Cost of hiring a customer support specialist in Kansas City, MO-KS
Pay for this job in Kansas City tracks the wider market: a median of $44,350 a year[1], about level with the Missouri statewide median of $44,190 and about level with the US median of $44,770. Nationally it ranks #162 of 520 areas. About 22,240 customer support specialists work here.
BLS occupation 43-4051, area Kansas City, MO-KS. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in Kansas City against Missouri and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kansas City, MO-KS | $31,420 | $44,350 | $62,510 | |
| Missouri | $31,980 | $44,190 | $63,890 | |
| United States | $31,750 | $44,770 | $63,590 |
Customer support specialists at the 90th percentile earn $62,510, 2.0 times the 10th percentile; the US ratio is 2.0. The middle half of customer support specialists in Kansas City earns $36,870–$50,010.
What to budget for a customer support specialist here
| Point in the local range | Per year | Per month | Per hour | Employer cost per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $31,420 | $2,618 | $15.11 | $44,886 |
| 25th percentile | $36,870 | $3,072 | $17.73 | $52,671 |
| Median | $44,350 | $3,696 | $21.32 | $63,357 |
| 75th percentile | $50,010 | $4,168 | $24.04 | $71,443 |
| 90th percentile | $62,510 | $5,209 | $30.05 | $89,300 |
The step from the 25th percentile to the median is $7,480 a year; from the median to the 75th it is $5,660, or about $8,086 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.
What a hire really costs in Kansas City
At the $44,350 median, a local hire costs about $63,357 a year: benefits and payroll taxes are 30.0% of total compensation in US private industry[2], about $19,007 here. Recruiting, equipment and office space come on top. Benefit levels vary by employer, so treat this as an estimate.
Our open customer support specialist roles pay $700–$1,000 a month under a direct contract. The one-time fee is $2,500–$3,000[3] with a 180-day replacement; paying through Deel adds $49 a month[4]. Change any number below to match your plan.
For the $63,357 a local hire costs here, you could cover about 4.8 remote hires in year one at the midpoint of our range. From year two the fee drops out and the remote figure is $10,788. About the candidates: most apply through our Telegram bot with a written and a voice English task; each profile shows the English level (B1–C2); Silkstaff checks English on a live call before any client interview.
Other roles in Kansas City
Of the 17 roles we track in Kansas City, this one ranks #15 by median pay. Project Coordinator is the highest at $101,050 and Virtual Receptionist the lowest at $37,210.
| Role | Median | vs customer support specialist | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Project Coordinator | +127.8% | 8,380 | |
| Accountant | +80.5% | 11,260 | |
| Recruiter | +69.5% | 6,950 | |
| Marketing Specialist | +63.7% | 6,920 | |
| Office Manager | +50.6% | 8,860 | |
| Sales Development Representative | +46.4% | 9,250 | |
| Executive Assistant | +45.3% | 2,940 | |
| Paralegal | +44.0% | 2,900 | |
| Payroll Specialist | +27.6% | 1,260 | |
| HR Assistant | +17.6% | 400 | |
| Bookkeeper | +14.9% | 8,780 | |
| E-commerce Order Specialist | +7.6% | 290 | |
| Administrative Assistant | +5.5% | 15,930 | |
| Medical Administrative Assistant | +1.8% | 4,680 | |
| Customer Support Specialist | this role | 22,240 | |
| Data Entry Specialist | -12.3% | 920 | |
| Virtual Receptionist | -16.1% | 6,750 |
Other areas in Missouri
Across the 12 areas of Missouri with data for this job, the median runs from $36,060 in the North Missouri nonmetro area to $45,800 in St. Louis, a gap of $9,740 a year.
| Area | Median | vs Kansas City | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| St. Louis, MO-IL | +3.3% | 23,760 | |
| Kansas City, MO-KS | this area | 22,240 | |
| St. Joseph, MO-KS | -3.4% | 780 | |
| Joplin, MO-KS | -5.6% | 1,080 | |
| Columbia, MO | -7.1% | 1,870 | |
| Jefferson City, MO | -12.1% | 1,360 | |
| Springfield, MO | -12.1% | 4,120 |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire a customer support specialist in Kansas City, MO-KS?
About $63,357 a year at the median, or $5,280 a month: $44,350 in pay plus benefits and payroll taxes at the 30% share of total compensation in US private industry (June 2026). Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What is the pay range for customer support specialists in Kansas City?
The median was $44,350 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $31,420, the 90th $62,510, and the middle half earned $36,870 to $50,010.
Is Kansas City cheaper than the rest of Missouri for customer support specialists?
About the same: a median of $44,350 against $44,190 statewide. St. Louis pays the most ($45,800) and the North Missouri nonmetro area the least ($36,060).
How many customer support specialists work in Kansas City?
BLS counts about 22,240 in the May 2025 survey.
Does a customer support specialist cost more than a data entry specialist in Kansas City?
Yes: $5,440 a year more at the median. The medians are $44,350 and $38,910.
What does a remote customer support specialist cost compared with Kansas City?
Our open roles pay $700–$1,000 a month. At the midpoint, with the one-time fee and Deel, year one comes to $13,288, against about $63,357 for a local hire at the median.
Sources
- BLS OEWS May 2025, 43-4051: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes434051.htm
- BLS Employer Costs for Employee Compensation, private industry, June 2026: https://www.bls.gov/news.release/ecec.nr0.htm
- Silkstaff pricing: https://silkstaff.com/#pricing
- Deel pricing, contractor management: https://www.deel.com/pricing/
How these pages are built: methodology and data sources. Last updated 2026-11-06.