ScienceUpdated Q1 2026

Biologist Salary
in Louisville, KY

Study living organisms and their relationships to each other and the environment. Median salary in Louisville: $72K/year. Data from BLS, O*NET, and H-1B disclosures.

Median salary
$72K
per year
Take-home: $47K

Salary range in Louisville

Entry level (25th)$51,000
Median (50th)$72,000
Senior (75th)$97,000
Top earner (90th)$129,000
Data freshness

Figures represent annual base salary in Louisville, Kentucky. Reviewed by SalaryOptics Editorial · How we calculate this →

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What the numbers say for Louisville

Analysis derived from the salary, COL, tax, and labor-market figures above — specific to this role and city.

8% discount vs national median

Biologists in Louisville earn approximately 8% lower than the US national median for this role — a $6,000 discount on annual base salary. Louisville's lower wage level partially reflects the area's cost-of-living index of 85 (US avg = 100).

Cost-of-living adjusted picture

Adjusted for Louisville's cost-of-living index (85), the median Biologist salary buys the equivalent of $84,706 in a US-average-cost city. That's $6,706 more purchasing power than the national median — a meaningful real-wage advantage.

Rent eats 28% of take-home

Average 1-bedroom rent in Louisville ($1,100/mo) consumes approximately 28% of an after-tax median Biologist salary. Financial planners typically recommend keeping housing under 30% of take-home — a salary at the 75th percentile ($97K) brings that ratio into a more comfortable range here.

Key facts for Louisville

Median salary
$72K
annual
Take-home pay
$47K
after fed/state tax
COL index
85
100 = US avg
State income tax
5%
effective rate
Avg 1BR rent
$1,100
per month
YoY growth
+3.5%
salary trend

Salary forecast: Louisville Biologist to 2030

Based on BLS 2022–2032 Employment Projections and WEF Future of Jobs Report 2026. At current growth rates, median salary reaches $72K by 2030.

Salary trend & forecast — Louisville

Historical (2019–2025) + projected to 2030 based on BLS growth rates

HistoricalProjected
Biologist salary trend 2019–2030PROJECTED →$60K$65K$71K$76K$81K201920212023202520272029
2026
$74K
projected
2027
$76K
projected
2028
$78K
projected
2029
$79K
projected
2030
$81K
projected

Projections based on BLS Employment Projections 2022–2032 CAGR and WEF Jobs Report 2025. Not financial advice.

YearProjected median salaryvs today
2027 projected$72,000+$0
2028 projected$72,000+$0
2029 projected$72,000+$0
2030 projected$72,000+$0

Projections use compound annual growth rate (CAGR) from BLS occupational outlook data. Actual salaries may vary.

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Biologist Salary in Louisville, Kentucky: Complete Guide (2026)

The median Biologist salary in Louisville, KY is $72,000 per year as of Q1 2026. This figure represents the midpoint of all reported compensation for this role in the Louisville–KY metropolitan area, based on data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment Statistics, H-1B visa disclosures from the Department of Labor, and O*NET occupational data.

Salary range for Biologist in Louisville

Entry-level Biologists in Louisville with 0–2 years of experience typically earn between $51,000 and $72,000 annually. Mid-career professionals with 3–7 years command $72,000 to $97,000, while senior-level practitioners with 8+ years of experience regularly earn $97,000 to $129,000 or more.

Cost of living in Louisville for Biologists

Louisville has a cost of living index of 85 compared to the US national average of 100. This means your salary goes approximately 15% further in Louisville than the national average. Kentucky has a 5% state income tax rate.

Education requirements for Biologist

Bachelor's or PhD in Biology. 25% of these roles offer some remote flexibility.

Biologist salary in nearby cities

CityMedian salaryCOL index
Louisville (current)$72K85
Lexington$69K88
Bowling Green$62K80