School Counselor · Salary Comparison · 2026
School Counselor Salary: Louisville, KY vs Boston, MA
Side-by-side comparison of salary, taxes, cost of living, and take-home pay for School Counselors in Louisville, KY and Boston, MA, based on BLS OEWS 2026 data.
1Which City Pays More After Tax?
Higher Gross Salary
✓ Boston, MA
$40,000 vs $62,000
Better Purchasing Power
✓ Louisville, KY
$45,977 vs $38,272
Best Take-Home (COL-Adj)
✓ Louisville, KY
$40,784 vs $33,595
2
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Louisville, KY | Boston, MA | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Annual Salary | $40,000 | $62,000▲ | -$22,000 |
| 25th Percentile | $30,800 | $47,740▲ | -$16,940 |
| 75th Percentile | $51,200 | $79,360▲ | -$28,160 |
| 90th Percentile | $64,000 | $99,200▲ | -$35,200 |
| Cost of Living Index | 87 | 162 | -75 |
| State Income Tax | 4%▲ | 5% | -1% |
| COL-Adjusted Median | $45,977▲ | $38,272 | +$7,705 |
| Est. Annual Take-Home | $35,482 | $54,424▲ | -$18,942 |
| COL-Adj. Take-Home | $40,784▲ | $33,595 | +$7,189 |
| Total Employment | 25,000 | 105,000 | -80,000 |
▲ = Higher value wins for this metric. Diff = Louisville, KY minus Boston, MA.
3Summary Analysis
On paper, Boston, MA pays $22,000 more (median: $40,000 vs $62,000). However, after adjusting for cost of living (index 87 vs 162), Louisville, KY provides better purchasing power ($45,977 vs $38,272 equivalent). Louisville, KY has the lower state tax rate (4% vs 5%).
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.