2026 Tax Year · Single Filer · Kansas

$15 an Hour in Kansas — After-Tax Take-Home (2026)

At $15/hour (2,080 hours/year), your gross annual income is $31,200. After federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare, and Kansas state income tax, your take-home pay is $12.56/hr. In Kansas's low cost-of-living environment, this is below what's needed for comfortable living in Kansas.

Gross Annual

$31,200

Net Annual
$26,117

Net Monthly

$2,176

Net Hourly

$12.56

Pay Period Breakdown

Hourly $15.00 $2.44 $12.56

Daily (8 hrs) $120.00 $19.55 $100.45

Weekly (40 hrs) $600.00 $97.74 $502.26

Biweekly $1,200.00 $195.48 $1,004.52

Monthly $2,600.00 $423.55 $2,176.45

Annual $31,200 $5,083 $26,117

Full Tax Breakdown — Kansas, Single Filer

Gross Annual Income $15/hr × 2,080 hrs $31,200

Federal Standard Deduction Single 2026 −$16,100

Federal Taxable Income $15,100

Federal Income Tax 5.0% −$1,564.00

Social Security (6.2%) up to $184,500 −$1,934.40

Medicare (1.45%) −$452.40

Kansas Standard Deduction Single 2026 −$3,500

Kansas State Income Tax 3.6% −$1,131.75

Total Tax 16.3% effective −$5,082.55

Net Take-Home $26,117

How Does Kansas Compare?

See how $15/hr take-home differs in other states at the same wage:

California $422.38 $2,236/mo $26,827 Florida None $2,271/mo $27,249 New York $958.25 $2,191/mo $26,291 Texas None $2,271/mo $27,249 Washington None $2,271/mo $27,249

Open Full Calculator for Kansas — $15/hr →

Equivalent Annual Salary Pages

$15/hr = $31,200/year gross. See the full state-by-state salary breakdown:

Adjacent Rates in Kansas

Same Rate, Other States

Cost of Living in Kansas

✗ Difficult — $15/hr falls short in Kansas

Avg 1BR rent in Wichita: $900/mo — over the 30% rule (35% of gross monthly)
Minimum comfortable income in Kansas: $32,000/yr
Your net annual: $26,117 ($5,883 below comfortable threshold)
Purchasing power equivalent in Texas: ~$19.7/hr

Working at $15/hr in Kansas

Kansas has a very low cost of living — Wichita 1BR rents average $900/month. At this wage, the financial pressure is far lower than in coastal states. The moderate income tax and low housing costs make budgeting manageable.

At $15/hr, you work roughly 72 hours each month to cover a typical 1BR in Wichita ($900/mo) -- that's above the 30% gross income guideline. This wage is 2.1x Kansas's federal minimum wage of $7.25/hr. Your combined effective tax rate at $15/hr in Kansas is 16.3% -- federal income tax accounts for 5.0%, FICA 7.7%, and Kansas state tax 3.6%.

Kansas is a major aviation and aerospace manufacturing state — Spirit AeroSystems (Boeing fuselages), Textron Aviation (Cessna, Beechcraft), and Learjet are headquartered in Wichita. Agriculture, energy, and healthcare round out the economy.

Kansas has a two-bracket income tax system with rates of 3.1% and 5.7%. The state went through a period of drastic tax cuts (the 'Kansas experiment') that were later reversed. Current rates are moderate.

Kansas follows the federal minimum wage of $7.25/hr.

Monthly Budget on $15/hr in Kansas

Based on $2,176/month take-home. Percentages follow common 50/30/20 guidelines adjusted for Kansas's cost of living.

Rent / Housing $900 $10,800 41.4%

Food (groceries + dining) $261 $3,132 12.0%

Transportation $218 $2,616 10.0%

Utilities $131 $1,572 6.0%

Healthcare $109 $1,308 5.0%

Entertainment $109 $1,308 5.0%

Savings (10% target) $218 $2,616 10.0%

Remaining / Surplus $230 $2,760 10.6%

Overtime Pay — $15/hr in Kansas

At time-and-a-half ($22.50/hr), here's what overtime adds to your annual net income in Kansas. Your marginal tax rate at this income level is ~18.7%.

5 hrs/week $113 $91 $4,550

10 hrs/week $225 $183 $9,150

20 hrs/week $450 $366 $18,300

Hours to Afford Common Purchases at $15/hr

How many hours of work (gross) to buy common items. Actual cost in after-tax hours is higher — divide by your $12.56 net hourly rate for the true cost in time.

Tank of gas (12 gal) $50 3.4 hrs 4 hrs

Week of groceries $120 8 hrs 9.6 hrs

iPhone 16 (base) $799 53.3 hrs 63.7 hrs

1 month rent (Wichita) $900 60 hrs 71.7 hrs

Used car ($10k) $10,000 666.7 hrs 796.5 hrs

Median new car ($48k) $48,000 3200 hrs 3822.8 hrs

What Jobs Pay $15/hr in Kansas?

At $15/hour, you earn 21% below the estimated median hourly wage in Kansas. Jobs that commonly pay around this rate include:

barista, home health aide, security guard, warehouse associate, hotel front desk agent, call center representative

These figures reflect statewide averages for Kansas. The Wichita metro area typically pays 8% more than rural parts of the state for the same role. Specialized certifications, union membership, or government employment at this wage tier often add meaningful benefits that raise total compensation above the base hourly figure.

At 15/hr in Kansas, your net income of $26,117 falls $5,883 short of the estimated $32,000 comfortable living threshold. Roommates, a side income, or a wage increase would significantly improve financial stability.

Geographic Wage Variation Within Kansas

The $15/hr figure reflects a statewide average. Wages for the same job title can differ significantly by location within Kansas. The Wichita metro area generally commands a 8% premium over the state average, while rural areas typically pay 4% less.

Wichita metro$16.2/hr+8%Higher pay, higher COL

Kansas average$15/hrBaselineThis page's figures

Rural Kansas$14.4/hr-4%Lower pay, lower COL

When choosing between metro and rural Kansas at this wage tier, compare net monthly surplus rather than gross hourly rates. Rural areas have lower rent, shorter commutes, and lower day-to-day costs -- the purchasing power difference is often smaller than the raw wage gap suggests.

Savings Goals at $15/hr in Kansas

Saving $218/month (10% of net), here is how long it takes to reach common financial milestones from a starting balance of zero:

Weekend getaway$3,00014 monthsFlights + hotel, domestic

3-month emergency fund$4,85723 monthsCore expenses only

6-month emergency fund$9,71445 monthsFull financial cushion

Used car (no loan)$8,00037 monthsReliable used vehicle

New car down payment$25,000115 months~50% down to minimize payments

Home down payment$4,80023 months10% on a starter home in Kansas

Your monthly budget surplus of $230 means you can accelerate these timelines by directing extra cash beyond the 10% baseline. Automating transfers on payday is the most reliable way to stay consistent.

Debt Payoff on $15/hr in Kansas

Allocating 15% of net monthly income ($326/month) toward debt repayment is sustainable while still allowing for savings and essentials.

Credit card$5,000$32616 months

Student loan$30,000$32693 months

These timelines exclude interest, which meaningfully extends payoff for high-APR credit cards. Prioritize high-interest debt first. Even an extra $50/month toward a credit card balance can cut months off your payoff timeline and save hundreds in interest.

401(k) and Retirement at $15/hr

Contributing 6% ($1,872/year) to a pre-tax 401(k) saves you $323 in taxes at your 17.3% marginal rate -- your actual out-of-pocket cost is only $1,549/year. If your employer matches up to 6%, that match is $1,872 in additional annual compensation -- never leave it uncaptured.

Saving $2,616/year and investing at a 7% average annual return builds significant wealth over time:

5 years$13,080$13,865$785 interest

10 years$26,160$27,808$1,648 interest

20 years$52,320$56,087$3,767 interest

What Would a Raise Mean at $15/hr in Kansas?

A $1/hr raise adds $1,691 to your annual net take-home in Kansas after taxes. Your marginal rate on additional income is approximately 18.7%, so you keep 81.3% of every extra dollar earned.

$1/hr raise$16/hr$1,691$141

5% raise$15.8/hr$1,353$113

10% raise$16.5/hr$2,537$211

Frequently Asked Questions

Is 15 an hour a good wage in Kansas?

15/hr in Kansas gives you $26,117/year after taxes -- below what's needed for comfortable living in Kansas. Avg 1BR rent in Wichita: $900/month (exceeds the 30% rule). It places you 21% below the estimated state median wage.

What is 15 an hour after taxes in Kansas?

15/hr in Kansas = $26,117/year or $2,176/month net. Effective tax rate: 16.3%, made up of 5.0% federal, 7.7% FICA, and 3.6% Kansas state tax.

What jobs pay 15 an hour in Kansas?

Common roles at 15/hr in Kansas include cashier, food service worker, retail associate. Metro areas like Wichita typically pay 8% more for the same role.

How does 15/hr go further -- Kansas or Texas?

15/hr in Kansas has similar purchasing power to ~19.7/hr in Texas. Kansas state income tax reduces take-home vs Texas.

How long to build an emergency fund at 15/hr in Kansas?

Saving $218/month (10% of net), you reach a 3-month emergency fund of $4,857 in 23 months. A 6-month fund takes 45 months.

What does a 401(k) cost at 15/hr in Kansas?

A 6% contribution ($1,872/year) saves $323 in taxes at your 17.3% marginal rate. Your net out-of-pocket cost is only $1,549/year -- and if your employer matches, it is essentially free money.

What does a $1/hr raise mean at 15/hr in Kansas?

A $1/hr raise adds $1,691/year to your net take-home in Kansas after the 18.7% marginal tax rate. You keep 81.3% of every additional dollar earned.

What is the effective tax rate at 15/hr in Kansas?

At 15/hr in Kansas, your total effective tax rate is 16.3%: federal income tax 5.0%, Social Security 6.2%, Medicare 1.5%, and Kansas state tax 3.6%. You keep 83.7% of every gross dollar.

Can you afford rent in Wichita on 15/hr?

The average 1BR in Wichita is $900/month. At 15/hr, rent consumes 35% of your gross monthly pay -- above the 30% affordability guideline. Your net hourly rate of $12.56 means you work 72 hours per month to cover rent.

What does 15/hr look like as an annual salary?

15/hr times 2,080 hours equals $31,200/year gross. After all taxes in Kansas, your net annual income is $26,117 -- an effective take-home rate of 83.7%.