Registered Nurse · Salary Comparison · 2026
Registered Nurse Salary: Louisville, KY vs New York, NY
Side-by-side comparison of salary, taxes, cost of living, and take-home pay for Registered Nurses 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
$62,000 vs $105,000
Better Purchasing Power
✓ Louisville, KY
$71,264 vs $56,150
Best Take-Home (COL-Adj)
✓ Louisville, KY
$63,214 vs $48,328
2
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Louisville, KY | New York, NY | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Annual Salary | $62,000 | $105,000▲ | -$43,000 |
| 25th Percentile | $47,000 | $80,000▲ | -$33,000 |
| 75th Percentile | $79,000 | $135,000▲ | -$56,000 |
| 90th Percentile | $97,000 | $165,000▲ | -$68,000 |
| Cost of Living Index | 87 | 187 | -100 |
| State Income Tax | 4%▲ | 6.85% | -2.8499999999999996% |
| COL-Adjusted Median | $71,264▲ | $56,150 | +$15,114 |
| Est. Annual Take-Home | $54,996 | $90,374▲ | -$35,378 |
| COL-Adj. Take-Home | $63,214▲ | $48,328 | +$14,886 |
| Total Employment | 22,000 | 72,000 | -50,000 |
▲ = Higher value wins for this metric. Diff = Louisville, KY minus New York, NY.
3Summary Analysis
On paper, New York, NY pays $43,000 more (median: $62,000 vs $105,000). However, after adjusting for cost of living (index 87 vs 187), Louisville, KY provides better purchasing power ($71,264 vs $56,150 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.