Accountant salary in Lawrence, KS
For this job Lawrence sits right at the Kansas figure, with a median of $79,050 a year1. That is about level with the Kansas statewide median of $79,000, and 5.5% below the US median of $83,680. Among US areas it comes in at #159 of 521. BLS counts about 400 people in this job here, 3% of the Kansas total.
BLS occupation 13-2011, area Lawrence, KS. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in Lawrence against Kansas and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lawrence, KS | $52,960 | $79,050 | $128,180 | |
| Kansas | $52,960 | $79,000 | $129,800 | |
| United States | $56,020 | $83,680 | $144,090 |
Accountants at the 90th percentile earn $128,180, 2.4 times the 10th percentile; the US ratio is 2.6. The middle half of accountants in Lawrence earns $63,830–$98,850. From the 25th to the 75th percentile, the local range is only $35,020 wide, against $37,690 across Kansas and $42,790 nationally: employers in Lawrence pay within a narrower band.
What to budget for an accountant here
| Point in the local range | Per year | Per month | Per hour | Employer cost per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $52,960 | $4,413 | $25.46 | $68,335 |
| 25th percentile | $63,830 | $5,319 | $30.69 | $82,361 |
| Median | $79,050 | $6,588 | $38.00 | $102,000 |
| 75th percentile | $98,850 | $8,238 | $47.52 | $127,548 |
| 90th percentile | $128,180 | $10,682 | $61.62 | $165,394 |
The step from the 25th percentile to the median is $15,220 a year; from the median to the 75th it is $19,800, or about $25,548 once benefits are added. These percentiles describe what people in the job earn locally, not experience levels, so place your offer by the tasks and seniority you need.
For scale, the US median of $83,680 falls between the median and the 75th percentile in Lawrence, and the Kansas statewide median of $79,000 falls between the 25th percentile and the median.
What a hire really costs in Lawrence
Pay is only part of it. Benefits and payroll taxes other than paid leave are 22.5% of total compensation in US private industry2, which adds about $22,950 to the $79,050 median and brings it to $102,000 a year. Recruiting, equipment and office space come on top. Benefit levels vary by employer, so treat this as an estimate.
We place executive assistants, customer support and e-commerce staff today; for accountants we answer within one business day whether we can help. Enter the monthly pay you have in mind to compare it with a local hire. The fee field shows our standard fee3; Deel's contractor plan is the default payroll tool4.
Other roles in Lawrence
Of the 13 roles we track in Lawrence, this one ranks #2 by median pay, after project coordinators ($93,420); sales development representatives come next at $78,410.
| Role | Median | vs accountant | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Project Coordinator | +18.2% | 150 | |
| Accountant | this role | 400 | |
| Sales Development Representative | -0.8% | 360 | |
| Executive Assistant | -15.1% | 140 | |
| Marketing Specialist | -15.2% | 260 |
Measured against the US median, accountants rank #5 of the 13 roles we track in Lawrence (-5.5%), between bookkeepers (-4.7%) and virtual receptionists (-6.8%). The typical role here is at -8.7%, so, measured against the US, accountants cost more in Lawrence than the area's general pay level would suggest. Accountants hold 7.3% of the jobs in these 13 roles in Lawrence, 8.8% across Kansas and 9.4% nationally. The job is a smaller part of the local workforce in these roles than it is nationally.
Other areas in Kansas
Across the 5 areas of Kansas with data for this job, the median runs from $65,900 in Manhattan to $79,270 in Wichita, a gap of $13,370 a year. Of the 4 areas in Kansas with more accountants than Lawrence, 3 pay less: the Kansas nonmetro area ($74,560), Topeka, KS ($76,280) and Manhattan, KS ($65,900).
| Area | Median | vs Lawrence | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wichita, KS | +0.3% | 3,120 | |
| Lawrence, KS | this area | 400 | |
| Topeka, KS | -3.5% | 1,420 | |
| Kansas (Nonmetro) | -5.7% | 2,740 | |
| Manhattan, KS | -16.6% | 470 |
Lawrence against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, Lawrence is #399 of 521 US areas for this job. The market is small, and its pay sits near the middle of the US range. Outside Kansas, Lansing-East Lansing and Huntsville pay just above Lawrence and Dayton-Kettering and Lynchburg just below. All four are within $170 a year of the median in Lawrence. Of the three markets with about as many accountants, none pays as much.
| Metro area | Median | vs Lawrence | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Huntsville, AL | +0.2% | 3,010 | pay | |
| Lansing-East Lansing, MI | +0.2% | 2,270 | pay | |
| Lawrence, KS | this area | 400 | ||
| Dayton-Kettering, OH | -0.0% | 2,640 | pay | |
| Lynchburg, VA | -0.1% | 680 | pay | |
| Mankato, MN | -3.0% | 400 | jobs | |
| Bangor, ME | -4.3% | 400 | jobs | |
| Alexandria, LA | -18.4% | 400 | jobs |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire an accountant in Lawrence, KS?
About $102,000 a year at the median, or $8,500 a month: $79,050 in pay plus about $22,950 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What do accountants earn in Lawrence?
The median was $79,050 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $52,960, the 90th $128,180, and the middle half earned $63,830 to $98,850.
Is Lawrence cheaper than the rest of Kansas for accountants?
About the same: a median of $79,050 against $79,000 statewide. The next area up in Kansas is Wichita at $79,270, the next down Topeka at $76,280.
How many accountants work in Lawrence?
BLS counts about 400 in the May 2025 survey. That is 3% of the Kansas total of 13,610. 4 areas in Kansas have more; the closest in size is Manhattan, with about 470.
Does an accountant cost more than a sales development representative in Lawrence?
Yes: $640 a year more at the median. The medians are $79,050 and $78,410.
Sources
4 sources, with links
- BLS OEWS May 2025, 13-2011: bls.gov
- BLS Employer Costs for Employee Compensation, private industry, June 2026: bls.gov
- Stafka pricing: stafka.com
- Deel pricing, contractor management: deel.com
How these pages are built: methodology and data sources. Last updated 2026-11-12.