High paying jobs in Kansas that need no degree

These occupations pay well in Kansas 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 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

1Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers$106,130
High school diploma or equivalent
$79,300 – $164,7901,150
2Commercial Pilots$105,440
Postsecondary nondegree award
$49,060 – $175,820680
3Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers$101,880
High school diploma or equivalent
$79,250 – $109,260950
4Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers$101,620
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,510 – $122,9701,610
5Diagnostic Medical Sonographers$96,310
Associate's degree
$72,420 – $112,520670
6Tool and Die Makers$83,890
Postsecondary nondegree award
$51,350 – $92,670660
7First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives$82,950
High school diploma or equivalent
$58,410 – $124,6402,330
8Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians$80,270
Postsecondary nondegree award
$50,630 – $98,0701,440
9Power Plant Operators$79,980
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,580 – $129,990520
10Millwrights$79,690
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,880 – $97,340840
11Layout Workers, Metal and Plastic$79,240
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,560 – $96,310610
12First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers$78,880
Postsecondary nondegree award
$46,470 – $127,3401,450
13First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers$78,390
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,160 – $120,5106,780
14Aerospace Engineering and Operations Technologists and Technicians$78,350
Associate's degree
$51,200 – $100,170580
15Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators$77,290
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,980 – $112,7104,570
16Crane and Tower Operators$77,100
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,840 – $99,500780
17Respiratory Therapists$76,970
Associate's degree
$60,470 – $94,6001,450
18First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers$76,780
High school diploma or equivalent
$52,810 – $113,4608,940
19Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Programmers$76,080
Postsecondary nondegree award
$53,920 – $125,740680
20Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$76,070
Associate's degree
$50,940 – $98,3202,270
21Detectives and Criminal Investigators$75,740
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,610 – $114,0301,060
22Locomotive Engineers$75,190
High school diploma or equivalent
$60,660 – $78,3001,020
23First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers$74,480
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,290 – $104,4507,980
24First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers$74,220
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,200 – $131,490840
25First-Line Supervisors of Correctional Officers$71,590
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,030 – $95,2301,080
26Food Service Managers$70,320
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,190 – $103,3401,540
27Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians$70,310
Associate's degree
$47,810 – $100,480770
28Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians$69,060
Associate's degree
$39,820 – $102,440540
29Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$68,960
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,990 – $131,62012,630
30Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters$68,730
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,190 – $71,4001,200
31Electricians$65,860
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,660 – $96,8306,350
32Industrial Machinery Mechanics$65,830
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,910 – $90,6407,700
33Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other$65,270
Associate's degree
$42,550 – $85,820880
34Mechanical Drafters$65,250
Associate's degree
$45,870 – $100,380540
35Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$65,220
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,130 – $109,2904,590
36Occupational Therapy Assistants$65,010
Associate's degree
$55,120 – $77,410660
37Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants$64,860
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,160 – $90,9702,750
38Physical Therapist Assistants$64,500
Associate's degree
$52,520 – $79,5501,300
39First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers$64,000
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,140 – $96,27012,010
40Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers$63,560
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,840 – $100,400530
41Construction and Building Inspectors$63,150
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,170 – $91,420840
42First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors$62,940
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,560 – $92,6907,520
43Sheet Metal Workers$62,670
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,690 – $108,5301,730
44Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel$62,580
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,200 – $147,80012,480
45Wellhead Pumpers$62,400
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,960 – $101,500620
46Architectural and Civil Drafters$62,220
Associate's degree
$41,950 – $86,380630
47Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$61,760
Postsecondary nondegree award
$49,780 – $77,2907,530
48Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other$61,710
Associate's degree
$50,720 – $85,240920
49Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers$61,480
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,740 – $76,770740
50First-Line Supervisors of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping Workers$61,270
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,840 – $79,5801,110

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	Transportation, Storage, and Distribution ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$106,130	$79,300 – $164,790	1,150
2	Commercial PilotsPostsecondary nondegree award	$105,440	$49,060 – $175,820	680
3	Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and GaugersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$101,880	$79,250 – $109,260	950
4	Electrical Power-Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$101,620	$50,510 – $122,970	1,610
5	Diagnostic Medical SonographersAssociate's degree	$96,310	$72,420 – $112,520	670
6	Tool and Die MakersPostsecondary nondegree award	$83,890	$51,350 – $92,670	660
7	First-Line Supervisors of Police and DetectivesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$82,950	$58,410 – $124,640	2,330
8	Aircraft Mechanics and Service TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$80,270	$50,630 – $98,070	1,440
9	Power Plant OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$79,980	$46,580 – $129,990	520
10	MillwrightsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$79,690	$44,880 – $97,340	840
11	Layout Workers, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$79,240	$44,560 – $96,310	610
12	First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention WorkersPostsecondary nondegree award	$78,880	$46,470 – $127,340	1,450
13	First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$78,390	$50,160 – $120,510	6,780
14	Aerospace Engineering and Operations Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$78,350	$51,200 – $100,170	580
15	Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$77,290	$48,980 – $112,710	4,570
16	Crane and Tower OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$77,100	$49,840 – $99,500	780
17	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$76,970	$60,470 – $94,600	1,450
18	First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$76,780	$52,810 – $113,460	8,940
19	Computer Numerically Controlled Tool ProgrammersPostsecondary nondegree award	$76,080	$53,920 – $125,740	680
20	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$76,070	$50,940 – $98,320	2,270
21	Detectives and Criminal InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$75,740	$49,610 – $114,030	1,060
22	Locomotive EngineersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$75,190	$60,660 – $78,300	1,020
23	First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$74,480	$49,290 – $104,450	7,980
24	First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$74,220	$47,200 – $131,490	840
25	First-Line Supervisors of Correctional OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$71,590	$50,030 – $95,230	1,080
26	Food Service ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$70,320	$46,190 – $103,340	1,540
27	Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$70,310	$47,810 – $100,480	770
28	Cardiovascular Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$69,060	$39,820 – $102,440	540
29	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific ProductsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$68,960	$39,990 – $131,620	12,630
30	Railroad Conductors and YardmastersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$68,730	$49,190 – $71,400	1,200
31	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$65,860	$42,660 – $96,830	6,350
32	Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$65,830	$45,910 – $90,640	7,700
33	Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All OtherAssociate's degree	$65,270	$42,550 – $85,820	880
34	Mechanical DraftersAssociate's degree	$65,250	$45,870 – $100,380	540
35	Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$65,220	$39,130 – $109,290	4,590
36	Occupational Therapy AssistantsAssociate's degree	$65,010	$55,120 – $77,410	660
37	Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative AssistantsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,860	$48,160 – $90,970	2,750
38	Physical Therapist AssistantsAssociate's degree	$64,500	$52,520 – $79,550	1,300
39	First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,000	$45,140 – $96,270	12,010
40	Telecommunications Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,560	$38,840 – $100,400	530
41	Construction and Building InspectorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,150	$48,170 – $91,420	840
42	First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling SupervisorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,940	$43,560 – $92,690	7,520
43	Sheet Metal WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,670	$38,690 – $108,530	1,730
44	Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and TravelHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,580	$34,200 – $147,800	12,480
45	Wellhead PumpersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,400	$43,960 – $101,500	620
46	Architectural and Civil DraftersAssociate's degree	$62,220	$41,950 – $86,380	630
47	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award	$61,760	$49,780 – $77,290	7,530
48	Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All OtherAssociate's degree	$61,710	$50,720 – $85,240	920
49	Security and Fire Alarm Systems InstallersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,480	$46,740 – $76,770	740
50	First-Line Supervisors of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,270	$44,840 – $79,580	1,110

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 jobs in Kansas that need no degree

More for Kansas

Metro areas in Kansas

By field in Kansas

Without a degree

High paying jobs in each state that need no degree