Physician · Salary Comparison · 2026
Physician Salary: Louisville, KY vs San Francisco, CA
Side-by-side comparison of salary, taxes, cost of living, and take-home pay for Physicians 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
$200,000 vs $260,000
Better Purchasing Power
✓ Louisville, KY
$229,885 vs $139,785
Best Take-Home (COL-Adj)
✓ Louisville, KY
$203,917 vs $117,149
2
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Louisville, KY | San Francisco, CA | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Annual Salary | $200,000 | $260,000▲ | -$60,000 |
| 25th Percentile | $150,000 | $195,000▲ | -$45,000 |
| 75th Percentile | $262,000 | $340,000▲ | -$78,000 |
| 90th Percentile | $326,000 | $420,000▲ | -$94,000 |
| Cost of Living Index | 87 | 186 | -99 |
| State Income Tax | 4%▲ | 9.3% | -5.300000000000001% |
| COL-Adjusted Median | $229,885▲ | $139,785 | +$90,100 |
| Est. Annual Take-Home | $177,408 | $217,898▲ | -$40,490 |
| COL-Adj. Take-Home | $203,917▲ | $117,149 | +$86,768 |
| Total Employment | 6,000 | 8,000 | -2,000 |
▲ = Higher value wins for this metric. Diff = Louisville, KY minus San Francisco, CA.
3Summary Analysis
On paper, San Francisco, CA pays $60,000 more (median: $200,000 vs $260,000). However, after adjusting for cost of living (index 87 vs 186), Louisville, KY provides better purchasing power ($229,885 vs $139,785 equivalent). Louisville, KY has the lower state tax rate (4% vs 9.3%).
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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.