Registered Nurse · Salary Comparison · 2026
Registered Nurse Salary: Louisville, KY vs San Francisco, CA
Side-by-side comparison of salary, taxes, cost of living, and take-home pay for Registered Nurses 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
$62,000 vs $130,000
Better Purchasing Power
✓ Louisville, KY
$71,264 vs $69,892
Best Take-Home (COL-Adj)
✓ Louisville, KY
$63,214 vs $58,575
2
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Louisville, KY | San Francisco, CA | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Annual Salary | $62,000 | $130,000▲ | -$68,000 |
| 25th Percentile | $47,000 | $100,000▲ | -$53,000 |
| 75th Percentile | $79,000 | $165,000▲ | -$86,000 |
| 90th Percentile | $97,000 | $200,000▲ | -$103,000 |
| Cost of Living Index | 87 | 186 | -99 |
| State Income Tax | 4%▲ | 9.3% | -5.300000000000001% |
| COL-Adjusted Median | $71,264▲ | $69,892 | +$1,372 |
| Est. Annual Take-Home | $54,996 | $108,949▲ | -$53,953 |
| COL-Adj. Take-Home | $63,214▲ | $58,575 | +$4,639 |
| Total Employment | 22,000 | 28,000 | -6,000 |
▲ = Higher value wins for this metric. Diff = Louisville, KY minus San Francisco, CA.
3Summary Analysis
On paper, San Francisco, CA pays $68,000 more (median: $62,000 vs $130,000). However, after adjusting for cost of living (index 87 vs 186), Louisville, KY provides better purchasing power ($71,264 vs $69,892 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.