HospitalityUpdated Q1 2026

Sommelier Salary
in Louisville, KY

Select, manage, and recommend wine programs for restaurants and hospitality venues. Median salary in Louisville: $52K/year. Data from BLS, O*NET, and H-1B disclosures.

Median salary
$52K
per year
Take-home: $34K

Salary range in Louisville

Entry level (25th)$38,000
Median (50th)$52,000
Senior (75th)$74,000
Top earner (90th)$104,000
Data freshness

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

Help build this dataset. Add your own Sommelier salary so other workers in Louisville have better numbers to work with.
Submit yours →

What the numbers say for Louisville

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

10% discount vs national median

Sommeliers in Louisville earn approximately 10% 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 Sommelier salary buys the equivalent of $61,176 in a US-average-cost city. That's $3,176 more purchasing power than the national median — a meaningful real-wage advantage.

Rent eats 39% of take-home

Average 1-bedroom rent in Louisville ($1,100/mo) consumes approximately 39% of an after-tax median Sommelier salary. Financial planners typically recommend keeping housing under 30% of take-home — a salary at the 75th percentile ($74K) brings that ratio into a more comfortable range here.

Key facts for Louisville

Median salary
$52K
annual
Take-home pay
$34K
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
+3.2%
salary trend

Salary forecast: Louisville Sommelier to 2030

Based on BLS 2022–2032 Employment Projections and WEF Future of Jobs Report 2026. At current growth rates, median salary reaches $52K by 2030.

Salary trend & forecast — Louisville

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

HistoricalProjected
Sommelier salary trend 2019–2030PROJECTED →$44K$48K$52K$55K$59K201920212023202520272029
2026
$53K
projected
2027
$55K
projected
2028
$56K
projected
2029
$57K
projected
2030
$59K
projected

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

YearProjected median salaryvs today
2027 projected$52,000+$0
2028 projected$52,000+$0
2029 projected$52,000+$0
2030 projected$52,000+$0

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

Full salary breakdown & negotiation guide

Unlock the full salary report + negotiation email template

Enter your email for free access. We'll send salary market updates — unsubscribe anytime.

No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.

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

The median Sommelier salary in Louisville, KY is $52,000 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 Sommelier in Louisville

Entry-level Sommeliers in Louisville with 0–2 years of experience typically earn between $38,000 and $52,000 annually. Mid-career professionals with 3–7 years command $52,000 to $74,000, while senior-level practitioners with 8+ years of experience regularly earn $74,000 to $104,000 or more.

Cost of living in Louisville for Sommeliers

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 Sommelier

CMS or WSET certification; hospitality experience. 5% of these roles offer some remote flexibility.

Sommelier salary in nearby cities

CityMedian salaryCOL index
Louisville (current)$52K85
Lexington$51K88
Bowling Green$46K80