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Cybersecurity Salary in Kansas: Is It a Good Career?

Kansas · 2026 BLS salary data

Cybersecurity pay in Kansas

The median wage is $100,620/yr — 22% below the national median. Among U.S. states, Kansasranks #41 of 48 states by median pay.

The numbers in Kansas

Real BLS state-level figures for Cybersecurity.

Median salary
$100,620/yr
Pay range (25th–75th)
$78,670 – $130,020
National median
$129,180/yr
Employed in Kansas
1,830

Source: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics (OEWS), state estimates, May 2025 release.

What that pay is really worth in Kansas

Salary alone can mislead — Kansas costs 10% less than the U.S. average. Here's the median adjusted for local prices (real purchasing power).

Cost of living (US=100)
90.1
Nominal median
$100,620
Adjusted for cost of living
≈ $111,676
State income tax
Up to 5.58%

Because Kansas costs 10% less than the U.S. average, its pay stretches further — it ranks #35 of 48 once adjusted for cost of living, up from #41 on raw salary.

Cost of living: BEA Regional Price Parities (all items, US=100), 2024. Adjusted pay = nominal median ÷ (RPP/100) — purchasing power vs the U.S. average. State income tax = top marginal rate on wage income (Tax Foundation, 2025); your effective rate is lower and depends on income and deductions; some localities also levy income tax.

FAQ

How much do cybersecurity professionals make in Kansas?

The median annual wage is $100,620 (BLS OEWS, state estimates), with the middle 50% earning between $78,670 and $130,020. That's 22% below the national median.

Is Kansas a good state for cybersecurity?

By raw pay, Kansas ranks #41 of 48 states by median pay. Adjusted for cost of living (Kansas costs 10% less than the U.S. average), that median is worth about $111,676. Because Kansas costs 10% less than the U.S. average, its pay stretches further — it ranks #35 of 48 once adjusted for cost of living, up from #41 on raw salary.

Are cybersecurity professionals in demand in Kansas?

About 1,830 people work in this field in Kansas (BLS OEWS). Nationally, BLS projects +28.5% employment growth for this field from 2024 to 2034.

The verdict, pros, and cons below apply to Cybersecurity nationally — Kansas pay is 22% below the national median. See the full Cybersecurity career guide →

The verdict

Yes — cybersecurity offers top-tier pay and one of the fastest projected growth rates of any field. The main caveat is that it's not truly entry-level: most roles want prior IT experience or certifications.

Pros & cons

Pros

  • Top-tier, well-above-median pay
  • Among the fastest-growing fields (much faster than average)
  • Remote-friendly, high demand across every industry
  • Multiple paths in via certs, not just degrees
  • Intellectually engaging, constantly evolving

Cons

  • Not truly entry-level — expects IT foundation
  • High-stakes, on-call incident pressure
  • Constant learning to keep up with threats
  • Can be stressful during breaches
  • Cert and skills upkeep is ongoing

Who it's for

✓ A good fit if…

  • People with or willing to build IT fundamentals
  • Those who like continuous learning and problem-solving
  • Anyone wanting high pay and strong demand

✗ Probably not if…

  • People expecting a zero-experience entry point
  • Those who dislike on-call, high-pressure situations

What people are actually asking

Real Reddit discussions on whether Cybersecurity is worth it — titles link to the original threads.