Plumber · Salary Comparison · 2026
Plumber Salary: Louisville, KY vs San Francisco, CA
Side-by-side comparison of salary, taxes, cost of living, and take-home pay for Plumbers 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
$50,000 vs $88,000
Better Purchasing Power
✓ Louisville, KY
$57,471 vs $47,312
Best Take-Home (COL-Adj)
✓ Louisville, KY
$50,979 vs $39,651
2
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Louisville, KY | San Francisco, CA | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Annual Salary | $50,000 | $88,000▲ | -$38,000 |
| 25th Percentile | $38,500 | $67,760▲ | -$29,260 |
| 75th Percentile | $64,000 | $112,640▲ | -$48,640 |
| 90th Percentile | $80,000 | $140,800▲ | -$60,800 |
| Cost of Living Index | 87 | 186 | -99 |
| State Income Tax | 4%▲ | 9.3% | -5.300000000000001% |
| COL-Adjusted Median | $57,471▲ | $47,312 | +$10,159 |
| Est. Annual Take-Home | $44,352 | $73,750▲ | -$29,398 |
| COL-Adj. Take-Home | $50,979▲ | $39,651 | +$11,328 |
| Total Employment | 15,000 | 78,000 | -63,000 |
▲ = Higher value wins for this metric. Diff = Louisville, KY minus San Francisco, CA.
3Summary Analysis
On paper, San Francisco, CA pays $38,000 more (median: $50,000 vs $88,000). However, after adjusting for cost of living (index 87 vs 186), Louisville, KY provides better purchasing power ($57,471 vs $47,312 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.