High paying jobs in Wichita, KS that need no degree

These occupations pay well in Wichita, 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 Wichita, KS run 11.1% below the national average (2024), so a Wichita, KS salary is worth about 1.12× 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 Wichita, KS

OccupationMedian, Wichita, KS · Employed

1Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers$107,260
High school diploma or equivalent
$79,870 – $114,210370
2Commercial Pilots$106,250
Postsecondary nondegree award
$50,030 – $175,820370
3Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers$102,920
High school diploma or equivalent
$58,230 – $121,200200
4Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Programmers$99,790
Postsecondary nondegree award
$59,540 – $130,110390
5Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers$97,600
High school diploma or equivalent
$70,190 – $151,770180
6First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives$90,610
High school diploma or equivalent
$59,220 – $114,420440
7Detectives and Criminal Investigators$87,280
High school diploma or equivalent
$57,870 – $131,730270
8Tool and Die Makers$83,890
Postsecondary nondegree award
$62,350 – $84,140440
9Industrial Machinery Mechanics$83,540
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,490 – $90,6202,470
10Millwrights$82,890
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,830 – $88,980120
11Mechanical Drafters$82,590
Associate's degree
$46,190 – $117,030190
12Diagnostic Medical Sonographers$81,210
Associate's degree
$66,270 – $103,280170
13Layout Workers, Metal and Plastic$79,240
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,720 – $96,310590
14Aerospace Engineering and Operations Technologists and Technicians$78,350
Associate's degree
$55,560 – $100,170510
15Crane and Tower Operators$78,180
High school diploma or equivalent
$60,320 – $87,500340
16First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers$77,820
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,700 – $118,8701,300
17First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers$76,410
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,340 – $102,8702,090
18Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians$76,040
Associate's degree
$47,590 – $97,550140
19First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers$76,030
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,310 – $132,2001,720
20First-Line Supervisors of Correctional Officers$75,150
High school diploma or equivalent
$55,760 – $95,230250
21Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers$71,410
High school diploma or equivalent
$41,600 – $100,400120
22Respiratory Therapists$71,330
Associate's degree
$62,240 – $80,580320
23Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators$70,940
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,660 – $106,330560
24Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other$68,640
Associate's degree
$42,550 – $105,120300
25First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers$67,330
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,700 – $113,990140
26Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment$67,040
Postsecondary nondegree award
$53,250 – $106,500100
27Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators$66,750
No formal educational credential
$48,880 – $75,280210
28Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks$66,300
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,110 – $99,6801,390
29Electricians$65,670
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,700 – $96,8301,610
30Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians$65,640
Postsecondary nondegree award
$47,480 – $94,880580
31Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$64,830
Associate's degree
$50,700 – $91,310500
32Food Service Managers$64,320
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,930 – $105,730420
33Occupational Therapy Assistants$64,250
Associate's degree
$53,490 – $76,780180
34Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$63,750
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,140 – $125,5902,330
35Postal Service Clerks$63,650
No formal educational credential
$55,350 – $76,360480
36Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers$63,030
High school diploma or equivalent
$41,100 – $88,4503,590
37Physical Therapist Assistants$62,900
Associate's degree
$52,150 – $77,170230
38Construction and Building Inspectors$62,300
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,890 – $106,340170
39First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers$62,280
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,180 – $91,2102,390
40Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants$62,280
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,030 – $89,720540
41Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines$62,280
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,840 – $79,980360
42Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians$61,770
Associate's degree
$28,890 – $96,950120
43Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$60,940
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,290 – $93,6301,060
44Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$60,840
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,610 – $80,3101,150
45Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other$60,570
Associate's degree
$50,720 – $72,330780
46First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors$60,490
High school diploma or equivalent
$41,900 – $89,1001,290
47Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers$60,390
Postsecondary nondegree award
$45,770 – $76,860230
48Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$60,310
Postsecondary nondegree award
$50,300 – $76,3301,690
49Tax Preparers$60,260
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,630 – $81,290100
50Postal Service Mail Carriers$59,880
No formal educational credential
$42,390 – $81,040680

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

#	Occupation	MedianWichita, KS	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Employed
1	Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and GaugersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$107,260	$79,870 – $114,210	370
2	Commercial PilotsPostsecondary nondegree award	$106,250	$50,030 – $175,820	370
3	Electrical Power-Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$102,920	$58,230 – $121,200	200
4	Computer Numerically Controlled Tool ProgrammersPostsecondary nondegree award	$99,790	$59,540 – $130,110	390
5	Transportation, Storage, and Distribution ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$97,600	$70,190 – $151,770	180
6	First-Line Supervisors of Police and DetectivesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$90,610	$59,220 – $114,420	440
7	Detectives and Criminal InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$87,280	$57,870 – $131,730	270
8	Tool and Die MakersPostsecondary nondegree award	$83,890	$62,350 – $84,140	440
9	Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$83,540	$49,490 – $90,620	2,470
10	MillwrightsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$82,890	$44,830 – $88,980	120
11	Mechanical DraftersAssociate's degree	$82,590	$46,190 – $117,030	190
12	Diagnostic Medical SonographersAssociate's degree	$81,210	$66,270 – $103,280	170
13	Layout Workers, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$79,240	$45,720 – $96,310	590
14	Aerospace Engineering and Operations Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$78,350	$55,560 – $100,170	510
15	Crane and Tower OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$78,180	$60,320 – $87,500	340
16	First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$77,820	$47,700 – $118,870	1,300
17	First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$76,410	$50,340 – $102,870	2,090
18	Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$76,040	$47,590 – $97,550	140
19	First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$76,030	$49,310 – $132,200	1,720
20	First-Line Supervisors of Correctional OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$75,150	$55,760 – $95,230	250
21	Telecommunications Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$71,410	$41,600 – $100,400	120
22	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$71,330	$62,240 – $80,580	320
23	Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$70,940	$46,660 – $106,330	560
24	Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All OtherAssociate's degree	$68,640	$42,550 – $105,120	300
25	First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$67,330	$45,700 – $113,990	140
26	Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial EquipmentPostsecondary nondegree award	$67,040	$53,250 – $106,500	100
27	Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine OperatorsNo formal educational credential	$66,750	$48,880 – $75,280	210
28	Production, Planning, and Expediting ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$66,300	$38,110 – $99,680	1,390
29	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$65,670	$38,700 – $96,830	1,610
30	Aircraft Mechanics and Service TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$65,640	$47,480 – $94,880	580
31	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$64,830	$50,700 – $91,310	500
32	Food Service ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,320	$45,930 – $105,730	420
33	Occupational Therapy AssistantsAssociate's degree	$64,250	$53,490 – $76,780	180
34	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific ProductsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,750	$39,140 – $125,590	2,330
35	Postal Service ClerksNo formal educational credential	$63,650	$55,350 – $76,360	480
36	Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and WeighersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,030	$41,100 – $88,450	3,590
37	Physical Therapist AssistantsAssociate's degree	$62,900	$52,150 – $77,170	230
38	Construction and Building InspectorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,300	$45,890 – $106,340	170
39	First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,280	$43,180 – $91,210	2,390
40	Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative AssistantsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,280	$47,030 – $89,720	540
41	Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except EnginesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,280	$46,840 – $79,980	360
42	Industrial Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$61,770	$28,890 – $96,950	120
43	Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,940	$38,290 – $93,630	1,060
44	Police and Sheriff's Patrol OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,840	$46,610 – $80,310	1,150
45	Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All OtherAssociate's degree	$60,570	$50,720 – $72,330	780
46	First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling SupervisorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,490	$41,900 – $89,100	1,290
47	Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$60,390	$45,770 – $76,860	230
48	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award	$60,310	$50,300 – $76,330	1,690
49	Tax PreparersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,260	$35,630 – $81,290	100
50	Postal Service Mail CarriersNo formal educational credential	$59,880	$42,390 – $81,040	680

Ranked among the occupations common enough to employ roughly one in every three thousand workers in Wichita, 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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The same fields, narrowed to what you can enter without one. Fields missing here have too few such occupations in Wichita, KS to rank honestly.

High paying jobs in Wichita, KS that need no degree

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