Human Resources Specialists Salary
In Kansas, human resources specialists earn $70,870 at the median, or about $34.07 an hour. The range runs from $47K at the entry level to $116K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 89.54), which stretches that salary to about $79,149 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,066/month, or 22.9% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Kansas. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $71K get you in Kansas?
About human resources specialists
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What this looks like in Kansas
Human resources specialists pay in Kansas tracks closely to the national median, $71K locally vs. $76K nationwide, a 7% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,066/month, 23.3% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 89.54 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 10% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Kansas
Entry-level human resources specialists (10th percentile) start around $47K. Mid-career wages sit at $71K. Top earners bring in $116K or more, a $69K spread from bottom to top.
Human Resources Specialists salary by metro in Kansas
4 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Topeka | $77K | +8% | 720 |
| Manhattan | $76K | +8% | 500 |
| Wichita | $65K | -8% | 1,380 |
| Lawrence | $64K | -10% | 230 |
Compare to other states
Track human resources specialists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Kansas numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a human resources specialist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Kansas?
Yes — at the median salary of $71K, rent takes 23.3% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,066/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for human resources specialists in Kansas?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new human resources specialists typically earn — is $47K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,840/month. At HUD’s $1,066/month FMR, rent would take 38% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is human resources specialist a high-paying job in Kansas?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $71K locally vs. $76K nationally, a 7% difference.
How does Kansas compare to the national average for human resources specialists?
Kansas pays $71K median vs. the U.S. average of $76K — that’s -7%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 89.54), the purchasing-power equivalent is $79K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do human resources specialists make in Kansas?
The median is $70,870 a year, that works out to about $34 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $47,340, and experienced human resources specialists can clear $115,920. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $71K enough to live in Kansas?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,572/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,066/month, which eats 23.3% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a human resources specialists salary go in Kansas?
Kansas has a Regional Price Parity of 89.54 (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 human resources specialists salary is worth about $79,149 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do human resources specialists 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.
