Electrician · Salary Comparison · 2026
Electrician Salary: Louisville, KY vs San Francisco, CA
Side-by-side comparison of salary, taxes, cost of living, and take-home pay for Electricians 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
$52,000 vs $98,000
Better Purchasing Power
✓ Louisville, KY
$59,770 vs $52,688
Best Take-Home (COL-Adj)
✓ Louisville, KY
$53,018 vs $44,156
2
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Louisville, KY | San Francisco, CA | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Annual Salary | $52,000 | $98,000▲ | -$46,000 |
| 25th Percentile | $40,000 | $75,000▲ | -$35,000 |
| 75th Percentile | $66,000 | $125,000▲ | -$59,000 |
| 90th Percentile | $82,000 | $155,000▲ | -$73,000 |
| Cost of Living Index | 87 | 186 | -99 |
| State Income Tax | 4%▲ | 9.3% | -5.300000000000001% |
| COL-Adjusted Median | $59,770▲ | $52,688 | +$7,082 |
| Est. Annual Take-Home | $46,126 | $82,131▲ | -$36,005 |
| COL-Adj. Take-Home | $53,018▲ | $44,156 | +$8,862 |
| Total Employment | 8,000 | 12,000 | -4,000 |
▲ = Higher value wins for this metric. Diff = Louisville, KY minus San Francisco, CA.
3Summary Analysis
On paper, San Francisco, CA pays $46,000 more (median: $52,000 vs $98,000). However, after adjusting for cost of living (index 87 vs 186), Louisville, KY provides better purchasing power ($59,770 vs $52,688 equivalent). Louisville, KY has the lower state tax rate (4% vs 9.3%).
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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.