Nurse Practitioner · Salary Comparison · 2026
Nurse Practitioner Salary: Louisville, KY vs Austin, TX
Side-by-side comparison of salary, taxes, cost of living, and take-home pay for Nurse Practitioners in Louisville, KY and Austin, TX, based on BLS OEWS 2026 data.
1Which City Pays More After Tax?
Higher Gross Salary
✓ Austin, TX
$90,000 vs $118,000
Better Purchasing Power
✓ Louisville, KY
$103,448 vs $95,161
Best Take-Home (COL-Adj)
✓ Louisville, KY
$91,763 vs $87,929
2
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Louisville, KY | Austin, TX | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Annual Salary | $90,000 | $118,000▲ | -$28,000 |
| 25th Percentile | $69,000 | $91,000▲ | -$22,000 |
| 75th Percentile | $115,000 | $151,000▲ | -$36,000 |
| 90th Percentile | $140,000 | $183,000▲ | -$43,000 |
| Cost of Living Index | 87 | 124 | -37 |
| State Income Tax | 4% | 0%▲ | +4% |
| COL-Adjusted Median | $103,448▲ | $95,161 | +$8,287 |
| Est. Annual Take-Home | $79,834 | $109,032▲ | -$29,198 |
| COL-Adj. Take-Home | $91,763▲ | $87,929 | +$3,834 |
| Total Employment | 4,000 | 5,000 | -1,000 |
▲ = Higher value wins for this metric. Diff = Louisville, KY minus Austin, TX.
3Summary Analysis
On paper, Austin, TX pays $28,000 more (median: $90,000 vs $118,000). However, after adjusting for cost of living (index 87 vs 124), Louisville, KY provides better purchasing power ($103,448 vs $95,161 equivalent). Austin, TX has no state income tax, which is a significant advantage.
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.