Machine Learning Engineer Salary in Louisville, KY
Machine Learning Engineers in Louisville, KY earn a median of $97,000/year, ranging from $74,690 (25th percentile) to $155,200 (90th percentile). After Kentucky state taxes (4%) and cost-of-living adjustments (COL index 87), this is equivalent to $111,494 in purchasing power vs the US average.
On the ground in Louisville, KY
Machine learning work in Louisville leans heavily toward healthcare and manufacturing AI applications, with notable employers in this market including UofL's data science initiatives, GE Appliances, and various regional health systems building predictive models. The cost advantage is real: a two-bedroom apartment in the Highlands or Butchertown runs around $1,200 to $1,400 monthly, leaving breathing room on a mid-range ML salary. Getting around relies mainly on a car, though I-64 and the local arterials handle daily commutes reasonably well if you're heading toward employment hubs on the east side. Kentucky's 4% state income tax is lower than many tech metros, which adds to your take-home. The city's smaller tech ecosystem means less competition for roles but also fewer job switches nearby, so many engineers here plan longer tenures or develop strong consulting practices on the side.
1Salary Distribution in Louisville, KY
2Estimated Take-Home & Purchasing Power
* Estimates only. Does not include federal income tax, 401k, health insurance, or local taxes. Use the Salary Calculator for a detailed breakdown.
How Does Louisville, KY Compare?
| City | Median | COL Index | COL-Adjusted |
|---|---|---|---|
| Louisville, KY (current) | $97,000 | 87 | $111,494 |
| San Francisco, CA | $170,000 | 186 | $91,398 |
| New York, NY | $163,000 | 187 | $87,166 |
| Seattle, WA | $165,000 | 162 | $101,852 |
| Boston, MA | $150,000 | 162 | $92,593 |
| Austin, TX | $136,000 | 124 | $109,677 |
4Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average Machine Learning Engineer salary in Louisville, KY?
The median Machine Learning Engineer salary in Louisville, KY is $97,000 per year as of 2026 BLS OEWS data. The 25th percentile is $74,690 and the 90th percentile is $155,200.
Is Louisville, KY a good place to work as a Machine Learning Engineer?
Louisville, KY has a cost of living index of 87 (US average = 100). After adjusting for cost of living, a $97,000 Machine Learning Engineer salary in Louisville, KY is equivalent to $111,494 in purchasing power compared to the US average.
What is the cost of living adjustment for Louisville, KY?
Louisville, KY has a cost of living index of 87, meaning it is 13% less expensive than the US average. The state income tax rate in Kentucky is approximately 4%.
What is the Machine Learning Engineer salary range in Louisville, KY?
In Louisville, KY, Machine Learning Engineers earn between $74,690 (25th percentile) and $155,200 (90th percentile), with a median of $97,000 per year.
How many Machine Learning Engineer jobs are there in Louisville, KY?
According to BLS OEWS data, there are approximately 8,000 Machine Learning Engineer positions in the Louisville, KY metropolitan area.
What do Machine Learning Engineers earn in Louisville, KY?
Based on BLS OEWS 2026 data, Machine Learning Engineers in Louisville, KY earn a median annual wage of $97,000. The middle 50% earn between $74,690 and $124,160. The top 10% earn more than $155,200. There are approximately 8,000 Machine Learning Engineers employed in the Louisville, KY metro area, with annual job growth estimated at 3.2%.
Is Louisville, KY a good place for a Machine Learning Engineer?
Louisville, KY has a cost of living index of 87 (US average = 100), making it 13% less expensive than the national average. After adjusting for cost of living, a Machine Learning Engineer in Louisville, KY earning $97,000has the equivalent purchasing power of $111,494 relative to the US median. Kentucky has a state income tax rate of approximately 4%.
What is the cost of living adjustment for Louisville, KY?
Louisville, KY's cost of living index is 87, based on composite data including housing, food, transportation, healthcare, and utilities. This means that $97,000 in Louisville, KYhas the same purchasing power as $111,494 in a city at exactly the US average cost of living. Housing is typically the largest driver of cost of living differences between metros.
Compare Louisville, KY with Another City
See a detailed side-by-side comparison of salary, taxes, and purchasing power.
5Should You Work as a Machine Learning Engineer in Louisville, KY?
The headline median of $97,000 is only part of the picture. Louisville, KY's cost of living index is 87 (US average = 100), meaning a dollar here goes further than in most of the country. The $97,000 salary has the purchasing power of roughly $111,494 at national-average prices — a real premium for moving to a lower-cost market.
Housing is the single biggest driver of cost-of-living differences between metros. In Louisville, KY, housing costs fall closer to the national average of 25–30% of gross income, leaving more room in the budget for savings, transportation, and discretionary spending. For a $97,000 salary, that translates to roughly $27,160/year on housing alone.
State tax plays a meaningful but smaller role. Kentucky levies a state income tax of approximately 4%, which reduces take-home by roughly $3,880 per year on this salary. States with zero income tax (Texas, Florida, Washington, Tennessee, Nevada) offer a structural advantage, but often offset it with higher sales tax or property tax. After state tax and approximate federal FICA (~7.6%), the estimated take-home is $86,043. This excludes federal income tax, which varies by filing status and deductions.
For comparison, here are nearby alternatives: San Francisco, CA ($170,000 median, COL 186); New York, NY ($163,000 median, COL 187); Seattle, WA ($165,000 median, COL 162). If you're optimizing for purchasing power, compare the COL-adjusted column in the table above and pick the highest number. If you're optimizing for career progression, weight total employment and yearly growth in the role — larger markets offer more lateral moves and promotion velocity, even when nominal pay is lower.
The 3.2% year-over-year growth rate for Machine Learning Engineers in Louisville, KY is a leading indicator of market health. Healthy growth at a steady pace — enough to support mobility but not so fast that compensation is racing ahead of credentials. For side-by-side comparisons, try the full city ranking for Machine Learning Engineers or the Kentucky state overview.
Data source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) Program. All figures are approximate annual estimates based on the most recent available BLS data. Actual salaries may vary based on experience, education, employer size, and specific role. Cost-of-living data represents composite indices from publicly available metropolitan area data.