UX Designer · Salary Comparison · 2026
UX Designer Salary: Louisville, KY vs New York, NY
Side-by-side comparison of salary, taxes, cost of living, and take-home pay for UX Designers 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
$75,000 vs $126,000
Better Purchasing Power
✓ Louisville, KY
$86,207 vs $67,380
Best Take-Home (COL-Adj)
✓ Louisville, KY
$76,469 vs $57,994
2
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Louisville, KY | New York, NY | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Annual Salary | $75,000 | $126,000▲ | -$51,000 |
| 25th Percentile | $57,750 | $97,020▲ | -$39,270 |
| 75th Percentile | $96,000 | $161,280▲ | -$65,280 |
| 90th Percentile | $120,000 | $201,600▲ | -$81,600 |
| Cost of Living Index | 87 | 187 | -100 |
| State Income Tax | 4%▲ | 6.85% | -2.8499999999999996% |
| COL-Adjusted Median | $86,207▲ | $67,380 | +$18,827 |
| Est. Annual Take-Home | $66,528 | $108,449▲ | -$41,921 |
| COL-Adj. Take-Home | $76,469▲ | $57,994 | +$18,475 |
| Total Employment | 8,000 | 54,400 | -46,400 |
▲ = Higher value wins for this metric. Diff = Louisville, KY minus New York, NY.
3Summary Analysis
On paper, New York, NY pays $51,000 more (median: $75,000 vs $126,000). However, after adjusting for cost of living (index 87 vs 187), Louisville, KY provides better purchasing power ($86,207 vs $67,380 equivalent). Louisville, KY has the lower state tax rate (4% vs 6.85%).
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.