Software Developers salary in Kansas City, Missouri

About 13,940 Software Developers work in the Kansas City metro, which puts this market in a similar weight class to mid-tier tech hubs like Salt Lake City or Columbus. The median annual wage was $114,440 in 2024, almost exactly in line with the Missouri statewide median of $114,550. The two figures are close enough that working in Kansas City carries no real wage penalty compared to staying elsewhere in the state.

The national picture is different. The US median for Software Developers was $138,520 in 2024, about $24,000 above what Kansas City workers earned at the midpoint. That gap runs roughly 17%. Some of it reflects the lower cost of living in the metro, though the difference is real and worth factoring into any compensation comparison with coastal markets.

The spread within the local market is wide. The bottom 10% of Software Developers in Kansas City earned around $71,230, while the top 10% earned $163,650. Top earners make more than twice what those starting out or working in lower-paying sub-specialties bring home. The mean wage of $115,530 sits close to the median, which tells us the distribution is fairly balanced. There is no small group of very high earners pulling the average sharply above the midpoint the way you see in San Francisco or Seattle.

For workers at the lower end of the range, Kansas City compares reasonably well to other Missouri metros. For those aiming at senior or specialized roles, the $163,650 ceiling at the 90th percentile is meaningful, though it falls well below what the same top-decile earner would see in the highest-paying states.