Data Intelligence
Landing the first tech job is harder than it should be, so together, we’re working towards creating common knowledge about the opportunity market for skilled technical work in Kansas City.
How important is tech in Kansas City?
what is a tech worker?
KC TechBridge leverages industry-standard job codes (SOC Codes) to define “tech jobs."
The Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) system is a federal standard used to classify workers into occupational categories by job duties for the purpose of collecting, calculating, or disseminating data. All data is presented by SOC code or as an aggregate of all tech jobs.
Organizationally, these roles could sit in various parts of a business and do not have to be in a traditional IT department to be considered a “tech job."
Computer and Information Systems Managers (11-3021)
Computer Systems Analysts (15-1211)
Information Security Analysts (15-1212)
Computer and Information Research Scientists (15-1221)
Computer Network Support Specialists (15-1231)
Computer User Support Specialists (15-1232)
Computer Network Architects (15-1241)
Database Administrators (15-1242)
Database Architects (15-1243)
SOC codes identified to meet the definition of a tech job:
Network and Computer Systems Administrators (15-1244)
Computer Programmers (15-1251)
Software Developers (15-1252)
Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers (15-1253)
Web Developers (15-1254)
Web and Digital Interface Designers (15-1255)
Computer Occupations, All Other (15-1299)
Data Scientists (15-2051)
Computer Hardware Engineers (17-2061)
Computer, Automated Teller, and Office Machine Repairers (49-2011)
Demand:
Jobs Opening Rate: is a new common measure to quantify gaps in supply/demand of talent - as a whole or by occupation.
Jobs Openings Rate calculation: (openings / total employed + openings)
what this means:
Most roles have seen stable job opening rates in the most recent reporting period from 2024 through mid-2025. Measurable job growth occured among research positions in the first two quarters of 2025, corresponding to increase in AI research roles. Critical mass of open jobs continue to remain among System Managers, User Support and Software Developers.
what this means:
The critical mass of open tech roles in KC is spread across many companies that hire fewer than 20 tech roles per year. This type of market can be that much more difficult to navigate for new talent.
Skills & Requirments:
what this means:
Durable skills are more consistent in job postings than technical skills. Communication and Cooperation are most commonly cited across all tech jobs.
what this means:
Technical skill requirements are much more varied with the most common skills cited 16% of the time. Streamlining technical skill requirements present an opportunity to streamline talent readiness pipelines within the KC market.
what this means:
While a 4-year degree is most commonly (47%) required, 36% of all tech postings January 2025-January 2026 did not specify the exact education expectation required. Gaining clarity for these roles represent high opportunity for alignment.
what this means:
20% of all tech postings required an unspecified amount of experience, which is the most common criteria within the KC market. Most other postings are positioned toward early-mid career (3 to 5 years).
what this means:
Early career salary ranges across all tech jobs are likely to fall between $60-80k. Salary ranges have a high skew with very few roles earning $180-240k.
what this means:
More education is clearly correlated to higher earning potential in the KC job market. A mid-point salary of $73k for postings with no education requirement specified highlights potential opportunity for job seekers early in their career.
Data Archive:
Want to see how KC’s tech ecosystem continues to evolve over time? Check out past Data Dashboards for key snapshots.
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December 2025
resources
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DeBruce Foundation’s annual report examines how Kansas City area employers can better attract, retain and support entry-level workers by understanding their priorities around workplace flexibility, training opportunities, benefits, and career advancement pathways.
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TriCom Technical Services survey reports on Kansas City IT professionals' attitudes and preferences regarding remote work arrangements, including their willingness to work remotely, preferred work location models, and factors that influence their remote work decisions.
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The KC Tech Council’s annual Tech Specs Report provides a comprehensive analysis of Kansas City's technology sector, including workforce data, salary comparisons, economic impact, and competitive positioning to demonstrate the region's emergence as a cost-effective and talent-rich tech hub.
ACCESS REPORT
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