90% OFF - $9.99
11:59:59
Claim Lifetime Deal
2026 Salary Data — Louisville, KY
Updated April 28, 2026

Data Scientist Salary in Louisville: $98K Median

Data Scientists in Louisville, KY earn between $62K and $168K per year.

That's -9% below the US national median of $108,020 for this role.

Quick Answer

As of April 2026, the median Data Scientist salary in Louisville, KY is $98,298 per year — -9% below the US national median of $108,020. Salaries range from $61,680 (entry, 25th percentile) to $167,522 (90th percentile). Data Scientists in Louisville earned approximately $15,855 in 2025, representing 520.0% year-over-year growth.

Median
$98,298
+520.0% YoY · $8,192/mo
Entry
$77,350
0–2 years
Experienced
$150,150
5+ years
Top 10%
$167,522
Senior/lead
Data Scientist Salary — Louisville vs Nearby
Louisville
$98K
Indianapolis
$100K
-2% vs Louisville
Detroit
$100K
-2% vs Louisville
Cleveland
$99K
-1% vs Louisville

Free ATS scan · Louisville employers · Results in 60 seconds

About Data Scientists in Louisville

Data scientists analyze large datasets to extract insights, build predictive models, and inform business decisions. They combine statistics, programming, and domain expertise.

Core Responsibilities

  • Build machine learning models
  • Analyze structured/unstructured data
  • Deploy models to production
  • Communicate findings to stakeholders
  • A/B testing and experimentation

Education & Certifications

Typical path: Master's degree preferred (Bachelor's acceptable with strong portfolio)

In-demand certifications

Google Data AnalyticsTensorFlow DeveloperAWS ML SpecialtyMicrosoft DA-100

Louisville Job Market

Healthcare and logistics hub with affordable cost of living.

Population
630K
Cost of Living
89
vs 100 US avg
Unemployment
4%
Median Home
$235K

Top Industries in Louisville

Healthcare (Humana)Logistics (UPS)Manufacturing (Ford)Bourbon

Top Employers Hiring Data Scientists

Major employers active in Louisville or hiring remotely from this metro.

Google
Meta
Netflix
Uber
Airbnb
OpenAI
Anthropic
Databricks

All major employers use ATS software.

Workday, Greenhouse, Taleo, and iCIMS auto-screen 75% of resumes before a human ever sees them. Scan your resume free to see your match rate.

2026 Hot Skills & Resume Keywords

Skills that command salary premiums and pass ATS keyword filters.

Hottest 2026 Skills

These appear in the highest-paying Data Scientist listings.

LLMsPyTorchMLOpsdbtSnowflakeGenAI

ATS Resume Keywords

Include these naturally throughout your resume.

PythonSQLTensorFlowPyTorchmachine learningstatisticsA/B testingdata visualizationpandasscikit-learn
Career Outlook
+36% Growth Projected (2024-2034)

Data scientist employment is projected to grow 36% through 2034 — one of the fastest-growing occupations. AI/ML adoption across industries is driving unprecedented demand.

Data Scientist Salary Breakdown — Louisville

PeriodEntry (25th)Median (50th)Top (90th)
Annual$61,680$98,298$167,522
Monthly$5,140$8,192$13,960
Weekly$1,186$1,890$3,222
Hourly$30$47$81

Based on 2080 working hours/year. Local figures derived from BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics national median ($108,020) adjusted for Louisville's cost-of-living multiplier (0.91×, sourced from BEA Regional Price Parities).

Data Scientist Take-Home Pay in Louisville

After federal, state, local, and FICA taxes — single filer, standard deduction.

Net Annual Take-Home
$71,110.422
Per month$5,926
Biweekly paycheck$2,735
Effective tax rate27.7%

Tax Breakdown on $98,298

Gross salary$98,298
Federal income tax−$13,327.56
Kentucky state tax−$3,931.92
Louisville local tax−$2,408.301
FICA (Social Security + Medicare)−$7,519.797
Take-home (net)$71,110.422

Estimates assume single filer, standard deduction ($14,600 for 2026), no 401(k)/HSA/dependents. Actual take-home varies with deductions, dependents, and benefits elections. Not tax advice.

Data Scientist Salary by Experience — Louisville

Career-stage progression for Data Scientists in Louisville.

ExperienceAnnual Salary
0–1 yr$71,162
2–3 yr$77,350
4–6 yr$113,750
7–10 yr$150,150
11–15 yr$177,177
15+ yr$158,836

Curve derived from BLS percentile data adjusted for Louisville's 0.91× cost-of-living multiplier. Highlighted row = 7–10 year experienced level.

Year-Over-Year Trend

+520.0% vs 2025

2025 median:$15,855
2026 median:$98,298
Change:+$82,443

Technology sector growth driven by demand for LLMs and PyTorch.

Is This A Good Salary?

Excellent

Adjusted for local cost of living, this salary delivers top-tier real purchasing power - well above what the same nominal pay would buy in most US metros. Strong savings, home-buying, and discretionary spending are all realistic.

COL-Adjusted Purchasing Power
$110,447
Comfortable lifestyle with strong savings potential - the median paycheck stretches well above the national average here.

How to Negotiate Your Data Scientist Salary in Louisville

Walk-away anchor: $85,477 (offers below this are below market for Louisville).

Leverage Points

  • Reference levels.fyi total compensation data for your level (L4/L5/etc.) at comparable companies
  • Quantify recent shipped impact: latency reduced, revenue driven, on-call incidents resolved
  • Hold a competing offer (or credible interview pipeline) before the salary conversation
  • Highlight in-demand skill premiums: LLMs, Kubernetes, Rust, distributed systems

Beyond Base Salary, Negotiate

Sign-on bonus ($25K-$100K is standard at Big Tech)RSU refreshers and accelerated vesting cliffsRemote/hybrid flexibility and home-office stipendAnnual learning budget and conference allowanceSabbatical eligibility after 4-5 years

What To Say

"Based on levels.fyi data and what I'm seeing from comparable offers, total compensation for this level is closer to $X base plus equity. Can we close the gap on base or front-load the RSU grant?"

Anchor on $150K–$168K for experienced roles, citing Louisville market data and your specific LLMs/PyTorch expertise.

Data Scientist Salary FAQ — Louisville

What is the average Data Scientist salary in Louisville, KY?
The average Data Scientist salary in Louisville is $98,298 per year as of April 2026 — $8,192/month, $1,890/week, or about $47/hour. Salaries range from $61,680 (entry, 25th percentile) up to $167,522 (experienced, 90th percentile). Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics adjusted for Louisville's cost-of-living multiplier (0.91×).
Is $98,298 a good Data Scientist salary in Louisville?
Excellent. Adjusted for local cost of living, this salary delivers top-tier real purchasing power - well above what the same nominal pay would buy in most US metros. Strong savings, home-buying, and discretionary spending are all realistic. Louisville's cost-of-living index is 89 (vs 100 nationally), giving $98,298 a real purchasing power of approximately $110,447 in national terms. Comfortable lifestyle with strong savings potential - the median paycheck stretches well above the national average here.
Can you live on $98,298 in Louisville?
Median local pay typically supports a single-earner family of four with a starter home, modest college savings, and standard healthcare costs covered. Stay under 25% of pre-tax income on rent. In this market, that is realistic on most professional salaries and leaves room for retirement contributions. For Louisville specifically (median home price $235,000), a $98,298 salary supports a comfortable lifestyle.
Is $98,298 enough for a single person in Louisville?
A single adult in Louisville typically needs ~$40,050 for a comfortable lifestyle (housing, food, transport, healthcare, modest savings). A $98,298 salary is well above that threshold — a single person can live comfortably with significant savings room.
Is $98,298 enough for a couple in Louisville?
A couple (one earner) in Louisville typically needs ~$64,080 for a comfortable lifestyle. A $98,298 salary as the sole household income is sufficient — enabling moderate housing, savings, and discretionary spending. Two earners at $98,298 each ($196,596 household) provides solid middle-class comfort.
Is $98,298 enough for a family of 4 in Louisville?
A family of 4 (one earner) in Louisville typically needs ~$97,900 for a comfortable middle-class lifestyle (housing for 4, childcare/school, food, healthcare, transport, savings). A $98,298 salary as the sole household income is sufficient — a family of 4 can afford this metro on a single Data Scientist income with prudent budgeting. Childcare costs in Louisville typically run $13K-$25K per child per year.
What is the take-home pay for a Data Scientist in Louisville?
On a $98,298 Data Scientist salary in Louisville, KY, you take home approximately $71,110.422 per year ($5,926/month, $2,735 per biweekly paycheck) after taxes. Breakdown: federal $13,327.56, state $3,931.92, local $2,408.301, FICA $7,519.797. Effective tax rate: 27.7%. (Single filer, standard deduction, no other adjustments.)
How much do Data Scientists in Louisville earn compared to the US average?
Data Scientists in Louisville earn approximately 9% less than the US national median for this role ($108,020 nationally vs $98,298 in Louisville). However, Louisville's cost-of-living index of 89 means real purchasing power is approximately $110,447 when adjusted for local prices.
What does an entry-level Data Scientist earn in Louisville?
Entry-level Data Scientists in Louisville typically start at around $77,350 (0–2 years experience). With 5+ years, Data Scientists earn $150,150 or more. Top earners (90th percentile) reach $167,522+, typically at senior or lead levels with specialized skills.
Did Data Scientist salaries in Louisville increase in 2026?
Yes — Data Scientist salaries in Louisville grew approximately 520.0% year-over-year, from $15,855 in 2025 to $98,298 in 2026 (+$82,443). This reflects the broader Technology sector's compensation trend, driven by LLMs and PyTorch demand.
What's the job outlook for Data Scientists in Louisville?
Data scientist employment is projected to grow 36% through 2034 — one of the fastest-growing occupations. AI/ML adoption across industries is driving unprecedented demand. Louisville's top industries include Healthcare (Humana), Logistics (UPS), Manufacturing (Ford), and the metro's current unemployment rate is 4% — steady demand for skilled workers.
What skills are most in demand for Data Scientists in 2026?
The hottest 2026 skills for Data Scientists are: LLMs, PyTorch, MLOps, dbt, Snowflake, GenAI. ATS systems specifically scan for these keywords. Adding them to your resume — naturally and in context — significantly improves your match rate with employers in Louisville.
Who are the top employers hiring Data Scientists in Louisville?
Top employers hiring Data Scientists in or near Louisville include: Google, Meta, Netflix, Uber, Airbnb, OpenAI. Most use ATS software (Workday, Greenhouse, Taleo, iCIMS) to screen resumes — meaning your resume must be ATS-optimized to even get a human reader.
How do I negotiate a higher Data Scientist salary in Louisville?
Based on levels.fyi data and what I'm seeing from comparable offers, total compensation for this level is closer to $X base plus equity. Can we close the gap on base or front-load the RSU grant? Key leverage points for Technology negotiations: Reference levels.fyi total compensation data for your level (L4/L5/etc.) at comparable companies; Quantify recent shipped impact: latency reduced, revenue driven, on-call incidents resolved; Hold a competing offer (or credible interview pipeline) before the salary conversation. Beyond base salary, negotiate for: Sign-on bonus ($25K-$100K is standard at Big Tech), RSU refreshers and accelerated vesting cliffs, Remote/hybrid flexibility and home-office stipend, Annual learning budget and conference allowance.
How can I increase my Data Scientist salary in Louisville?
Three highest-leverage moves: (1) Add 2026's hot skills (LLMs, PyTorch, MLOps) — they command 15-30% premiums. (2) Get a recognized certification (e.g., Google Data Analytics or TensorFlow Developer). (3) Tailor your resume to each role's keywords — CVCraft's ATS scanner shows you exactly what's missing.
What education do I need to become a Data Scientist in Louisville?
Master's degree preferred (Bachelor's acceptable with strong portfolio) is the typical path. However, Louisville's competitive market increasingly values demonstrable skills, portfolios, and certifications alongside (or in place of) traditional degrees — particularly for Technology roles.

Methodology & Sources

Data Scientist salary figures for Louisville are computed by adjusting the BLS national median ($108,020) by Louisville's cost-of-living multiplier of 0.91× — a composite of regional wage data and price parities. Year-over-year change (520.0%) reflects the Technology sector's 2025-2026 wage growth per BLS Employment Cost Index trends. Last reviewed April 28, 2026.

Data Sources

Related Roles in Louisville

Software Engineer →Machine Learning Engineer →Product Manager →Web Developer →DevOps Engineer →Cybersecurity Analyst →

Data Scientist Salary in Other Cities

San Antonio, TX$100KJacksonville, FL$99KIndianapolis, IN$100KDetroit, MI$100KMemphis, TN$95KOklahoma City, OK$95KLas Vegas, NV$103KMilwaukee, WI$103K

Land a $98K+ Data Scientist Role in Louisville

Knowing the salary is step one. Step two: getting past the ATS. CVCraft scans your resume, finds missing keywords, and fixes formatting issues in 60 seconds.

Scan My Resume Free

No signup required · Works for all Technology roles