Plumber · Salary Comparison · 2026
Plumber Salary: Louisville, KY vs New York, NY
Side-by-side comparison of salary, taxes, cost of living, and take-home pay for Plumbers 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
$50,000 vs $84,000
Better Purchasing Power
✓ Louisville, KY
$57,471 vs $44,920
Best Take-Home (COL-Adj)
✓ Louisville, KY
$50,979 vs $38,663
2
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Louisville, KY | New York, NY | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Annual Salary | $50,000 | $84,000▲ | -$34,000 |
| 25th Percentile | $38,500 | $64,680▲ | -$26,180 |
| 75th Percentile | $64,000 | $107,520▲ | -$43,520 |
| 90th Percentile | $80,000 | $134,400▲ | -$54,400 |
| Cost of Living Index | 87 | 187 | -100 |
| State Income Tax | 4%▲ | 6.85% | -2.8499999999999996% |
| COL-Adjusted Median | $57,471▲ | $44,920 | +$12,551 |
| Est. Annual Take-Home | $44,352 | $72,299▲ | -$27,947 |
| COL-Adj. Take-Home | $50,979▲ | $38,663 | +$12,316 |
| Total Employment | 15,000 | 102,000 | -87,000 |
▲ = Higher value wins for this metric. Diff = Louisville, KY minus New York, NY.
3Summary Analysis
On paper, New York, NY pays $34,000 more (median: $50,000 vs $84,000). However, after adjusting for cost of living (index 87 vs 187), Louisville, KY provides better purchasing power ($57,471 vs $44,920 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.