RN Hourly Wage in Kansas 2024: BLS Data & Metro Comparison

Per BLS OEWS May 2023 (released April 2024), Kansas RN wages:

Statewide

• Mean Hourly: $38.37
• Mean Annual: $79,810
• Employment: ~30,500 RNs
• Location Quotient: 1.08 (8% above national concentration)

Metro Area Breakdown (Mean Hourly)

Metro Area	Hourly Mean	Annual Mean	RN Employment
Topeka	$42.33	$88,050	2,150
Kansas City (MO-KS)	$41.12	$85,530	12,400
Wichita	$38.95	$81,020	6,800
Lawrence	$37.80	$78,620	890
Manhattan	$36.50	$75,920	720
Nonmetropolitan (Balance of State)	$34.20	$71,140	7,500

Pay Drivers in Kansas

• Specialty Differentials: ICU/ED/OR +$3–6/hr; certifications (CCRN, CEN) +$1–2/hr
• Shift Premiums: Night +$3–5, Weekend +$2–4, Charge +$1–3
• Employer Type: Large health systems (KU, Stormont, Via Christi, Ascension) > Critical Access Hospitals > Clinics > LTC
• Travel/Registry: $50–80/hr (crisis higher) — no benefits

Cost-of-Living Advantage

Kansas COL index ~87 (13% below national). Adjusted purchasing power ranks KS RN pay in top 15 nationally.

Source: BLS OEWS May 2023. For current job postings: Kansas Hospital Association, KansasWorks, Indeed, facility career sites.