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HOURLY WAGE INDEX

Let’s talk wages in Kansas City

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$12

What is the minimum wage in Kansas City?

The current minimum wage in Kansas City, Missouri is $12.00 per hour. This is the same as the state minimum wage, and it has been in effect since January 1, 2023. The federal minimum wage is $7.25 per hour, so workers in Kansas City earn significantly more than the federal minimum.

The minimum wage in Kansas City is higher than the national average of $7.25 per hour. In fact, it is one of the highest minimum wages in the United States. Only a handful of cities have a higher minimum wage than Kansas City, including Seattle, Washington ($17.27 per hour), San Francisco, California ($16.07 per hour), and New York City, New York ($15.00 per hour).

The minimum wage in Kansas City has increased gradually over the past few years. In 2018, the minimum wage was $8.60 per hour. It was raised to $9.80 per hour in 2019, and then to $11.00 per hour in 2020. The current minimum wage of $12.00 per hour went into effect on January 1, 2023.

The minimum wage in Kansas City is relatively high compared to the national average. This is due to a combination of factors, including the rising cost of living and the increasing political support for raising the minimum wage. The minimum wage in Kansas City is expected to continue to increase in the future. This will help to ensure that workers in Kansas City are able to earn a living wage.
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$15

What is the living wage in Kansas City?

A livable wage in Kansas City is estimated to be $15.00 per hour for a single adult. This means that a worker earning $15.00 per hour would be able to afford basic necessities such as housing, food, transportation, and healthcare. However, the actual cost of living in Kansas City varies depending on factors such as family size, housing costs, and transportation costs.

Wages aren’t everything!

While pay is one of the main factors that hourly employees consider when choosing to join (or stay at) a company, it’s not the end all be all. Research shows that advancement opportunities, supportive management, and schedule flexibility are all incredibly important as well.

Want to learn more about this trend? We dive deep into the data behind which perks and benefits matter most to hourly workers. Check out our full conversation with expert Sara Wasserteil of Cara Collective.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between gross wages and net wages?

It's important to remember that the Hourly Wage Index data above reflects gross wages, or the amount of money an employee earns before accounting for payroll deductions like taxes, benefits, or wage garnishments. Due to variability in tax rates across locations, slightly lower gross wages in a certain location might result in higher take home pay, or vice versa.

What is a good hourly wage?

This question is a difficult one to answer, as a "good hourly wage" is highly subjective according to experience, work responsibilities, cost of living, and other factors. We recommend using Hourly Wage Index data as a starting point. Once you have established a baseline for certain positions, do further research into similar businesses in your area.

Lastly, consider surveying your employees. They're the best resource to help you know what is a good hourly wage, what competitive pay looks like in your location, and how competitive wages change in your industry over time.

Offering competitive pay is one of my top priorities—what other resources do you have that might help?

We know that getting applicants to pay attention to your business can be extremely challenging, and that offering competitive pay is a huge part of that. Wages aren’t everything, however! Applicant experience is another important factor that can help set you apart from your competition. A few examples include:

  • Short, easy to understand job descriptions
  • Mobile-friendliness
  • Quick communication
  • Streamlined interview stages
Resources

Learn more about hiring and
retaining the hourly workforce

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A Workstream hiring specialist can help you identify high impact ways to improve your applicant experience, and even help you determine what is a good hourly wage for your location and business.

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