Payroll Specialist salary and cost of hiring in Kansas
The median payroll specialist in Kansas earned $56,590 a year in May 2025[1], 2.9% below the US median of $58,260. That puts Kansas at #24 of 51 states for this job.
BLS occupation 43-3051. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Salary range
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kansas | $42,340 | $56,590 | $79,160 | |
| United States | $39,500 | $58,260 | $81,350 |
The middle half of payroll specialists in Kansas earns $49,750–$68,100; the top tenth earns $79,160 or more, 1.9 times the bottom tenth.
What a hire really costs
Benefits and payroll taxes are 30.0% of total compensation in US private industry[2]. At the Kansas median that makes about $80,843 a year before recruiting, equipment and office space. Benefit levels vary by employer, so treat this as an estimate.
We place executive assistants, customer support and e-commerce staff today; for payroll specialists 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 fee[3]; Deel's contractor plan is the default payroll tool[4].
Pay by metro area in Kansas
| Area | Median | 75th percentile | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wichita, KS | $68,630 | 320 | |
| Topeka, KS | $65,600 | 160 | |
| Kansas nonmetropolitan area | $64,360 | 270 | |
| Manhattan, KS | $58,280 | 40 |
Wichita, KS pays the most ($57,820) and Manhattan, KS the least ($51,630): $6,190 a year apart for the same job.
What a payroll specialist does
A payroll specialist prepares payroll runs, checks hours and deductions, keeps employee pay records and answers staff questions about their pay.
Neighbours in the ranking
Questions
How much does a payroll specialist earn in Kansas?
The median was $56,590 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey; the middle half earned $49,750 to $68,100.
What does it cost to employ a payroll specialist in Kansas?
About $80,843 a year at the median wage once benefits are added, using the 30% benefits share of US private industry (June 2026).
Where in Kansas do payroll specialists earn the most?
Wichita, KS, with a median of $57,820 a year.
Sources
- BLS OEWS May 2025, 43-3051: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes433051.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 2026-11-05.