Chief Executive Salary in Louisville, KY
Chief Executives in the Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN metro area earn a median $213,920 a year — 0% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $151,809 take-home, or $12,651 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median chief executive salary in Louisville, KY. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$40,075
- Social Security (6.2%)$11,439
- Medicare (1.45%)$3,227
- Kentucky income tax$7,370
- Take-home pay$151,809
Marginal rate: 24% federal + 3.50% state
The Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN metro spans Kentucky, Indiana. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Chief Executive pay by experience in Louisville, KY
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $81,800 | $39.33 | $63,631 | $5,303 |
| 25th percentile | $129,540 | $62.28 | $95,390 | $7,949 |
| Median (50th) | $213,920 | $102.85 | $151,809 | $12,651 |
| 75th percentile | $324,270+ | $155.90 | $219,150 | $18,263 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $466,660+ | $224.36 | $303,374 | $25,281 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Kentucky resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $213,920 buys in Louisville, KY
Prices in Louisville, KY are 6.9% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 21% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median chief executive's $151,809 take-home pay has the buying power of $163,106 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Chief Executive jobs are less concentrated in Louisville, KY than nationally (location quotient 0.72), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for chief executives, adjusted for cost of living
Louisville, KY ranks #27 of 55 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seattle, WA | $239,200+ | $259,032 | $233,083 |
| 2 | Bridgeport, CT | $239,200+ | $247,855 | $231,935 |
| 3 | Charlotte, NC | $239,200+ | $220,744 | $226,758 |
| 4 | Dallas, TX | $239,200+ | $227,744 | $220,918 |
| 5 | Chicago, IL | $239,200+ | $226,413 | $218,556 |
| 6 | Richmond, VA | $239,200+ | $213,626 | $218,302 |
| 7 | Des Moines, IA | $239,200+ | $199,056 | $217,070 |
| 8 | Portland, OR | $239,200+ | $227,767 | $216,055 |
| 27 | Louisville, KY | $213,920 | $151,809 | $163,106 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 55 metros →
Frequently asked questions
How much does a chief executive make in Louisville, KY?
The median chief executive salary in the Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN metro area is $213,920 a year, or about $102.85 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $129,540 and $239,200+.
What is a chief executive’s take-home pay in Louisville, KY?
On the median $213,920 salary, a single filer living in Kentucky takes home about $151,809 a year ($12,651 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $7,370 in Kentucky taxes in 2026.
Is Louisville, KY a good place to work as a chief executive?
Pay here is 0% below the national median of $213,990. Local prices are 6.9% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $163,106 would in a typical U.S. city. Louisville, KY ranks #27 of 55 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a chief executive afford rent in Louisville, KY?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Louisville, KY is $1,026 a month ($1,248 for two bedrooms) — 8% of a median chief executive’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Louisville, KY
- Computer and Information Systems Manager — $150,710
- Architectural and Engineering Manager — $149,430
- Sales Manager — $137,880
- Financial Manager — $136,970
- Marketing Manager — $136,350
- Managers, All Other — $134,710
- Human Resources Manager — $122,360
- Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary — $115,400
- Medical and Health Services Manager — $112,070
- Industrial Production Manager — $111,440
- Construction Manager — $101,780
- Facilities Manager — $98,090