Kansas’s largest employers are prepared to offer great salaries to skilled human resources workers interested in pursuing long-lasting careers here. In fact, the Kansas Department of Labor included both human resources managers and human resource specialists among its most recent list of “High Demand, High Wage” occupations in the state.
And, according to the Kansas Department of Labor, both training and development specialists and human resources managers are expected to grow by double-digits through 2026. This kind of growth can be directly attributed to a growing economy which, as of 2019, was marked by an unemployment rate of just 3.2 percent (the lowest since 1999) and the addition of 15,000 new jobs statewide.
Human resources students and professionals that ultimately strive to earn the highest salaries in the business should proactively seek ways to qualify for jobs as HR managers, directors, and supervisors. Since these positions are usually competitive, human resources workers are encouraged to increase their marketability to future employers by:
- Earning a Master of Business Administration in Human Resources Management or a closely related degree
- Becoming a certified HR professional through a certification agency like the HR Certification Institute (HRCI)
- Amassing numerous years of work experience through internships, volunteer opportunities, and employment
Human Resources Management Salaries in Kansas
HR management professionals in Kansas, even at the median level, earn near or in the six digits. For example, compensation and benefits managers here earn a median salary of $102,910, while HR managers earn a median salary of $96,890 and training and development managers earn a median salary of $96,050.
The following tables provide a closer look at what HR management professionals earn at all levels in Kansas’ two largest metro areas of Topeka and Wichita:
Topeka
HR managers in Topeka are the top earners among all human resources professionals, earning a median salary of $100,310 – or about $4,000 more than the state average.
Wichita
Wichita’s HR management professionals earn less than their counterparts in Topeka across the board. For example, the median salary for human resources managers here is $91,370, or about $9,000 less than the median salary for these professionals in Topeka.\
Human Resources Specialist and Assistant Salaries in Kansas
Specialists and assistants are among the largest group of HR professionals in Kansas. The largest number HR pros are human resources specialists who, as of May 2018, totaled 5,430, followed by training and development specialists, at 3,250.
The highest earners were compensation, benefits, and job analysis specialists, who earn a median salary of $59,660 and a top (90th percentile) salary of $93,370.
Additional information on what human resources specialists and assistants earn in Kansas’ largest metro areas of Wichita and Topeka is available in the following tables:
Topeka
Human resources specialists in Topeka are among the top earners, with a median salary of $57,180, which is higher than the median salary of $55,820 for these pros in Wichita.
Wichita
The highest earners among Wichita’s HR specialists and assistants are labor relations specialists, who earn a median salary of $70,450 – much higher than other specialists at this range who generally earn in the $50,000s.
Salary and employment data compiled by the United States Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics in May of 2018 for human resources managers, specialists, and assistants – https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_ks.htm#11-9111. The BLS salary data shown here represents median – 90th percentile salary ranges for the state and its MSAs (Metropolitan Statistical Areas) and includes workers at all levels of education and experience. This data does not represent starting salaries.
Job growth projections sourced from the Kansas Department of Labor and published in the U.S. Department of Labor-funded Long Term Occupational Projections (2016-2026) database – https://projectionscentral.com/Projections/LongTerm. Employment conditions in your area may vary.
All salary and job growth data accessed in September 2019.