Salary comparison
Loan Officers: Lawrence vs Wichita
Lawrence, KS pays about 1.3% more for loan officers on paper — $100,480 vs $99,170. But once you factor in what it costs to live there, Lawrence comes out ahead by $1,310 a year in real buying power.
Lawrence, KS
$100,480
$80,510
$147,870
$48.31
100
$100,480/yr
Median adjusted for local cost of living.
Wichita, KS
$99,170
$64,020
$130,770
$47.68
100
$99,170/yr
Median adjusted for local cost of living.
What the numbers mean in practice
The headline gap is $1,310 a year (1.3%) in favor of Lawrence. That is the raw salary difference before any living costs.
Lawrence runs a cost index of 100 against the national baseline of 100; Wichita sits at 100. After adjusting the median for those costs, Lawrence is the better deal by $1,310 a year — that is what each paycheck actually buys locally.
If you are weighing a move from Wichita to Lawrence for this role, the raise needs to beat 1.3% to come out ahead after living costs. Anything below that and you are earning more on paper but keeping less.
Common questions
Where do loan officers earn more, Lawrence or Wichita?
Lawrence pays $100,480 on median — about 1.3% more than Wichita ($99,170). Based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.
Which city is the better deal after living costs?
Lawrence. Once you divide each median by the local cost index, Lawrence gives you roughly$100,480 of real buying power versus $99,170 in the other city.