Human Resources Degree in Kansas City, KS — Salary & ROI 2026
Human Resources degree analysis for Kansas City, KS. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$41K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$64K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
7.5 yrs
in Kansas City
Cost of Living
82.5
index (100 = avg)
Human Resources in Kansas City, KS Overview
Kansas City, Kansas (pop. 156,607) has 6 colleges offering Human Resources programs. The local cost of living index of 82.5 keeps student expenses low, with average rent near campus at $405/month. Human Resources enrollment is stable nationwide, with steady demand for graduates skilled in Recruiting and Employee Relations. The adjusted starting salary in Kansas City is approximately $41,250, growing to $64,350 by mid-career.
Category
Business
Local Colleges
6
Public Tuition
$10,000/yr
Private Tuition
$28,000/yr
Room & Board
$13,267/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$14,093/yr
Unemployment
2.9%
Graduation Rate
61%
Human Resources Salary in Kansas City (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Kansas City's cost of living index of 82.5 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Human Resources salary: $50,000 starting, $78,000 mid-career, $100,000 senior level.Kansas City adjustment factor: 0.82x based on the local cost of living index.
Human Resources ROI Calculator for Kansas City
Estimate your return on investment for a Human Resources degree using local Kansas City tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $10,000 | Private avg: $28,000
Kansas City avg aid: $14,093/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$93,068
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$12,375
vs HS diploma in Kansas City
ROI Payback Period
7.5 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Kansas City
$319,432
Lifetime earnings premium ($412,500) minus total education cost ($93,068)
Student Loan Payoff for Human Resources in Kansas City
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Kansas City for Human Resources
Kansas City State University
public
$9,282/yr
$37,128 total
University of Kansas City
public
$9,330/yr
$37,320 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Kansas City Community College
$5,644/yr
Top Employers for Human Resources in Kansas City
Kansas City offers opportunities in Financial services, Consulting firms, Fortune 500 companies for Human Resources graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Kansas City Hiring Sectors for Business
Financial services
Consulting firms
Fortune 500 companies
Startups
Marketing agencies
Common Human Resources Job Titles
Human Resources in Nearby Kansas Cities
Wichita, KS
$52K starting · COL 104
20 colleges
Overland Park, KS
$52K starting · COL 103
13 colleges
Olathe, KS
$48K starting · COL 96.8
6 colleges
Topeka, KS
$42K starting · COL 84
14 colleges
Lawrence, KS
$54K starting · COL 108
5 colleges
Shawnee, KS
$43K starting · COL 86.5
3 colleges
Lenexa, KS
$48K starting · COL 96.2
3 colleges
Manhattan, KS
$48K starting · COL 95
6 colleges
Other Business Majors in Kansas City
Business Analytics
$64K starting · 2 yr ROI
Finance
$58K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Economics
$54K starting · 4 yr ROI
Information Systems
$41K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Supply Chain Management
$41K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Operations Management
$41K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Accounting
$51K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Real Estate
$41K starting · 4 yr ROI
Human Resources Degree in Kansas City — FAQ
Data Sources: Salary data from BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook. Cost of living from BLS Regional Data. College data from NCES/IPEDS. Updated March 2026.
Explore More
Compare Human Resources ROI in other cities, or explore other majors in Kansas City.