Operations Manager · Salary Comparison · 2026
Operations Manager Salary: Louisville, KY vs New York, NY
Side-by-side comparison of salary, taxes, cost of living, and take-home pay for Operations Managers 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
$78,000 vs $131,000
Better Purchasing Power
✓ Louisville, KY
$89,655 vs $70,053
Best Take-Home (COL-Adj)
✓ Louisville, KY
$79,528 vs $60,295
2
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Louisville, KY | New York, NY | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Annual Salary | $78,000 | $131,000▲ | -$53,000 |
| 25th Percentile | $60,060 | $100,870▲ | -$40,810 |
| 75th Percentile | $99,840 | $167,680▲ | -$67,840 |
| 90th Percentile | $124,800 | $209,600▲ | -$84,800 |
| Cost of Living Index | 87 | 187 | -100 |
| State Income Tax | 4%▲ | 6.85% | -2.8499999999999996% |
| COL-Adjusted Median | $89,655▲ | $70,053 | +$19,602 |
| Est. Annual Take-Home | $69,189 | $112,752▲ | -$43,563 |
| COL-Adj. Take-Home | $79,528▲ | $60,295 | +$19,233 |
| 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 $53,000 more (median: $78,000 vs $131,000). However, after adjusting for cost of living (index 87 vs 187), Louisville, KY provides better purchasing power ($89,655 vs $70,053 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.