Tax Manager · Salary Comparison · 2026
Tax Manager Salary: Louisville, KY vs Boston, MA
Side-by-side comparison of salary, taxes, cost of living, and take-home pay for Tax Managers in Louisville, KY and Boston, MA, based on BLS OEWS 2026 data.
1Which City Pays More After Tax?
Higher Gross Salary
✓ Boston, MA
$80,000 vs $124,000
Better Purchasing Power
✓ Louisville, KY
$91,954 vs $76,543
Best Take-Home (COL-Adj)
✓ Louisville, KY
$81,567 vs $67,190
2
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Louisville, KY | Boston, MA | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Annual Salary | $80,000 | $124,000▲ | -$44,000 |
| 25th Percentile | $61,600 | $95,480▲ | -$33,880 |
| 75th Percentile | $102,400 | $158,720▲ | -$56,320 |
| 90th Percentile | $128,000 | $198,400▲ | -$70,400 |
| Cost of Living Index | 87 | 162 | -75 |
| State Income Tax | 4%▲ | 5% | -1% |
| COL-Adjusted Median | $91,954▲ | $76,543 | +$15,411 |
| Est. Annual Take-Home | $70,963 | $108,847▲ | -$37,884 |
| COL-Adj. Take-Home | $81,567▲ | $67,190 | +$14,377 |
| Total Employment | 8,000 | 33,600 | -25,600 |
▲ = Higher value wins for this metric. Diff = Louisville, KY minus Boston, MA.
3Summary Analysis
On paper, Boston, MA pays $44,000 more (median: $80,000 vs $124,000). However, after adjusting for cost of living (index 87 vs 162), Louisville, KY provides better purchasing power ($91,954 vs $76,543 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.