Machine Learning Engineer · Salary Comparison · 2026
Machine Learning Engineer Salary: Louisville, KY vs San Francisco, CA
Side-by-side comparison of salary, taxes, cost of living, and take-home pay for Machine Learning Engineers 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
$97,000 vs $170,000
Better Purchasing Power
✓ Louisville, KY
$111,494 vs $91,398
Best Take-Home (COL-Adj)
✓ Louisville, KY
$98,900 vs $76,598
2
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Louisville, KY | San Francisco, CA | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Annual Salary | $97,000 | $170,000▲ | -$73,000 |
| 25th Percentile | $74,690 | $130,900▲ | -$56,210 |
| 75th Percentile | $124,160 | $217,600▲ | -$93,440 |
| 90th Percentile | $155,200 | $272,000▲ | -$116,800 |
| Cost of Living Index | 87 | 186 | -99 |
| State Income Tax | 4%▲ | 9.3% | -5.300000000000001% |
| COL-Adjusted Median | $111,494▲ | $91,398 | +$20,096 |
| Est. Annual Take-Home | $86,043 | $142,472▲ | -$56,429 |
| COL-Adj. Take-Home | $98,900▲ | $76,598 | +$22,302 |
| 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 $73,000 more (median: $97,000 vs $170,000). However, after adjusting for cost of living (index 87 vs 186), Louisville, KY provides better purchasing power ($111,494 vs $91,398 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.