2026
DevOps Engineer Salary: Louisville, KY vs New York, NY
Side-by-side comparison of salary, taxes, cost of living, and take-home pay for DevOps Engineers 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
$98,000 vs $158,000
Better Purchasing Power
✓ Louisville, KY
$112,644 vs $84,492
Best Take-Home (COL-Adj)
✓ Louisville, KY
$99,920 vs $72,723
2
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Louisville, KY | New York, NY | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Annual Salary | $98,000 | $158,000▲ | -$60,000 |
| 25th Percentile | $74,000 | $120,000▲ | -$46,000 |
| 75th Percentile | $127,000 | $205,000▲ | -$78,000 |
| 90th Percentile | $159,000 | $256,000▲ | -$97,000 |
| Cost of Living Index | 87 | 187 | -100 |
| State Income Tax | 4%▲ | 6.85% | -2.8499999999999996% |
| COL-Adjusted Median | $112,644▲ | $84,492 | +$28,152 |
| Est. Annual Take-Home | $86,930 | $135,992▲ | -$49,062 |
| COL-Adj. Take-Home | $99,920▲ | $72,723 | +$27,197 |
| Total Employment | 3,000 | 15,000 | -12,000 |
▲ = 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: $98,000 vs $158,000). However, after adjusting for cost of living (index 87 vs 187), Louisville, KY provides better purchasing power ($112,644 vs $84,492 equivalent). Louisville, KY has the lower state tax rate (4% vs 6.85%).
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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.