The Kansas City, MO-KS metropolitan statistical area, as BLS defines it.
Pay data · metro area
Average Salary in Kansas City, MO-KS (2026)
The average salary in the Kansas City metro area is $66,550 a year and the median is $50,820: the same as the US median and 6% above Missouri's (BLS, May 2025). At national-average prices the median is worth $54,920, 64th of 387 metro areas.
- Average (mean) salary
- $66,550US $69,770
- Median salary
- $50,820US $50,980
- Median hourly
- $24.44BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Price level
- 92.5US = 100 · BEA 2024
The spread
What workers in Kansas City earn
| Percentile | Kansas City area | Missouri | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $30,510 | $29,780 | $31,200 |
| 25th | $37,600 | $36,160 | $37,590 |
| 50th (median) | $50,820 | $47,800 | $50,980 |
| 75th | $78,900 | $74,260 | $80,520 |
| 90th | $117,800 | $104,320 | $128,560 |
| Mean | $66,550 | $62,160 | $69,770 |
Prices
Cost of living in Kansas City
BEA Regional Price Parities put the Kansas City area at 92.5 against a US average of 100. Matching a $100,000 national-average lifestyle takes about $92,540 here. Compare with another city.
US = 100
- All items92.5
- Housing (rents)86.6
- Goods94.1
- Utilities89
- Other services93.4
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| All items | 92.5 |
| Housing (rents) | 86.6 |
| Goods | 94.1 |
| Utilities | 89 |
| Other services | 93.4 |
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024
Common jobs
What common jobs pay in Kansas City
Mean annual wage in the Kansas City area against the national mean for the same occupation (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
| Occupation | Kansas City area | US mean | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nurse | $87,730 | $101,420 | -13% |
| Software Developer | $121,950 | $148,100 | -18% |
| Elementary School Teacher | $61,540 | $72,650 | -15% |
| Accountant | $88,340 | $94,750 | -7% |
| Electrician | $77,670 | $71,490 | +9% |
| Truck Driver | $61,860 | $59,710 | +4% |
| Customer Service Representative | $45,970 | $46,590 | -1% |
| Retail Salesperson | $36,840 | $37,310 | -1% |
| Nursing Assistant | $42,000 | $42,700 | -2% |
| General and Operations Manager | $114,840 | $134,940 | -15% |
| Maintenance and Repair Worker, General | $53,330 | $53,780 | -1% |
| Cook, Restaurant | $38,670 | $38,730 | 0% |
The jobs
Best-paying jobs in Kansas City
BLS publishes estimates for 594 occupations in this metro. Highest mean pay, and the large occupations this area pays furthest above their national average.
Highest-paying jobs
Mean annual wage
- 1Family Medicine Physician$236,970
- 2Allergist and Immunologist$206,360
- 3Dentist$197,770
- 4Financial Manager$176,590
- 5IT Manager$171,930
- 6Architectural and Engineering Manager$168,440
- 7Lawyer$166,230
- 8Sales Manager$165,380
- 9Physicist$164,550
- 10Purchasing Manager$162,030
Jobs Kansas City pays above the national average
Occupations with 100,000+ US workers
- 1Team Assembler$56,720 · +22%
- 2Sheet Metal Worker$81,890 · +21%
- 3Inspector, Tester, Sorter, Sampler, and Weigher$62,800 · +17%
- 4Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setter, Operator, and Tender, Metal and Plastic$56,720 · +17%
- 5Packer and Packager, Hand$42,200 · +12%
- 6Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutter and Trimmer$43,410 · +11%
- 7Insurance Sales Agent$89,340 · +10%
- 8Plumber$79,040 · +10%
- 9Education Administrator, Postsecondary$137,920 · +9%
- 10Electrician$77,670 · +9%
Compare
Other metro areas in Missouri
Method
About these numbers
- All-occupations wages for the metro are BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025 estimates (api.bls.gov). Wage and salary workers only; excludes the self-employed.
- Pay by occupation is the OEWS May 2025 mean for that occupation in this metro, as published in the Department of Labor’s 2026–27 prevailing-wage file. Only figures BLS estimated for this metro itself are used, never state or national fallbacks.
- Price levels are BEA Regional Price Parities for 2024. Price-adjusted pay is a NueCareer calculation (wage ÷ RPP/100).
Questions
Average salary in Kansas City: FAQ
What is the average salary in Kansas City?
Across all occupations in the Kansas City, MO-KS metro area, the average (mean) annual wage is $66,550 and the median is $50,820, the same as the US median (BLS OEWS, May 2025). That covers 1,096,110 wage and salary jobs.
What is a good salary in Kansas City?
Above $50,820 out-earns half of workers in the Kansas City area; the top 25% start at $78,900 and the top 10% at $117,800. Prices run 7% below the national average (BEA, 2024), so matching a $100,000 national-average lifestyle takes about $92,540 here.
Is Kansas City expensive to live in?
BEA's price level for the Kansas City metro is 92.5 (US = 100, 2024). Housing rents are 86.6, goods 94.1, utilities 89.0. At local prices the median wage is worth $54,920, 64th of 387 metros.
What are the highest-paying jobs in Kansas City?
By mean annual wage: Family Medicine Physician ($236,970), Allergist and Immunologist ($206,360), Dentist ($197,770), Financial Manager ($176,590), IT Manager ($171,930) (BLS OEWS May 2025, via the DOL wage file).