High paying jobs in Kansas City, MO-KS that need no degree

These occupations pay well in Kansas City, MO-KS and typically require less than a bachelor's degree to enter — a high school diploma, a postsecondary certificate, or an associate's degree. Entry requirements come from the BLS Employment Projections program and describe what is typical, not mandatory.

Cost of living: prices in Kansas City, MO-KS run 7.5% below the national average (2024), so a Kansas City, MO-KS salary is worth about 1.08× its face value in national terms. That scales every wage here by the same factor — it changes what the numbers mean, not their order.

Local wage estimates are suppressed more often than state ones — BLS withholds any figure too few local employers report — so an occupation missing here simply has no published local estimate.

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

Find high paying jobs in Kansas City, MO-KS

OccupationMedian, Kansas City, MO-KS · Employed

1Air Traffic Controllers$161,700
Associate's degree
$85,800 – $199,160430
2Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers$108,270
High school diploma or equivalent
$65,530 – $176,2901,300
3Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers$101,740
High school diploma or equivalent
$58,280 – $122,910980
4Diagnostic Medical Sonographers$100,450
Associate's degree
$77,070 – $123,300660
5Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians$100,150
Associate's degree
$54,960 – $127,480600
6First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives$97,830
High school diploma or equivalent
$63,150 – $131,6401,380
7Dental Hygienists$92,750
Associate's degree
$75,550 – $97,2601,800
8Detectives and Criminal Investigators$91,490
High school diploma or equivalent
$56,470 – $156,190850
9Millwrights$91,380
High school diploma or equivalent
$52,630 – $97,340640
10First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers$90,640
Postsecondary nondegree award
$60,590 – $126,8101,140
11Tool and Die Makers$85,740
Postsecondary nondegree award
$47,750 – $93,840450
12First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers$84,100
High school diploma or equivalent
$58,670 – $122,2805,860
13Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologists$84,040
Associate's degree
$73,620 – $102,120390
14Sheet Metal Workers$82,830
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,150 – $114,6301,080
15First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers$79,590
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,830 – $162,310920
16Respiratory Therapists$79,140
Associate's degree
$63,100 – $97,1401,190
17First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers$79,060
High school diploma or equivalent
$51,310 – $125,0104,360
18Tax Preparers$78,920
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,380 – $141,520560
19Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$78,340
Associate's degree
$55,850 – $99,1801,860
20Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators$78,090
High school diploma or equivalent
$51,750 – $121,3703,690
21Structural Iron and Steel Workers$77,570
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,450 – $86,500380
22Machine Feeders and Offbearers$77,100
No formal educational credential
$39,420 – $77,100540
23First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers$77,080
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,380 – $106,3904,460
24Computer Network Support Specialists$77,040
Associate's degree
$48,290 – $129,510850
25Electricians$76,860
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,280 – $110,1705,400
26Mechanical Drafters$76,340
Associate's degree
$51,110 – $120,260390
27Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians$76,330
Associate's degree
$45,350 – $105,200430
28Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$76,150
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,800 – $122,8203,740
29Food Service Managers$75,350
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,710 – $100,970900
30Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians$74,250
Associate's degree
$50,680 – $99,250910
31Brickmasons and Blockmasons$72,370
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,020 – $88,070500
32Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians$71,080
Postsecondary nondegree award
$45,620 – $91,770530
33Occupational Therapy Assistants$71,050
Associate's degree
$55,590 – $81,530400
34Real Estate Brokers$70,770
High school diploma or equivalent
$30,060 – $137,380750
35Industrial Machinery Mechanics$68,770
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,650 – $93,6002,520
36First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers$66,780
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,670 – $100,4408,860
37Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$66,250
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,890 – $135,6209,930
38Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators$66,210
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,680 – $100,550500
39Physical Therapist Assistants$65,580
Associate's degree
$51,610 – $80,990880
40Insurance Sales Agents$65,410
High school diploma or equivalent
$33,120 – $163,5805,310
41Construction and Building Inspectors$65,330
High school diploma or equivalent
$51,000 – $96,300650
42Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel$64,950
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,020 – $160,3809,250
43Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians$64,700
Associate's degree
$49,870 – $104,300580
44Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants$64,460
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,170 – $94,6002,940
45Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$64,420
Postsecondary nondegree award
$52,440 – $78,4704,570
46Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators$64,060
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,250 – $96,8404,110
47Chefs and Head Cooks$64,010
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,650 – $93,930890
48Paralegals and Legal Assistants$63,880
Associate's degree
$47,230 – $97,8902,900
49Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines$63,850
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,930 – $87,6801,400
50Maintenance Workers, Machinery$63,700
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,330 – $83,230510

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

#	Occupation	MedianKansas City, MO-KS	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Employed
1	Air Traffic ControllersAssociate's degree	$161,700	$85,800 – $199,160	430
2	Transportation, Storage, and Distribution ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$108,270	$65,530 – $176,290	1,300
3	Electrical Power-Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$101,740	$58,280 – $122,910	980
4	Diagnostic Medical SonographersAssociate's degree	$100,450	$77,070 – $123,300	660
5	Mechanical Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$100,150	$54,960 – $127,480	600
6	First-Line Supervisors of Police and DetectivesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$97,830	$63,150 – $131,640	1,380
7	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$92,750	$75,550 – $97,260	1,800
8	Detectives and Criminal InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$91,490	$56,470 – $156,190	850
9	MillwrightsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$91,380	$52,630 – $97,340	640
10	First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention WorkersPostsecondary nondegree award	$90,640	$60,590 – $126,810	1,140
11	Tool and Die MakersPostsecondary nondegree award	$85,740	$47,750 – $93,840	450
12	First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$84,100	$58,670 – $122,280	5,860
13	Magnetic Resonance Imaging TechnologistsAssociate's degree	$84,040	$73,620 – $102,120	390
14	Sheet Metal WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$82,830	$45,150 – $114,630	1,080
15	First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$79,590	$47,830 – $162,310	920
16	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$79,140	$63,100 – $97,140	1,190
17	First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$79,060	$51,310 – $125,010	4,360
18	Tax PreparersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$78,920	$35,380 – $141,520	560
19	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$78,340	$55,850 – $99,180	1,860
20	Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$78,090	$51,750 – $121,370	3,690
21	Structural Iron and Steel WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$77,570	$48,450 – $86,500	380
22	Machine Feeders and OffbearersNo formal educational credential	$77,100	$39,420 – $77,100	540
23	First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$77,080	$48,380 – $106,390	4,460
24	Computer Network Support SpecialistsAssociate's degree	$77,040	$48,290 – $129,510	850
25	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$76,860	$46,280 – $110,170	5,400
26	Mechanical DraftersAssociate's degree	$76,340	$51,110 – $120,260	390
27	Cardiovascular Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$76,330	$45,350 – $105,200	430
28	Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$76,150	$46,800 – $122,820	3,740
29	Food Service ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$75,350	$47,710 – $100,970	900
30	Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$74,250	$50,680 – $99,250	910
31	Brickmasons and BlockmasonsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$72,370	$48,020 – $88,070	500
32	Aircraft Mechanics and Service TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$71,080	$45,620 – $91,770	530
33	Occupational Therapy AssistantsAssociate's degree	$71,050	$55,590 – $81,530	400
34	Real Estate BrokersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$70,770	$30,060 – $137,380	750
35	Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$68,770	$47,650 – $93,600	2,520
36	First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$66,780	$46,670 – $100,440	8,860
37	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific ProductsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$66,250	$38,890 – $135,620	9,930
38	Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$66,210	$48,680 – $100,550	500
39	Physical Therapist AssistantsAssociate's degree	$65,580	$51,610 – $80,990	880
40	Insurance Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$65,410	$33,120 – $163,580	5,310
41	Construction and Building InspectorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$65,330	$51,000 – $96,300	650
42	Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and TravelHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,950	$37,020 – $160,380	9,250
43	Industrial Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$64,700	$49,870 – $104,300	580
44	Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative AssistantsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,460	$49,170 – $94,600	2,940
45	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award	$64,420	$52,440 – $78,470	4,570
46	Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,060	$47,250 – $96,840	4,110
47	Chefs and Head CooksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,010	$39,650 – $93,930	890
48	Paralegals and Legal AssistantsAssociate's degree	$63,880	$47,230 – $97,890	2,900
49	Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except EnginesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,850	$45,930 – $87,680	1,400
50	Maintenance Workers, MachineryHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,700	$45,330 – $83,230	510

Ranked among the occupations common enough to employ roughly one in every three thousand workers in Kansas City, MO-KS. 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.

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Without a degree

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

High paying jobs in Kansas City, MO-KS that need no degree

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