Cost Estimator Salary in Louisville, KY
Cost Estimators in the Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN metro area earn a median $77,000 a year — 2% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $60,422 take-home, or $5,035 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median cost estimator salary in Louisville, KY. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$8,110
- Social Security (6.2%)$4,774
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,117
- Kentucky income tax$2,577
- Take-home pay$60,422
Marginal rate: 22% 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.
Cost Estimator pay by experience in Louisville, KY
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $49,920 | $24.00 | $40,661 | $3,388 |
| 25th percentile | $59,590 | $28.65 | $48,093 | $4,008 |
| Median (50th) | $77,000 | $37.02 | $60,422 | $5,035 |
| 75th percentile | $99,730 | $47.95 | $75,617 | $6,301 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $123,380 | $59.32 | $91,396 | $7,616 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Kentucky resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $77,000 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 cost estimator's $60,422 take-home pay has the buying power of $64,918 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Cost Estimator jobs are about as common in Louisville, KY as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.82).
Best-paying cities for cost estimators, adjusted for cost of living
Louisville, KY ranks #28 of 90 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Baton Rouge, LA | $84,710 | $66,268 | $72,999 |
| 2 | Boston, MA | $102,640 | $76,125 | $70,313 |
| 3 | New Orleans, LA | $81,170 | $63,884 | $68,992 |
| 4 | Sioux Falls, SD | $76,130 | $62,387 | $68,837 |
| 5 | Nashville, TN | $81,300 | $66,025 | $68,534 |
| 6 | Memphis, TN | $76,660 | $62,760 | $68,085 |
| 7 | Dayton, OH | $79,020 | $63,030 | $67,998 |
| 8 | Worcester, MA | $92,570 | $69,544 | $67,833 |
| 28 | Louisville, KY | $77,000 | $60,422 | $64,918 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 90 metros →
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cost estimator make in Louisville, KY?
The median cost estimator salary in the Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN metro area is $77,000 a year, or about $37.02 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $59,590 and $99,730.
What is a cost estimator’s take-home pay in Louisville, KY?
On the median $77,000 salary, a single filer living in Kentucky takes home about $60,422 a year ($5,035 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $2,577 in Kentucky taxes in 2026.
Is Louisville, KY a good place to work as a cost estimator?
Pay here is 2% below the national median of $78,740. Local prices are 6.9% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $64,918 would in a typical U.S. city. Louisville, KY ranks #28 of 90 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a cost estimator 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) — 20% of a median cost estimator’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Louisville, KY
- Management Analyst — $91,560
- Project Management Specialist — $82,660
- Financial and Investment Analyst — $77,700
- Accountant and Auditor — $76,320
- Personal Financial Advisor — $72,760
- Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators — $72,510
- Human Resources Specialist — $71,880
- Compliance Officer — $71,120
- Buyer and Purchasing Agent — $67,270
- Business Operations Specialists, All Other — $65,680
- Loan Officer — $64,460
- Logistician — $63,880