Atmospheric and Space Scientists Salary
The median pay for a atmospheric and space scientists in Kansas City, MO-KS is $117,810/year ($56.64/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $84K at the entry level to $152K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 92.54), which stretches that salary to about $127,307 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,358/month, or 18.2% of estimated take-home pay.
Where the paycheck goes
What $118K actually covers in Kansas City, month by month
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 atmospheric and space scientists
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What this looks like in Kansas City
Kansas City sits well above the national pay line for atmospheric and space scientists, local pay runs about 19% higher than the U.S. median of $99K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,358/month, 18.9% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. 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. Combined with manageable housing costs, Kansas City offers a genuinely strong financial position for atmospheric and space scientists at the median.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for atmospheric and space scientists in metros near Kansas City, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| St. Louis | $112K | $117K |
| Des Moines-West Des Moines | $77K | $84K |
| Oklahoma City | $76K | $85K |
| Memphis | $79K | $86K |
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 atmospheric and space scientists (10th percentile) start around $84K. Mid-career wages sit at $118K. Top earners bring in $152K or more, a $68K spread from bottom to top.
Atmospheric and Space Scientists pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Atmospheric and Space Scientists salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maryland | $129K | +30% | 750 |
| California | $125K | +26% | 510 |
| Hawaii | $121K | +22% | 70 |
| New Jersey | $120K | +21% | 60 |
| Idaho | $119K | +21% | 50 |
| New York | $118K | +19% | 370 |
| Florida | $116K | +17% | 270 |
| Arizona | $115K | +16% | 80 |
| Missouri | $114K | +15% | 160 |
| Illinois | $112K | +13% | 110 |
| Oregon | $112K | +13% | 100 |
| New Mexico | $110K | +11% | 60 |
| Nevada | $109K | +10% | 120 |
| Kansas | $109K | +10% | 80 |
| Montana | $109K | +10% | 70 |
| Massachusetts | $108K | +9% | N/A |
| Minnesota | $106K | +7% | 50 |
| Colorado | $105K | +6% | 1,150 |
| District of Columbia | $104K | +5% | 70 |
| Maine | $104K | +5% | 50 |
| Indiana | $104K | +5% | 80 |
| Kentucky | $103K | +4% | 100 |
| Michigan | $103K | +4% | 150 |
| Wyoming | $100K | +1% | 40 |
| Louisiana | $97K | -2% | 70 |
| Georgia | $97K | -2% | 170 |
| Utah | $97K | -3% | 170 |
| Tennessee | $96K | -3% | 230 |
| Washington | $94K | -5% | 190 |
| Alaska | $94K | -5% | N/A |
| North Carolina | $92K | -8% | 170 |
| North Dakota | $92K | -8% | 40 |
| Wisconsin | $86K | -13% | 280 |
| Connecticut | $85K | -14% | 50 |
| Texas | $85K | -14% | 720 |
| Virginia | $84K | -15% | 350 |
| South Carolina | $82K | -17% | 150 |
| Alabama | $81K | -18% | 340 |
| West Virginia | $81K | -19% | 40 |
| South Dakota | $79K | -20% | 130 |
| Ohio | $79K | -21% | 160 |
| Iowa | $77K | -22% | 100 |
| Oklahoma | $76K | -23% | 420 |
| Pennsylvania | $76K | -23% | 160 |
| Arkansas | $72K | -27% | N/A |
| Nebraska | $61K | -39% | 160 |
| New Hampshire | $43K | -57% | 130 |
Showing 1–10 of 47 states with published data
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track atmospheric and space scientists salary changes
BLS updates this data annually. We'll email you when Kansas City numbers change.
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Quick answers
The stuff people actually ask about this job
Can a atmospheric and space scientist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Kansas City?
Yes — at the median salary of $118K, rent takes 18.9% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,358/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for atmospheric and space scientists in Kansas City?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new atmospheric and space scientists typically earn — is $84K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $5,345/month. At HUD’s $1,358/month FMR, rent would take 25% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is atmospheric and space scientist a high-paying job in Kansas City?
Local pay is 19% above the national median — $118K here vs. $99K nationally.
How does Kansas City compare to the national average for atmospheric and space scientists?
Kansas City pays $118K median vs. the U.S. average of $99K — that’s +19%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 92.54), the purchasing-power equivalent is $127K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do atmospheric and space scientists make in Kansas City, MO-KS?
The median is $117,810 a year, that works out to about $57 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $83,820, and experienced atmospheric and space scientists can clear $151,860. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $118K enough to live in Kansas City?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $7,202/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,358/month, which eats 18.9% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a atmospheric and space 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 atmospheric and space scientists salary is worth about $127,307 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do atmospheric and space 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.