Machine Learning Engineer · Salary Comparison · 2026
Machine Learning Engineer Salary: Louisville, KY vs New York, NY
Side-by-side comparison of salary, taxes, cost of living, and take-home pay for Machine Learning 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
$97,000 vs $163,000
Better Purchasing Power
✓ Louisville, KY
$111,494 vs $87,166
Best Take-Home (COL-Adj)
✓ Louisville, KY
$98,900 vs $75,024
2
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Louisville, KY | New York, NY | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Annual Salary | $97,000 | $163,000▲ | -$66,000 |
| 25th Percentile | $74,690 | $125,510▲ | -$50,820 |
| 75th Percentile | $124,160 | $208,640▲ | -$84,480 |
| 90th Percentile | $155,200 | $260,800▲ | -$105,600 |
| Cost of Living Index | 87 | 187 | -100 |
| State Income Tax | 4%▲ | 6.85% | -2.8499999999999996% |
| COL-Adjusted Median | $111,494▲ | $87,166 | +$24,328 |
| Est. Annual Take-Home | $86,043 | $140,295▲ | -$54,252 |
| COL-Adj. Take-Home | $98,900▲ | $75,024 | +$23,876 |
| 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 $66,000 more (median: $97,000 vs $163,000). However, after adjusting for cost of living (index 87 vs 187), Louisville, KY provides better purchasing power ($111,494 vs $87,166 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.