Animal Scientists Salary
The median pay for a animal scientists in Kansas City, MO-KS is $63,300/year ($30.43/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $61K at the entry level to $124K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 92.54), which stretches that salary to about $68,403 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,358/month, about 32.6% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $63K get you in Kansas City?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Kansas City’s Regional Price Parity (92.54). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About animal scientists
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What this looks like in Kansas City
Animal scientists pay in Kansas City tracks closely to the national median, $63K locally vs. $69K nationwide, a 8% difference. Rent runs $1,358/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 32.2% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 92.54 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 7% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Pay and costs are both near average, leaving limited margin for savings at the median wage.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for animal scientists in metros near Kansas City, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Lincoln | $79K | $87K |
| Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers | $240K | $263K |
| Omaha | $74K | $80K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Kansas City, MO-KS
Entry-level animal scientists (10th percentile) start around $61K. Mid-career wages sit at $63K. Top earners bring in $124K or more, a $64K spread from bottom to top.
Animal Scientists pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Animal Scientists salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | $133K | +93% | 40 |
| Minnesota | $89K | +29% | 100 |
| Wisconsin | $84K | +22% | 280 |
| Washington | $83K | +21% | 40 |
| Kansas | $80K | +16% | N/A |
| Maryland | $78K | +13% | 190 |
| Pennsylvania | $78K | +13% | 90 |
| South Dakota | $77K | +12% | 90 |
| Iowa | $75K | +9% | 60 |
| North Dakota | $72K | +5% | 40 |
| Michigan | $60K | -13% | 80 |
| Nebraska | $55K | -20% | 210 |
| Illinois | $48K | -30% | N/A |
Showing 1–10 of 13 states
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track animal scientists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Kansas City numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a animal scientist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Kansas City?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $63K, rent takes 32.2% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,358/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,300/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for animal scientists in Kansas City?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new animal scientists typically earn — is $61K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,636/month. At HUD’s $1,358/month FMR, rent would take 37% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is animal scientist a high-paying job in Kansas City?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $63K locally vs. $69K nationally, a 8% difference.
How does Kansas City compare to the national average for animal scientists?
Kansas City pays $63K median vs. the U.S. average of $69K — that’s -8%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 92.54), the purchasing-power equivalent is $68K — below the national median.
How much do animal scientists make in Kansas City, MO-KS?
The median is $63,300 a year, that works out to about $30 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $60,600, and experienced animal scientists can clear $124,300. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $63K enough to live in Kansas City?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,223/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,358/month, which eats 32.2% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a animal scientists salary go in Kansas City?
Kansas City has a Regional Price Parity of 92.54 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median animal scientists salary is worth about $68,403 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do animal scientists get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.