High paying entry level jobs in Kansas

These occupations in Kansas ask for no prior experience in a related job and no on-the-job training period: you are expected to be productive on arrival. That is precisely why most of them want a specific qualification instead — the credential does the work the experience would have. Read the line under each title for what that qualification is; several here are doctorates. If you need something you can start without one, use the no-experience list.

Cost of living: prices in Kansas run 9.9% below the national average (2024), so a Kansas salary is worth about 1.11× its face value in national terms. That scales every wage here by the same factor — it changes what the numbers mean, not their order. To see where a job pays a real premium, use jobs that pay more in Kansas.

Wages: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Cost of living: BEA regional price parities, 2024

Find high paying jobs in Kansas

OccupationMedian, Kansas · Employed

1Nurse Anesthetists$212,090
Master's degree
$166,080 – $243,000910
2Optometrists$138,580
Doctoral or professional degree
$85,010 – $192,720660
3Pharmacists$137,800
Doctoral or professional degree
$78,770 – $169,3103,500
4Aerospace Engineers$130,330
Bachelor's degree
$80,860 – $167,4001,730
5Nurse Practitioners$126,650
Master's degree
$98,330 – $158,0803,780
6Physician Assistants$125,640
Master's degree
$98,280 – $168,480890
7Software Developers$113,420
Bachelor's degree
$71,690 – $165,74013,580
8Veterinarians$107,080
Doctoral or professional degree
$71,200 – $177,1101,000
9Lawyers$106,650
Doctoral or professional degree
$76,300 – $213,3604,190
10Electronics Engineers, Except Computer$103,740
Bachelor's degree
$79,470 – $163,370770
11Computer Occupations, All Other$103,380
Bachelor's degree
$49,090 – $143,8001,340
12Electrical Engineers$102,630
Bachelor's degree
$72,230 – $159,6502,100
13Computer Systems Analysts$100,770
Bachelor's degree
$64,000 – $163,7603,740
14Project Management Specialists$100,010
Bachelor's degree
$59,540 – $165,0006,030
15Industrial Engineers$99,830
Bachelor's degree
$66,810 – $152,4103,450
16Occupational Therapists$99,170
Master's degree
$66,720 – $120,9501,560
17Physical Therapists$98,290
Doctoral or professional degree
$72,290 – $122,1302,660
18Data Scientists$98,130
Bachelor's degree
$60,520 – $154,990490
19Civil Engineers$96,880
Bachelor's degree
$63,260 – $150,6402,880
20Diagnostic Medical Sonographers$96,310
Associate's degree
$72,420 – $112,520670
21Teachers and Instructors, All Other$94,520
Bachelor's degree
$40,670 – $124,200720
22Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers$94,490
Bachelor's degree
$57,050 – $133,5901,140
23Computer Programmers$92,960
Bachelor's degree
$59,940 – $144,570460
24Occupational Health and Safety Specialists$86,300
Bachelor's degree
$57,680 – $131,7701,350
25Mechanical Engineers$86,260
Bachelor's degree
$72,210 – $131,6604,630
26Financial and Investment Analysts$84,860
Bachelor's degree
$58,680 – $128,7501,870
27Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists$84,490
Doctoral or professional degree
$62,190 – $219,1001,070
28Business Operations Specialists, All Other$83,350
Bachelor's degree
$49,410 – $134,9509,810
29Network and Computer Systems Administrators$83,340
Bachelor's degree
$58,720 – $129,9104,100
30Business Teachers, Postsecondary$83,310
Doctoral or professional degree
$48,140 – $238,150660
31Chemists$82,820
Bachelor's degree
$53,360 – $132,460690
32Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians$80,270
Postsecondary nondegree award
$50,630 – $98,0701,440
33Registered Nurses$79,320
Bachelor's degree
$63,180 – $100,84033,800
34Accountants and Auditors$79,000
Bachelor's degree
$52,960 – $129,80013,610
35Aerospace Engineering and Operations Technologists and Technicians$78,350
Associate's degree
$51,200 – $100,170580
36Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health$78,210
Bachelor's degree
$56,120 – $136,990590
37Respiratory Therapists$76,970
Associate's degree
$60,470 – $94,6001,450
38Biological Scientists, All Other$76,400
Bachelor's degree
$51,150 – $130,100760
39Engineers, All Other$76,100
Bachelor's degree
$50,150 – $139,360780
40Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$76,070
Associate's degree
$50,940 – $98,3202,270
41Postsecondary Teachers, All Other$75,790
Doctoral or professional degree
$36,280 – $175,7802,530
42Web Developers$73,590
Bachelor's degree
$48,750 – $133,510500
43Credit Analysts$73,120
Bachelor's degree
$52,990 – $132,120520
44Human Resources Specialists$70,870
Bachelor's degree
$47,340 – $115,9207,560
45Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists$70,430
Bachelor's degree
$38,540 – $128,6508,090
46Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians$70,310
Associate's degree
$47,810 – $100,480770
47Logisticians$69,520
Bachelor's degree
$46,400 – $114,0901,780
48Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians$69,060
Associate's degree
$39,820 – $102,440540
49Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other$65,270
Associate's degree
$42,550 – $85,820880
50Mechanical Drafters$65,250
Associate's degree
$45,870 – $100,380540

Bars run from the 10th to the 90th percentile; the middle half is shaded darker, and the tick is the median.

#	Occupation	MedianKansas	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Employed
1	Nurse AnesthetistsMaster's degree	$212,090	$166,080 – $243,000	910
2	OptometristsDoctoral or professional degree	$138,580	$85,010 – $192,720	660
3	PharmacistsDoctoral or professional degree	$137,800	$78,770 – $169,310	3,500
4	Aerospace EngineersBachelor's degree	$130,330	$80,860 – $167,400	1,730
5	Nurse PractitionersMaster's degree	$126,650	$98,330 – $158,080	3,780
6	Physician AssistantsMaster's degree	$125,640	$98,280 – $168,480	890
7	Software DevelopersBachelor's degree	$113,420	$71,690 – $165,740	13,580
8	VeterinariansDoctoral or professional degree	$107,080	$71,200 – $177,110	1,000
9	LawyersDoctoral or professional degree	$106,650	$76,300 – $213,360	4,190
10	Electronics Engineers, Except ComputerBachelor's degree	$103,740	$79,470 – $163,370	770
11	Computer Occupations, All OtherBachelor's degree	$103,380	$49,090 – $143,800	1,340
12	Electrical EngineersBachelor's degree	$102,630	$72,230 – $159,650	2,100
13	Computer Systems AnalystsBachelor's degree	$100,770	$64,000 – $163,760	3,740
14	Project Management SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$100,010	$59,540 – $165,000	6,030
15	Industrial EngineersBachelor's degree	$99,830	$66,810 – $152,410	3,450
16	Occupational TherapistsMaster's degree	$99,170	$66,720 – $120,950	1,560
17	Physical TherapistsDoctoral or professional degree	$98,290	$72,290 – $122,130	2,660
18	Data ScientistsBachelor's degree	$98,130	$60,520 – $154,990	490
19	Civil EngineersBachelor's degree	$96,880	$63,260 – $150,640	2,880
20	Diagnostic Medical SonographersAssociate's degree	$96,310	$72,420 – $112,520	670
21	Teachers and Instructors, All OtherBachelor's degree	$94,520	$40,670 – $124,200	720
22	Software Quality Assurance Analysts and TestersBachelor's degree	$94,490	$57,050 – $133,590	1,140
23	Computer ProgrammersBachelor's degree	$92,960	$59,940 – $144,570	460
24	Occupational Health and Safety SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$86,300	$57,680 – $131,770	1,350
25	Mechanical EngineersBachelor's degree	$86,260	$72,210 – $131,660	4,630
26	Financial and Investment AnalystsBachelor's degree	$84,860	$58,680 – $128,750	1,870
27	Medical Scientists, Except EpidemiologistsDoctoral or professional degree	$84,490	$62,190 – $219,100	1,070
28	Business Operations Specialists, All OtherBachelor's degree	$83,350	$49,410 – $134,950	9,810
29	Network and Computer Systems AdministratorsBachelor's degree	$83,340	$58,720 – $129,910	4,100
30	Business Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$83,310	$48,140 – $238,150	660
31	ChemistsBachelor's degree	$82,820	$53,360 – $132,460	690
32	Aircraft Mechanics and Service TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$80,270	$50,630 – $98,070	1,440
33	Registered NursesBachelor's degree	$79,320	$63,180 – $100,840	33,800
34	Accountants and AuditorsBachelor's degree	$79,000	$52,960 – $129,800	13,610
35	Aerospace Engineering and Operations Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$78,350	$51,200 – $100,170	580
36	Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including HealthBachelor's degree	$78,210	$56,120 – $136,990	590
37	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$76,970	$60,470 – $94,600	1,450
38	Biological Scientists, All OtherBachelor's degree	$76,400	$51,150 – $130,100	760
39	Engineers, All OtherBachelor's degree	$76,100	$50,150 – $139,360	780
40	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$76,070	$50,940 – $98,320	2,270
41	Postsecondary Teachers, All OtherDoctoral or professional degree	$75,790	$36,280 – $175,780	2,530
42	Web DevelopersBachelor's degree	$73,590	$48,750 – $133,510	500
43	Credit AnalystsBachelor's degree	$73,120	$52,990 – $132,120	520
44	Human Resources SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$70,870	$47,340 – $115,920	7,560
45	Market Research Analysts and Marketing SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$70,430	$38,540 – $128,650	8,090
46	Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$70,310	$47,810 – $100,480	770
47	LogisticiansBachelor's degree	$69,520	$46,400 – $114,090	1,780
48	Cardiovascular Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$69,060	$39,820 – $102,440	540
49	Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All OtherAssociate's degree	$65,270	$42,550 – $85,820	880
50	Mechanical DraftersAssociate's degree	$65,250	$45,870 – $100,380	540

Ranked among the occupations common enough to employ roughly one in every three thousand workers in Kansas. The rarer ones are real jobs — but a 1,190-person occupation at the top of a list answers a different question than the one most readers are asking.

More for Kansas

Metro areas in Kansas

Pay varies more between metros than between states — the spread inside one state is often wider than the gap between two.

By field in Kansas

Without a degree

The same fields, narrowed to what you can enter without one. Fields missing here have too few such occupations in Kansas to rank honestly.

High paying entry level jobs in Kansas

More for Kansas

Metro areas in Kansas

By field in Kansas

Without a degree

High paying entry level jobs in each state