Payroll Specialist salary in Wichita, KS
No other area in Kansas pays payroll specialists more than Wichita: the median is $57,820 a year1. That is 2.2% above the Kansas statewide median of $56,590, and about level with the US median of $58,260. Among US areas it comes in at #142 of 486. It is the largest market for the job in Kansas: about 320 people, 23% of the Kansas total.
BLS occupation 43-3051, area Wichita, KS. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in Wichita against Kansas and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wichita, KS | $40,560 | $57,820 | $74,170 | |
| Kansas | $42,340 | $56,590 | $79,160 | |
| United States | $39,500 | $58,260 | $81,350 |
The middle half of payroll specialists in Wichita earns $47,870–$68,630. Pay is tightly grouped: the top tenth starts at $74,170, only 1.8 times the bottom tenth, against 2.1 times across the US, so the going rate is easier to read. From the 25th to the 75th percentile, the local range is $20,760 wide, between the figure for Kansas ($18,350) and the US figure ($21,610).
What to budget for a payroll specialist here
| Point in the local range | Per year | Per month | Per hour | Employer cost per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $40,560 | $3,380 | $19.50 | $52,335 |
| 25th percentile | $47,870 | $3,989 | $23.01 | $61,768 |
| Median | $57,820 | $4,818 | $27.80 | $74,606 |
| 75th percentile | $68,630 | $5,719 | $33.00 | $88,555 |
| 90th percentile | $74,170 | $6,181 | $35.66 | $95,703 |
The step from the 25th percentile to the median is $9,950 a year; from the median to the 75th it is $10,810, or about $13,948 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 $58,260 falls between the median and the 75th percentile in Wichita, and the Kansas statewide median of $56,590 falls between the 25th percentile and the median.
What a hire really costs in Wichita
At the $57,820 median, a local hire costs about $74,606 a year: benefits and payroll taxes other than paid leave are 22.5% of total compensation in US private industry2, about $16,786 here. 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 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 fee3; Deel's contractor plan is the default payroll tool4.
Other roles in Wichita
Of the 17 roles we track in Wichita, this one ranks #8 by median pay, between sales development representatives ($59,110) and paralegals ($50,240). Project Coordinator is the highest at $89,170.
| Role | Median | vs payroll specialist | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Office Manager | +7.7% | 2,390 | |
| Sales Development Representative | +2.2% | 2,540 | |
| Payroll Specialist | this role | 320 | |
| Paralegal | -13.1% | 480 | |
| Bookkeeper | -19.6% | 3,070 |
Measured against the US median, payroll specialists rank #2 of the 17 roles we track in Wichita (-0.8%), between e-commerce order specialists (-0.6%) and accountants (-5.3%). The typical role here is at -12.2%, so, measured against the US, payroll specialists cost more in Wichita than the area's general pay level would suggest. Payroll specialists hold 1.0% of the jobs in these 17 roles in Wichita, 0.9% across Kansas and 1.0% nationally. That is close to the national mix.
Other areas in Kansas
Across the 4 areas of Kansas with data for this job, the median runs from $51,630 in Manhattan to $57,820 in Wichita, a gap of $6,190 a year. No other area in Kansas has as many payroll specialists, and all 3 others pay less.
| Area | Median | vs Wichita | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wichita, KS | this area | 320 | |
| Topeka, KS | -0.5% | 160 | |
| Kansas (Nonmetro) | -7.4% | 270 | |
| Manhattan, KS | -10.7% | 40 |
Wichita against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, Wichita is #74 of 482 US areas for this job. It is one of the larger markets for this job, with pay near the middle of the US range. Outside Kansas, Santa Maria-Santa Barbara and Hinesville pay just above Wichita and Allentown-Bethlehem and Duluth just below. All four are within $290 a year of the median in Wichita. Of the three markets with about as many payroll specialists, two pay more.
| Metro area | Median | vs Wichita | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks, CA | +6.0% | 320 | jobs | |
| Dayton-Kettering, OH | +3.9% | 320 | jobs | |
| Hinesville, GA | +0.5% | 40 | pay | |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | +0.3% | 240 | pay | |
| Wichita, KS | this area | 320 | ||
| Allentown-Bethlehem, PA-NJ | -0.1% | 260 | pay | |
| Duluth, MN-WI | -0.1% | 110 | pay | |
| Little Rock-North Little Rock, AR | -14.2% | 320 | jobs |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire a payroll specialist in Wichita, KS?
About $74,606 a year at the median, or $6,217 a month: $57,820 in pay plus about $16,786 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What is the pay range for payroll specialists in Wichita?
The median was $57,820 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $40,560, the 90th $74,170, and the middle half earned $47,870 to $68,630.
Is Wichita the most expensive area in Kansas for payroll specialists?
Yes. Its median of $57,820 is the highest of 4 areas in Kansas. Topeka comes next at $57,530.
How many payroll specialists work in Wichita?
BLS counts about 320 in the May 2025 survey. That is 23% of the Kansas total of 1,400. No other area in Kansas has as many.
Does a payroll specialist cost more than a paralegal in Wichita?
Yes: $7,580 a year more at the median. The medians are $57,820 and $50,240.
Sources
4 sources, with links
- BLS OEWS May 2025, 43-3051: 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.