Pharmacist · Salary Comparison · 2026
Pharmacist Salary: Louisville, KY vs San Francisco, CA
Side-by-side comparison of salary, taxes, cost of living, and take-home pay for Pharmacists 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
$72,000 vs $126,000
Better Purchasing Power
✓ Louisville, KY
$82,759 vs $67,742
Best Take-Home (COL-Adj)
✓ Louisville, KY
$73,410 vs $56,773
2
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Louisville, KY | San Francisco, CA | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Annual Salary | $72,000 | $126,000▲ | -$54,000 |
| 25th Percentile | $55,440 | $97,020▲ | -$41,580 |
| 75th Percentile | $92,160 | $161,280▲ | -$69,120 |
| 90th Percentile | $115,200 | $201,600▲ | -$86,400 |
| Cost of Living Index | 87 | 186 | -99 |
| State Income Tax | 4%▲ | 9.3% | -5.300000000000001% |
| COL-Adjusted Median | $82,759▲ | $67,742 | +$15,017 |
| Est. Annual Take-Home | $63,867 | $105,597▲ | -$41,730 |
| COL-Adj. Take-Home | $73,410▲ | $56,773 | +$16,637 |
| 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 $54,000 more (median: $72,000 vs $126,000). However, after adjusting for cost of living (index 87 vs 186), Louisville, KY provides better purchasing power ($82,759 vs $67,742 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.