Civil Engineer Salary in Kansas: Cost of Living Adjusted (2024)

What does a Civil Engineer salary really buy you in Kansas?

Kansas is 10.0% cheaper than the US average

Data: BLS OEWS 2024 + BEA Regional Price Parities 2022 • Updated 2026-03-31

Nominal Salary

$86,780

Median annual (2024)

→ +11.1%

Real Purchasing Power

$96,422

COL-adjusted (RPP=90.0)

Kansas Cost of Living Index

Kansas's Regional Price Parity (RPP) is 90.0, meaning prices are 10.0% lower the national average. A Civil Engineer earning $86,780 in Kansas has the equivalent purchasing power of $96,422 in an average-cost US state.

KS: 90.0

Cheapest (~85) US Avg (100) Priciest (~115)

Salary Breakdown: Nominal vs. COL-Adjusted

Every dollar goes further in low-cost states. Here is how each salary percentile compares after adjusting for Kansas's cost of living.

Percentile	Nominal Salary	COL-Adjusted	Difference
10th Percentile (P10)	$51,790	$57,544	+$5,754
25th Percentile (P25)	$73,470	$81,633	+$8,163
Median (P50)	$86,780	$96,422	+$9,642
75th Percentile (P75)	$115,080	$127,866	+$12,786
90th Percentile (P90)	$145,680	$161,866	+$16,186

Key Insight

A Civil Engineer in Kansas earns $86,780 on paper, but low living costs mean your money goes 11% further — like earning $96,422 in an average-cost state. This makes Kansas one of the best value states for this occupation.

Best States for Civil Engineer (After Cost of Living)

Where does Civil Engineer salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.

1. Mississippi

$119,060

RPP 87.3

2. New Mexico

$114,945

RPP 91.0

3. Louisiana

$112,969

RPP 90.6

4. Oklahoma

$112,094

RPP 88.8

5. Kentucky

$112,080

RPP 89.4

6. Alabama

$111,731

RPP 87.8

7. Nebraska

$110,645

RPP 89.8

8. North Dakota

$108,410

RPP 88.7

9. South Dakota

$108,079

RPP 88.0

10. Rhode Island

$107,211

RPP 104.7

Kansas ranks #30 out of 49 states for Civil Engineer after cost-of-living adjustment.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the real salary for a Civil Engineer in Kansas after cost of living?

A Civil Engineer in Kansas earns a median salary of $86,780 per year. After adjusting for Kansas's cost of living (RPP=90.0), the real purchasing power is $96,422 — a +11.1% difference.

Is Kansas expensive to live in?

Kansas's cost of living is 10.0% lower than the national average according to the BEA Regional Price Parities (2022). The RPP index for Kansas is 90.0 (US average = 100).

What are Regional Price Parities (RPP)?

Regional Price Parities (RPPs) are price indexes published by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) that measure differences in price levels across states. They are expressed as a percentage of the national average (US = 100). Higher RPP means higher cost of living.

How is the cost-of-living adjusted salary calculated?

The adjusted salary is calculated as: Nominal Salary x (100 / RPP). For a Civil Engineer in Kansas: $86,780 x (100 / 90.0) = $96,422. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.

Is it better to be a Civil Engineer in Kansas financially?

From a purchasing power perspective, yes. A Civil Engineer in Kansas enjoys 11.1% more buying power than the nominal salary suggests, because living costs are below the national average. However, other factors like job availability, career growth, and quality of life also matter.