Nurse Practitioner · Salary Comparison · 2026
Nurse Practitioner Salary: Louisville, KY vs Boston, MA
Side-by-side comparison of salary, taxes, cost of living, and take-home pay for Nurse Practitioners in Louisville, KY and Boston, MA, based on BLS OEWS 2026 data.
1Which City Pays More After Tax?
Higher Gross Salary
✓ Boston, MA
$90,000 vs $138,000
Better Purchasing Power
✓ Louisville, KY
$103,448 vs $85,185
Best Take-Home (COL-Adj)
✓ Louisville, KY
$91,763 vs $74,775
2
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Louisville, KY | Boston, MA | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Annual Salary | $90,000 | $138,000▲ | -$48,000 |
| 25th Percentile | $69,000 | $107,000▲ | -$38,000 |
| 75th Percentile | $115,000 | $177,000▲ | -$62,000 |
| 90th Percentile | $140,000 | $214,000▲ | -$74,000 |
| Cost of Living Index | 87 | 162 | -75 |
| State Income Tax | 4%▲ | 5% | -1% |
| COL-Adjusted Median | $103,448▲ | $85,185 | +$18,263 |
| Est. Annual Take-Home | $79,834 | $121,136▲ | -$41,302 |
| COL-Adj. Take-Home | $91,763▲ | $74,775 | +$16,988 |
| Total Employment | 4,000 | 9,000 | -5,000 |
▲ = Higher value wins for this metric. Diff = Louisville, KY minus Boston, MA.
3Summary Analysis
On paper, Boston, MA pays $48,000 more (median: $90,000 vs $138,000). However, after adjusting for cost of living (index 87 vs 162), Louisville, KY provides better purchasing power ($103,448 vs $85,185 equivalent). Louisville, KY has the lower state tax rate (4% vs 5%).
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.