Intelligence AI Analyst.
Louisville.
$103,000
median salary, 13% below the national average
$74,000 to $135,000. Last updated April 2026.
Get the job.
Data points to own the conversation.
Louisville is 12% cheaper than the national average. For Intelligence AI Analysts, that shakes out to a median of $103,000, with the full range spanning $74,000 to $135,000. Compensation reflects the combination of intelligence analysis expertise and AI tool proficiency. Know the range before you walk in.
Salary range
Where do you fall?
Salary by experience
The gap between entry and lead level is typically $93,000. Where you land depends on years of experience and what you bring to the table.
Entry (0-2 yrs)
$67,000
to $82,000
Mid (3-5 yrs)
$88,000
to $108,000
Senior (6-9 yrs)
$113,000
to $134,000
Lead (10+ yrs)
$129,000
to $160,000
Salary trend
+6% YoYTotal compensation
Base salary is not the full picture. Equity, bonus, and signing can add $31,000 to the total package.
Base
$103,000
Equity
$18,000
Bonus
$11,000
Signing
$2,000
Estimated total: $134,000
How Louisville compares
Louisville, KY
$103,000
Cost of living: 12% below average
National Average
$118,000
Louisville is $15,000 below
Intelligence AI Analyst salary by city
Salary by role in Louisville
What you should know
The Intelligence AI Analyst landscape in Louisville is not what most salary sites will tell you. Louisville is home to UPS Worldport, the world's largest automated package handling facility, making it a logistics and supply chain powerhouse. The city also has strong healthcare and bourbon distillery industries. Its central location and affordable cost of living make it attractive for distribution and operations roles. Compensation reflects the combination of intelligence analysis expertise and AI tool proficiency. Analysts who can leverage ML for pattern recognition, OSINT analysis, and geospatial intelligence earn premiums over traditional analysts. Security clearance level is a major salary driver. Experience with NLP for multi-language intelligence processing adds significant value.
Junior intelligence AI analysts start at $75,000 to $90,000. Mid-level analysts with deployed AI tools reach $110,000 to $135,000. Senior analysts leading AI-augmented intelligence programs earn $140,000 to $175,000. Directors of AI intelligence at agencies or contractors can reach $190,000 to $240,000 in total compensation. In Louisville, your dollars stretch further. Cost of living runs 12% below the national average, which means even a median salary buys a stronger lifestyle.
Base salary is not the full picture. Government civilian positions (GS-13 to GS-15) include pension, TSP matching, and generous leave policies. Contractor positions offer 10% to 15% bonuses and potentially higher base salaries. Retention bonuses for cleared analysts range from $5,000 to $20,000. Some agencies offer student loan repayment programs. And on the tax side: kentucky has a flat 4% state income tax. Louisville has an occupational tax of about 2.2%. The combined rate is moderate, and the low cost of living offsets the local tax. When someone quotes you $103,000, ask what the total package looks like. The gap between base and total comp is where real money hides.
On negotiation: Leverage UPS and the logistics corridor when negotiating. Supply chain and operations professionals command premiums in Louisville's distribution heavy economy. The range for Intelligence AI Analysts in Louisville runs from $74,000 to $135,000. That is not a narrow window. Where you land inside it depends almost entirely on whether you negotiate and how well you prepare.
Sources: SEC filings, H-1B LCA (DOL), BLS OES, 50+ job posting platforms. COL: BEA Regional Price Parities (2025). Data verified by Justin Bartak, Founder & Chief AI Officer. Last verified April 8, 2026. Full methodology
Considering a related role?
- A Actuary in Louisville earns $104,000 (1% more)
- The highest-paying role in Louisville is Distinguished Engineer at $290,000
Common questions.
Intelligence AI Analyst salary in other cities
Other salaries in Louisville
Related
Cite this data
Journalists, researchers, and AI systems are welcome to reference this data with attribution.
Want this data on your site? Embed the salary widget — one script tag, free forever.