HealthcareUpdated Q1 2026

Surgeon Salary
in Louisville, KY

Perform surgical operations to treat injuries, diseases, and deformities. Median salary in Louisville: $365K/year. Data from BLS, O*NET, and H-1B disclosures.

Median salary
$365K
per year
Take-home: $239K

Salary range in Louisville

Entry level (25th)$269,000
Median (50th)$365,000
Senior (75th)$480,000
Top earner (90th)$624,000
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.

4% discount vs national median

Surgeons in Louisville earn approximately 4% lower than the US national median for this role — a $15,000 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 Surgeon salary buys the equivalent of $429,412 in a US-average-cost city. That's $49,412 more purchasing power than the national median — a meaningful real-wage advantage.

Primarily on-site role

Only 2% of Surgeon positions offer remote flexibility, meaning the Louisville salary above represents what local employers actually pay — not a remote-anywhere rate. Geographic constraints reinforce the local market, so the salary range above is more directly applicable than for remote-friendly roles.

Key facts for Louisville

Median salary
$365K
annual
Take-home pay
$239K
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
+2.5%
salary trend

Salary forecast: Louisville Surgeon to 2030

Based on BLS 2022–2032 Employment Projections and WEF Future of Jobs Report 2026. At current growth rates, median salary reaches $365K by 2030.

Salary trend & forecast — Louisville

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

HistoricalProjected
Surgeon salary trend 2019–2030PROJECTED →$306K$333K$360K$386K$413K201920212023202520272029
2026
$374K
projected
2027
$383K
projected
2028
$393K
projected
2029
$403K
projected
2030
$413K
projected

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

YearProjected median salaryvs today
2027 projected$365,000+$0
2028 projected$365,000+$0
2029 projected$365,000+$0
2030 projected$365,000+$0

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

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

The median Surgeon salary in Louisville, KY is $365,000 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 Surgeon in Louisville

Entry-level Surgeons in Louisville with 0–2 years of experience typically earn between $269,000 and $365,000 annually. Mid-career professionals with 3–7 years command $365,000 to $480,000, while senior-level practitioners with 8+ years of experience regularly earn $480,000 to $624,000 or more.

Cost of living in Louisville for Surgeons

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 Surgeon

MD; surgical residency and board certification. 2% of these roles offer some remote flexibility.

Surgeon salary in nearby cities

CityMedian salaryCOL index
Louisville (current)$365K85
Lexington$334K88
Bowling Green$304K80