Kansas City Hourly Wage & Salary 2026
Kansas City, KS: $24.44/hr median hourly wage, $50,820 median annual salary, cost of living index 85, and $7.25/hr minimum wage. Calculate take-home pay with federal and Kansas taxes.
Kansas City Hourly Wage Quick Answer
The median hourly wage in Kansas City, KS is $24.44/hr,and the median annual wage is $50,820. Entry-level pay estimates around $15.15/hr, senior-level pay estimates around $34.70/hr, and the local minimum wage is $7.25/hr.
Median figures: BLS OEWS May 2025, all occupations, Kansas City, MO-KS metropolitan statistical area (1,096,110 jobs). BLS publishes wages by metro area, not by city, so Kansas City shares this figure with the rest of its metro. Entry and senior levels are Salario estimates.
Median Salary
$50,820
$24.44/hr
Cost of Living
85
US avg = 100
Minimum Wage
$7.25
per hour
Unemployment
3.8%
rate
Kansas City, KS Overview
Population
156,607
Median Salary
$50,820
Average Salary
$66,550
Avg Commute
23 min
Median Home Price
$160,000
Median Rent
$900/mo
Job Growth
+1.5%
Sales Tax
9.13%
Kansas City is located in Kansas with a population of 156,607. The median annual wage across all occupations is $50,820 ($24.44/hour, BLS OEWS May 2025, Kansas City, MO-KS metro), which is $160 below the national median of $50,980. The national median is the BLS OEWS May 2025 all-occupations median annual wage. The average commute time is 23 minutes, and the city has a job growth rate of +1.5%.
Kansas City Salary by Experience Level (2026)
Wage distribution in Kansas City, KS built around the $50,820 median salary (BLS OEWS May 2025, all occupations, Kansas City, MO-KS metro). Entry-level represents 10th–25th percentile; mid-level is the median; senior-level represents 75th–90th percentile. The non-median rows are Salario estimates.
| Experience Level | Annual Salary | Hourly Wage | Years Exp |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry-Level | $31,508 | $15.15/hr | 0–2 years |
| Mid-Level (Median) | $50,820 | $24.44/hr | 3–7 years |
| Senior-Level | $72,164 | $34.70/hr | 8–15 years |
| Top 10% (90th Percentile) | $90,460 | $43.50/hr | 15+ years / leadership |
Percentile multipliers (62%, 100%, 142%, 178%) are Salario approximations of the typical all-occupations wage spread in BLS OEWS metro tables; only the median row is a published BLS value. Specific roles vary; see jobs by city for role-specific data.
Kansas City Paycheck Calculator
Enter your annual salary to see your estimated take-home pay in Kansas City, KS, after federal, state, and local taxes.
Estimated Annual Take-Home Pay
$40,467
$3,372.22/month · $1,556.41/biweekly · Effective Rate: 20.4%
Biweekly paycheck estimate: this salary equals about $1,556.41 take-home per paycheck after estimated Kansas and federal taxes. For the 26-paycheck formula, three-paycheck months, and withholding examples, see the Biweekly Paycheck Calculator.
Gross Pay
$50,820
Federal Tax
-$3,918
State Tax
-$2,547
Local Tax
$0
FICA
-$3,888
Net Pay
$40,467
Pay Breakdown
| Item | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary | $4,235.00 | $50,820.00 |
| Federal Income Tax | -$326.53 | -$3,918.40 |
| Kansas State Tax (5.01% eff.) | -$212.27 | -$2,547.20 |
| Social Security (6.2%) | -$262.57 | -$3,150.84 |
| Medicare (1.45%) | -$61.41 | -$736.89 |
| Net Take-Home Pay | $3,372.22 | $40,466.67 |
Salary Comparison: Kansas City vs Other Cities
See how Kansas City's median salary and cost of living compare to the national average and similar cities.
| City | Median Salary | COL Index | Adj. Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kansas City, KS | $50,820 | 85 | $59,788 |
| National Average | $50,980 | 100 | $50,980 |
| Overland Park, KS | $50,820 | 102 | $49,824 |
| Olathe, KS | $50,820 | 100 | $50,820 |
| Kansas City, MO | $50,820 | 90 | $56,467 |
| Independence, MO | $50,820 | 86 | $59,093 |
Adjusted salary reflects purchasing power when cost of living is factored in. A higher adjusted salary means your money goes further.
Cost of Living in Kansas City
Kansas City's cost of living index is 85 (national average = 100). Living in Kansas City is 15% less expensive than the national average.
Median Home Price
$160,000
Median Monthly Rent
$900
Annual Rent Cost
$10,800
Your Salary's Purchasing Power
Your $40,467 annual take-home pay in Kansas City has the purchasing power of approximately $47,608 in an average-cost US area. Your $50,820 salary stretches further here than in most US cities.
Top Industries in Kansas City
Kansas City's economy is driven by these key industries. Workers in top industries often earn significantly above the median salary of $50,820.
Salary Tips for Kansas City Workers
- Your salary goes further here. Kansas City has a cost of living 15% below the national average. A salary of $50,820 here has the purchasing power of about $59,788 in an average-cost area.
- Maximize pre-tax deductions. With a top 5.58% state income tax rate, maximizing 401(k) contributions (up to $24,500 in 2026) and HSA contributions can significantly reduce both your federal and state tax burden.
- Research top industries. Kansas City's top industries include Manufacturing, Logistics, Healthcare. Targeting roles in these sectors can help you earn above the $50,820 median salary.
- Review your W-4 withholding. If you regularly receive large tax refunds, adjust your W-4 to increase your per-paycheck take-home pay instead of giving the government an interest-free loan.
Methodology & Local Economy Data Sources
How we calculate Kansas City salary data: The median annual wage, median hourly wage and mean wage are the official BLS OEWS May 2025 all-occupations values for the Kansas City, MO-KS metropolitan statistical area, retrieved from the BLS Public Data API on September 17, 2026. BLS does not publish city-level wages, so every city inside that metro shows the same figure. The entry/senior/top-10% rows, the paycheck estimate and the purchasing-power conversion are Salario calculations built on that median. Cost-of-living adjustments use the C2ER Cost of Living Index baseline of 100 (national average), with Kansas City indexed at 85.
- Median salary: $50,820 annual, $24.44 hourly, BLS OEWS May 2025, all occupations, Kansas City, MO-KS MSA (1,096,110 jobs surveyed). Mean wage $66,550 (BLS). Salario's previous modeled median for Kansas City was $52,500.
- Tax burden reflects Kansas 2026 state income tax brackets and standard deduction (top rate 5.58%) (no local income tax), sales tax (9.13%), and federal taxes per IRS 2026 brackets.
- Unemployment rate for Kansas City: 3.8%, sourced from BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS).
- Top industries: Manufacturing, Logistics, Healthcare, based on QCEW employment concentration data.
- Job growth: 1.5% projected through 2034, derived from BLS Employment Projections program for Kansas.
- Housing context: median home price $160,000, median rent $900/mo, sourced from Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
Authoritative US data sources for Kansas City, KS:
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), metropolitan area salary data
- BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, Kansas City unemployment rate
- U.S. Census Bureau, Kansas City QuickFacts, population, housing, demographics
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW), county-level industry employment
- BLS Economy at a Glance, Kansas, state economic indicators
- U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), local GDP and personal income data
- BLS Consumer Price Index (CPI-U), regional inflation tracking
Disclaimer: Salary and cost data are estimates for general guidance. Individual compensation varies by employer, experience, education, negotiation, and skills. Kansas City's rapidly changing economy can shift these baselines, always verify with current job listings, employer offers, and recent Kansas labor market reports for the most current figures.
Reviewed by Harlan Voss · Last updated September 17, 2026 · Wage figures: BLS OEWS May 2025 release (published May 2026) · Census data current as of latest releases
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the hourly wage in Kansas City, KS?
The median hourly wage in Kansas City, KS is $24.44 per hour, the BLS OEWS May 2025 median for all occupations in the Kansas City, MO-KS metropolitan area, and the BLS median annual wage is $50,820. Entry-level workers are estimated around $15.15/hr, while senior-level workers are estimated around $34.70/hr before overtime, bonuses, or benefits (Salario estimates, not BLS percentiles).
What is the median salary in Kansas City, KS?
The median salary in Kansas City, KS is $50,820 per year, or $24.44 per hour (BLS OEWS May 2025, all occupations, Kansas City, MO-KS metro area). The BLS mean salary is $66,550. This is $160 below the BLS national median of $50,980.
What is the cost of living in Kansas City, KS?
Kansas City's cost of living index is 85 (national average = 100), meaning it is 15% less expensive compared to the national average. The median home price is $160,000 and the median monthly rent is $900.
What are the best industries in Kansas City?
The top industries in Kansas City, KS include Manufacturing, Logistics, Healthcare. The city has a job growth rate of 1.5% and an unemployment rate of 3.8%. Workers in these industries often earn above the city's median salary of $50,820.
How does Kansas City's salary compare to other cities?
Kansas City's median salary of $50,820 is 0.3% below the national median of $50,980. However, when adjusted for cost of living (index: 85), the real purchasing power is approximately $59,788.
What is the minimum wage in Kansas City, KS?
The minimum wage in Kansas City, KS is $7.25 per hour. This equals approximately $15,080 per year for a full-time worker (40 hours/week). This matches the federal minimum wage of $7.25/hour.