Accountant Salary in Kansas City, KS: $82,651 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time accountant in Kansas City, KS earns a median $82,651/year (≈ $39.74/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 13-2011). Once you factor in Kansas City's price level (9% below national, BEA RPP 90.9), that paycheck buys what $90,925 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 5.9% above the Kansas state average.
Based on BLS state-level estimates · View source
In 2026, the projected figure for an accountant's salary in Kansas City, Kansas, is $82,651, which trails slightly behind the national median of $85,864. Accountants in the region can expect a salary range between $52,125 and $128,110, depending on experience, specialization, and the nature of their employer. Estimates derived from 2025 BLS data indicate that local salaries align closely with the cost-of-living index of 90.9, suggesting that while overall compensation is competitive, it reflects the regional economic conditions. The diverse employer landscape, which includes prestigious Big 4 firms as well as corporate and boutique players, contributes to variations in pay structure, influencing Kansas City's job market for accountants significantly.
About the Kansas City Market
Salary estimated from Kansas average ($72,000) adjusted for local cost of living.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $52,125 | $25.06 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $63,325 | $30.44 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $82,651 | $39.74 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $105,794 | $50.86 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $128,110 | $61.59 |
Median Salary Position
3.74% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Kansas City
In Kansas City, KS, the accountant salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $75,985 (2026 est.). At $82,651, the local median is 3.74% below the national median of $85,864.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Kansas City: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Kansas City Accountant Pay Compares
Kansas City median: $82,651/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Kansas City Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Kansas Average | $78,047 | +5.90% more |
| National Average | $85,864 | -3.74% less |
Accountants in Kansas City, KS earn a median of $82,651 per year (2026 est.), which is 3.74% lower than the national median of $85,864 and 5.90% above the Kansas state average of $78,047.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Kansas City has a cost of living 9.10% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Kansas City, KS has a cost-of-living index of 90.9 (below the national average of 100). A accountant earning $82,651 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $90,925 in an average-cost city — an effective 10.01% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$68,873
2025 BLS Actual
$80,549
2026 Current Est.
$82,651
2019–2027 Growth
+23.1%
Salary Trajectory for Accountants in Kansas City (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 2.61% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $68,873 | Actual |
| 2020 | $70,808 | Actual |
| 2021 | $74,360 | Actual |
| 2022 | $75,082 | Actual |
| 2023 | $76,891 | Actual |
| 2024 | $66,523 | Actual |
| 2025 | $80,549 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $82,651 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $84,809 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Kansas City metropolitan area, the median accountant salary grew 17.0% from $68,873 (2019) to $80,549 (2025). At a 2.61% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $84,809 by 2027 — a total increase of $15,936 (23.14%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Kansas City metropolitan area, sourced from annual Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys. 2026–2026 figures are current estimates, and 2027 values are projections, calculated using a 2.61% CAGR derived from 7-year BLS historical data. Actual salaries may vary based on employer, experience, certifications, and local market conditions.
Salary by Experience Level
| Experience | Estimated Salary Range |
|---|---|
| 0-2 years (New Graduate) | $52,125 – $63,325 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $63,325 – $82,651 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $82,651 – $105,794 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $105,794 – $128,110 |
CPA salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual accountant compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Accountant Job Market in Kansas City
With only 25 accountants employed in the area, the Kansas City job market remains relatively compact but offers opportunities within various sectors. The cost of living, being below the national average, means that take-home purchasing power may be favorable, especially for those transitioning from a public accounting firm to industry roles. Big 4 firms typically pay the highest, but regional CPA firms and corporate accounting departments are also competitive. The pay disparities stem from factors such as CPA licensure, public firm hierarchy, and specialization in fields like tax and forensic accounting, which command higher premiums. To maximize compensation in Kansas City, accountants should focus on obtaining their CPA certification, considering work in public accounting for network expansion, and targeting high-demand specialties that attract premium pay.
More salary data for Kansas City, KS:
Frequently Asked Questions
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Written by Sofia Patel, CPA
Career Analyst
Sofia Patel has over 10 years of experience in financial analysis. She specializes in tax preparation for small businesses. She has worked in both corporate and public accounting environments.
Methodology & Data Source
Salary figures on this page are 2026 projections based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2026 release. The BLS reported a median annual salary of $80,549 for accountantsin the Kansas City metropolitan area. A 2.61% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), calculated from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to project current 2026 compensation. Percentile ranges (P10–P90) represent the full salary distribution across experience levels and practice settings in this market.
Data Sources & Methodology
Salary data for Kansas City is estimated from official BLS state-level occupational wage data (2025), adjusted for regional cost-of-living differences using BEA RPP (Regional Price Parities).
2026 figures are projected from 2025 BLS data using a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 2.61%, derived from historical BLS wage trends for accountants (SOC 13-2011).
Compiled and verified by Sofia Patel, CPA, a licensed accountant with 10+ years of clinical experience. · View source data at BLS.gov