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KANSAS
Income & Poverty

Other facts sheets for Kansas:

The data below describe the state rankings and selected characteristics of the immigrant and native-born populations in Kansas in 2011.

Rankings
The following shows Kansas' rankings in several categories. All rankings include the 50 states and the District of Columbia and are ranked highest to lowest.
  Rankings
Number of the foreign-born population living in poverty, 2011: 30 out of 51
Share of the foreign-born population living in poverty, 2011: 23 out of 51
Numeric change in the foreign-born population in poverty, 2000 to 2011: 32 out of 51
Percent change in the foreign-born population in poverty, 2000 to 2011: 31 out of 51

Data Highlights
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Who are the foreign born?
The term foreign born refers to people residing in the United States at the time of the census who were not US citizens at birth. The foreign-born population includes naturalized citizens, lawful permanent immigrants, refugees and asylees, legal nonimmigrants (including those on student, work, or other temporary visas), and persons residing in the country without authorization. By comparison, the term native refers to people residing in the United States who were US citizens in one of three categories: 1) people born in one of the 50 states or the District of Columbia; 2) people born in United States Insular Areas such as Puerto Rico or Guam; or 3) people who were born abroad to at least one US citizen parent.

We use the terms immigrants and foreign born interchangeably.

Earnings of Full-Time Workers
(This sheet describes earnings of civilian employed workers)

In Kansas in 2011, 35.1 percent of foreign-born workers earned less than $25,000 a year and 25.1 percent earned $50,000 or more.
In Kansas in 2011, 8.6 percent of full-time, year-round, immigrant workers (those working more than 50 weeks a year and more than 35 hours per week) earned less than $15,000 a year; 51.0 percent earned between $15,000 and $35,000; 15.4 percent earned between $35,000 and $50,000; and 25.1 percent earned $50,000 or more. In comparison, 6.4 percent of full-time, year-round, native-born workers earned less than $15,000 a year; 34.2 percent earned between $15,000 and $35,000; 23.4 percent earned between $35,000 and $50,000; and 36.0 percent earned $50,000 or more.

At the national level, 9.8 percent of full-time, year-round, foreign-born workers earned less than $15,000 a year; 40.9 percent earned between $15,000 and $35,000; 16.6 percent earned between $35,000 and $50,000; and 32.6 percent earned $50,000 or more.

Median Earnings by Nativity and Gender

Male immigrant workers had average annual earnings of $32,123 compared to $26,933 for female immigrant workers.
Among full-time, year-round, foreign-born workers in Kansas in 2011, median earnings over the previous 12 months were $26,933 for women and $32,123 for men. The median earnings of noncitizen women were $23,450 and those of noncitizen men were $29,504. In comparison, naturalized-citizen women had median earnings of $31,676 and naturalized-citizen men $42,859. Among full-time, year-round, native-born workers, median earnings during the comparable period were $34,207 for women and $45,447 for men.

At the national level, median earnings of full-time, year-round, foreign-born workers were $31,749 for women and $35,918 for men. The median earnings for noncitizen workers were $24,347 for women and $28,507 for men. Among naturalized-citizen workers, women had median earnings of $38,419 and men of $47,547. Among native-born workers, median earnings during the comparable period were $38,044 for women and $50,056 for men.

What Was the Poverty Threshold in 2011?
Whether any family is considered below the poverty threshold depends on the family's total income before taxes, not including any capital gains or noncash benefits, such as food stamps or housing subsidies.

The Census Bureau's poverty threshold varies depending on the number of adults and children in a family. The threshold is adjusted each month to account for inflation. Because respondents filled out the American Community Survey in different months, the poverty threshold that is applied to each family depends on the month in which the survey was taken.

To give a general idea of poverty levels, as defined by the Office of Management and Budget, the average poverty threshold for a family of four in 2011 was $23,021; for a family of three, $17,916; for a family of two, $ 14,657; and for an unrelated individual, $11,484. All members of a family are assigned the same poverty status. Poverty thresholds are the same for the entire United States, despite differences in the cost of living across US communities.
Population in Poverty

The immigrant population in Kansas living below the federal poverty threshold changed by 59.7 percent between 2000 and 2011.
Between 2000 and 2011, the foreign-born population living in poverty went from 26,061 to 41,632, representing a change of 59.7 percent. In comparison, the foreign-born population living in poverty changed from 12,494 to 26,061 between 1990 and 2000, a difference of 108.6 percent.

At the national level, the immigrant population below the poverty threshold increased from 3,435,394 to 5,473,300 between 1990 and 2000, representing a change of 59.3 percent, and grew from 5,473,300 to 7,797,199 (42.5 percent) between 2000 and 2011.

In 2011, 21.5 percent of the foreign-born population lived below the poverty threshold.
In 2011, 21.5 percent of Kansas' immigrant population lived below the poverty threshold, compared with 19.4 percent in 2000 and 21.2 percent in 1990. Meanwhile, 13.2 percent of the native-born population in Kansas lived below the poverty threshold in 2011.

At the national level, 19.6 percent of the immigrants population lived below the poverty threshold in 2011, compared to 17.7 percent in 2000 and 17.9 percent in 1990. Nationally, 15.4 percent of the native-born population lived below the poverty threshold in 2011.

In Kansas, 28.6 percent of noncitizens lived in poverty in 2011, compared to 7.7 percent of naturalized citizens.

Of the foreign-born population in Kansas in 2011, 28.6 percent of noncitizens lived in poverty, compared to 7.7 percent of naturalized citizens.

Nationally, 26.3 percent of noncitizens lived in poverty in 2011, compared to 11.5 percent of naturalized citizens.

Families with Children in Poverty

In Kansas, 19.9 percent of all foreign-born families lived below the poverty threshold.
In 2011, 19.9 percent of all families headed by an immigrant had incomes below the poverty threshold. At the same time, 25.7 percent of foreign-born families with children under 18 lived below the poverty threshold. Foreign-born families consisting of a married couple and children under 18 were less likely to live below the poverty threshold than families consisting of a female and children under 18 with no husband present (20.9 versus 43.6 percent).

In comparison, 8.3 percent of all families headed by a native-born person had incomes below the poverty threshold, as did 14.4 percent of native families with children under 18. As with foreign-born families, native families consisting of a married couple with children under 18 were less likely to be living in poverty than families headed by a female and children under 18 with no husband present (5.0 versus 40.6 percent).

At the national level, 18.5 percent of families headed by a foreign-born person had incomes below the poverty threshold in 2011, while 24.6 percent of foreign-born families with children under 18 lived below the poverty threshold. Foreign-born families consisting of a married couple and children under 18 were less likely to live below the poverty threshold than foreign-born families consisting of a female and children under 18 (17.9 versus 45.2 percent).

Language Groupings

Indo-European languages include French, Italian, Portuguese, German, Yiddish, other West Germanic languages, Scandinavian languages, Greek, Russian, Polish, Serbo-Croatian, other Slavic languages, Armenian, Persian, Gujarathi, Hindi, and Urdu.

Asian and Pacific Island languages include Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Mon-Khmer/Cambodian, Miao/Hmong, Thai, Laotian, Vietnamese, and Tagalog.

Other languages include Navajo, other Native North American languages, Hungarian, Arabic, Hebrew, and African languages.

Population in Poverty by Language Spoken at Home

In Kansas, 26.2 percent of persons who spoke Spanish at home lived in poverty, compared to 11.5 percent of persons who spoke Asian or Pacific Island languages, and 11.7 percent of persons who spoke other Indo-European languages.
Of both native and foreign-born persons in Kansas in 2011, 11.8 percent of those who spoke only English lived in poverty, compared to 26.2 percent of those who spoke Spanish at home, 11.7 percent who spoke other Indo-European languages, 11.5 percent who spoke Asian and Pacific Island languages, and 18.9 percent who spoke other languages.

Nationally, 13.6 percent of those who spoke only English lived in poverty, compared to 25.4 percent of those who spoke Spanish at home, 13.7 percent who spoke other Indo-European languages, 14.2 percent who spoke Asian and Pacific Island languages, and 26.7 percent who spoke other languages.




Table 1. Population by Poverty Status in Kansas, 1990 to 2011
 

1990

2000

2011

  Number Percent Number Percent Number Percent
Household Population of Kansas for Whom Poverty Status Is Determined 2,388,985 100.0 2,611,936 100.0 2,786,855 100.0
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 273,449 11.4 262,784 10.1 383,467 13.8
100 to 149 percent of the poverty level 214,908 9.0 210,627 8.1 256,969 9.2
At or above 150 percent of the poverty level 1,900,628 79.6 2,138,525 81.9 2,146,419 77.0
Native Born 2,330,021 100.0 2,477,386 100.0 2,592,795 100.0
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 260,955 11.2 236,723 9.6 341,835 13.2
100 to 149 percent of the poverty level 207,129 8.9 194,102 7.8 229,907 8.9
At or above 150 percent of the poverty level 1,861,937 79.9 2,046,561 82.6 2,021,053 77.9
Foreign Born 58,964 100.0 134,550 100.0 194,060 100.0
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 12,494 21.2 26,061 19.4 41,632 21.5
100 to 149 percent of the poverty level 7,779 13.2 16,525 12.3 27,062 13.9
At or above 150 percent of the poverty level 38,691 65.6 91,964 68.3 125,366 64.6
 

Change 1990 to 2000

Change 1990 to 2011

Change 2000 to 2011

  Numeric Percent Numeric Percent Numeric Percent
Household Population of Kansas for Whom Poverty Status Is Determined 222,951 9.3 397,870 16.7 174,919 6.7
Below 100 percent of the poverty level -10,665 -3.9 110,018 40.2 120,683 45.9
100 to 149 percent of the poverty level -4,281 -2.0 42,061 19.6 46,342 22.0
At or above 150 percent of the poverty level 237,897 12.5 245,791 12.9 7,894 0.4
Native Born 147,365 6.3 262,774 11.3 115,409 4.7
Below 100 percent of the poverty level -24,232 -9.3 80,880 31.0 105,112 44.4
100 to 149 percent of the poverty level -13,027 -6.3 22,778 11.0 35,805 18.4
At or above 150 percent of the poverty level 184,624 9.9 159,116 8.5 -25,508 -1.2
Foreign Born 75,586 128.2 135,096 229.1 59,510 44.2
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 13,567 108.6 29,138 233.2 15,571 59.7
100 to 149 percent of the poverty level 8,746 112.4 19,283 247.9 10,537 63.8
At or above 150 percent of the poverty level 53,273 137.7 86,675 224.0 33,402 36.3
Notes: Poverty status is not determined for unrelated individuals under age 15 (such as foster children) or for persons lacking conventional housing. 2. Data for Alaska, Maine, Montana, South Dakota, Vermont, and West Virginia are from the US Census Bureau's pooled 2009-2011 ACS and for North Dakota and Wyoming are from 2007-2011 ACS. Data for the United States and the rest of the states are from 2011 ACS.
Sources: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS), various years (see Note 2 above); 2000 Decennial Census; Steven Ruggles, J. Trent Alexander, Katie Genadek, Ronald Goeken, Matthew B. Schroeder, and Matthew Sobek. Integrated Public Use Microdata Series: Version 5.0 [Machine-readable database]. Minneapolis: University of Minnesota, 2011.

For information about ACS methodology,sampling error, and nonsampling error, click here.

Table 2. Income and Poverty Characteristics of the Population in Kansas, 2011
POVERTY STATUS BY CITIZENSHIP
Household Population of Kansas for Whom Poverty Status Is Determined 2,786,855
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 13.8
100 to 199 percent of the poverty level 19.5
At or above 200 percent of the poverty level 66.7
Native Born 2,592,795
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 13.2
100 to 199 percent of the poverty level 19.0
At or above 200 percent of the poverty level 67.8
Foreign Born 194,060
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 21.5
100 to 199 percent of the poverty level 27.1
At or above 200 percent of the poverty level 51.4
Noncitizen 127,642
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 28.6
100 to 199 percent of the poverty level 29.0
At or above 200 percent of the poverty level 42.4
Naturalized Citizen 66,418
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 7.7
100 to 199 percent of the poverty level 23.5
At or above 200 percent of the poverty level 68.8
EARNINGS IN LAST 12 MONTHS OF FULL-TIME, YEAR-ROUND WORKERS
(IN 2011 INFLATION-ADJUSTED DOLLARS)
Full-Time, Year-Round Workers in Kansas Age 16 And Older with Earnings, 2011 990,499
Earned $1 to $9,999, or loss 2.5
Earned $10,000 to $14,999 4
Earned $15,000 to $24,999 16.2
Earned $25,000 to $34,999 19.4
Earned $35,000 to $49,999 22.7
Earned $50,000 to $74,999 19.7
Earned $75,000 or more 15.3
Native Born 904,359
Earned $1 to $9,999, or loss 2.5
Earned $10,000 to $14,999 3.9
Earned $15,000 to $24,999 15.3
Earned $25,000 to $34,999 18.9
Earned $35,000 to $49,999 23.4
Earned $50,000 to $74,999 20.4
Earned $75,000 or more 15.6
Foreign Born 86,140
Earned $1 to $9,999, or loss 3
Earned $10,000 to $14,999 5.6
Earned $15,000 to $24,999 26.5
Earned $25,000 to $34,999 24.5
Earned $35,000 to $49,999 15.4
Earned $50,000 to $74,999 12.7
Earned $75,000 or more 12.4
Noncitizen 51,352
Earned $1 to $9,999, or loss 3.4
Earned $10,000 to $14,999 7.1
Earned $15,000 to $24,999 32.5
Earned $25,000 to $34,999 27.1
Earned $35,000 to $49,999 9.8
Earned $50,000 to $74,999 11.1
Earned $75,000 or more 8.9
Naturalized Citizen 34,788
Earned $1 to $9,999, or loss 2.4
Earned $10,000 to $14,999 3.3
Earned $15,000 to $24,999 17.6
Earned $25,000 to $34,999 20.7
Earned $35,000 to $49,999 23.5
Earned $50,000 to $74,999 15
Earned $75,000 or more 17.5
MEDIAN EARNINGS IN LAST 12 MONTHS OF FULL-TIME, YEAR-ROUND WORKERS
(IN 2011 INFLATION-ADJUSTED DOLLARS)
Full-Time, Year-Round Workers in Kansas, 2011  
Male $43,993
Female $33,269
Native Born  
Male $45,447
Female $34,207
Foreign Born  
Male $32,123
Female $26,933
Noncitizen  
Male $29,504
Female $23,450
Naturalized Citizen  
Male $42,859
Female $31,676
SHARE OF FAMILIES IN POVERTY BY CITIZENSHIP AND FAMILY TYPE
All Families (Among Those for Whom Poverty Status Is Determined) 9.2
With related children under age 18 15.7
With related children under age 5 only 20.3
Married-couple families 4.2
With related children under age 18 7.0
With related children under age 5 only 7.0
Families with female householder, no husband present 31.8
With related children under age 18 40.9
With related children under age 5 only 53.6
Native-Born Families 8.3
With related children under age 18 14.4
With related children under age 5 only 19.8
Married-couple families 3.2
With related children under age 18 5.0
With related children under age 5 only 5.4
Families with female householder, no husband present 31.2
With related children under age 18 40.6
With related children under age 5 only 54.8
Foreign-Born Families 19.9
With related children under age 18 25.7
With related children under age 5 only 25.1
Married-couple families 15.5
With related children under age 18 20.9
With related children under age 5 only 21.3
Families with female householder, no husband present 37.3
With related children under age 18 43.6
With related children under age 5 only 39.3
Noncitizen 28.7
With related children under age 18 35.0
With related children under age 5 only 31.3
Married-couple families 23.6
With related children under age 18 29.8
With related children under age 5 only 25.8
Families with female householder, no husband present 49.0
With related children under age 18 54.8
With related children under age 5 only 54.2
Naturalized Citizen 7.4
With related children under age 18 9.2
With related children under age 5 only N
Married-couple families 5.0
With related children under age 18 6.8
With related children under age 5 only N
Families with female householder, no husband present 19.2
With related children under age 18 19.9
With related children under 5 age only N
MEDIAN EARNINGS IN LAST 12 MONTHS BY PERIOD OF ENTRY
(IN 2011 INFLATION-ADJUSTED DOLLARS)
Full-Time, Year-Round, Foreign-Born Workers in Kansas, 2011  
Male $32,123
Female $26,933
Entered the United States in 2000 or Later  
Male $30,557
Female $24,101
Entered the United States between 1990 and 1999  
Male $30,936
Female $26,037
Entered the United States before 1990  
Male $43,007
Female $30,850
FOREIGN BORN IN POVERTY BY WORLD REGION OF BIRTH
Born in Africa N
Below 100 percent of the poverty level N
Born in Asia 52,182
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 13.9
Born in Europe 14,290
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 11
Born in Latin America (South America, Central America, Mexico, and the Caribbean) 105,471
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 27.4
Born in Northern America (Canada, Bermuda, Greenland, and St. Pierre and Miquelon) N
Below 100 percent of the poverty level N
Born in Oceania N
Below 100 percent of the poverty level N
Note: 1. Poverty status is not determined for unrelated individuals under age 15 (such as foster children) or for persons lacking conventional housing.

2. Data for Alaska, Maine, Montana, South Dakota, Vermont, and West Virginia are from the US Census Bureau's pooled 2009-2011 ACS and for North Dakota and Wyoming are from 2007-2011 ACS. Data for the United States and the rest of the states are from 2011 ACS.

The letter N indicates that a number could not be provided by the Census Bureau because the number of sample cases was too small for this state.

Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS), different years.

For information about ACS methodology,sampling error, and nonsampling error, click here.

Table 3. Poverty Status of Residents in Kansas by Language Spoken at Home, 2011
 
Number
Percent
Household Population of Kansas for Whom Poverty Status Is Determined, Age 5 and Older 2,588,263 100.0
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 334,622 12.9
At or above 100 percent of the poverty level 2,253,641 87.1
Speaks Only English 2,292,182 100.0
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 270,670 11.8
At or above 100 percent of the poverty level 2,021,512 88.2
Speaks Spanish 193,886 100.0
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 50,750 26.2
At or above 100 percent of the poverty level 143,136 73.8
Speaks Other Indo-European Languages 40,636 100.0
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 4,746 11.7
At or above 100 percent of the poverty level 35,890 88.3
Speaks Asian or Pacific Island Languages 43,214 100.0
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 4,987 11.5
At or above 100 percent of the poverty level 38,227 88.5
Speaks Other Languages 18,345 100.0
Below 100 percent of the poverty level 3,469 18.9
At or above 100 percent of the poverty level 14,876 81.1
Note: Poverty status is not determined for unrelated individuals under the age of 15 (such as foster children) or for persons lacking conventional housing.

The letter N indicates that a number could not be provided by the Census Bureau because the number of sample cases was too small for this state.

Source: US Census Bureau, 2011 American Community Survey.
For information about ACS methodology,sampling error, and nonsampling error, click here.

For data on these topics, click on the link: