Physician · Salary Comparison · 2026
Physician Salary: Louisville, KY vs New York, NY
Side-by-side comparison of salary, taxes, cost of living, and take-home pay for Physicians 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
$200,000 vs $250,000
Better Purchasing Power
✓ Louisville, KY
$229,885 vs $133,690
Best Take-Home (COL-Adj)
✓ Louisville, KY
$203,917 vs $115,068
2
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Louisville, KY | New York, NY | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Annual Salary | $200,000 | $250,000▲ | -$50,000 |
| 25th Percentile | $150,000 | $188,000▲ | -$38,000 |
| 75th Percentile | $262,000 | $328,000▲ | -$66,000 |
| 90th Percentile | $326,000 | $408,000▲ | -$82,000 |
| Cost of Living Index | 87 | 187 | -100 |
| State Income Tax | 4%▲ | 6.85% | -2.8499999999999996% |
| COL-Adjusted Median | $229,885▲ | $133,690 | +$96,195 |
| Est. Annual Take-Home | $177,408 | $215,177▲ | -$37,769 |
| COL-Adj. Take-Home | $203,917▲ | $115,068 | +$88,849 |
| Total Employment | 6,000 | 22,000 | -16,000 |
▲ = Higher value wins for this metric. Diff = Louisville, KY minus New York, NY.
3Summary Analysis
On paper, New York, NY pays $50,000 more (median: $200,000 vs $250,000). However, after adjusting for cost of living (index 87 vs 187), Louisville, KY provides better purchasing power ($229,885 vs $133,690 equivalent). Louisville, KY has the lower state tax rate (4% vs 6.85%).
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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.