High paying jobs in Kansas that need no experience

Every occupation here pays well in Kansas, requires no bachelor's degree, and requires no prior experience in a related job. That second filter is what separates this from the no-degree list, which is topped by supervisor roles asking five years in the trade before they will look at you. Several of these do involve months of training — but the employer provides it, and pays you during it, which is a feature rather than a barrier. 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

1Commercial Pilots$105,440
Postsecondary nondegree award
$49,060 – $175,820680
2Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers$101,880
High school diploma or equivalent
$79,250 – $109,260950
3Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers$101,620
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,510 – $122,9701,610
4Diagnostic Medical Sonographers$96,310
Associate's degree
$72,420 – $112,520670
5Tool and Die Makers$83,890
Postsecondary nondegree award
$51,350 – $92,670660
6Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians$80,270
Postsecondary nondegree award
$50,630 – $98,0701,440
7Power Plant Operators$79,980
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,580 – $129,990520
8Millwrights$79,690
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,880 – $97,340840
9Layout Workers, Metal and Plastic$79,240
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,560 – $96,310610
10Aerospace Engineering and Operations Technologists and Technicians$78,350
Associate's degree
$51,200 – $100,170580
11Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators$77,290
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,980 – $112,7104,570
12Respiratory Therapists$76,970
Associate's degree
$60,470 – $94,6001,450
13Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Programmers$76,080
Postsecondary nondegree award
$53,920 – $125,740680
14Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$76,070
Associate's degree
$50,940 – $98,3202,270
15Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians$70,310
Associate's degree
$47,810 – $100,480770
16Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians$69,060
Associate's degree
$39,820 – $102,440540
17Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$68,960
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,990 – $131,62012,630
18Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters$68,730
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,190 – $71,4001,200
19Electricians$65,860
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,660 – $96,8306,350
20Industrial Machinery Mechanics$65,830
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,910 – $90,6407,700
21Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other$65,270
Associate's degree
$42,550 – $85,820880
22Mechanical Drafters$65,250
Associate's degree
$45,870 – $100,380540
23Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$65,220
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,130 – $109,2904,590
24Occupational Therapy Assistants$65,010
Associate's degree
$55,120 – $77,410660
25Physical Therapist Assistants$64,500
Associate's degree
$52,520 – $79,5501,300
26Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers$63,560
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,840 – $100,400530
27Sheet Metal Workers$62,670
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,690 – $108,5301,730
28Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel$62,580
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,200 – $147,80012,480
29Architectural and Civil Drafters$62,220
Associate's degree
$41,950 – $86,380630
30Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$61,760
Postsecondary nondegree award
$49,780 – $77,2907,530
31Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other$61,710
Associate's degree
$50,720 – $85,240920
32Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers$61,480
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,740 – $76,770740
33Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians$61,000
Associate's degree
$39,300 – $82,250570
34Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines$60,890
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,880 – $80,7501,690
35Surgical Technologists$60,600
Postsecondary nondegree award
$44,720 – $76,8801,200
36Postal Service Clerks$60,530
No formal educational credential
$42,600 – $75,0301,290
37Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers$60,460
Postsecondary nondegree award
$43,660 – $83,5003,770
38Insurance Sales Agents$60,370
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,020 – $153,5206,360
39Maintenance Workers, Machinery$60,160
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,040 – $78,5001,040
40Health Information Technologists and Medical Registrars$60,030
Associate's degree
$37,250 – $103,450610
41Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers$59,850
High school diploma or equivalent
$52,630 – $77,4409,710
42Occupational Health and Safety Technicians$59,740
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,410 – $91,370480
43Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists$59,460
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,610 – $81,0003,300
44Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians$59,440
Associate's degree
$41,270 – $80,6501,060
45Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$59,230
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,040 – $90,5306,130
46Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers$58,920
Postsecondary nondegree award
$43,760 – $78,91024,220
47Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers$58,690
Postsecondary nondegree award
$44,140 – $80,9601,480
48Postal Service Mail Carriers$58,540
No formal educational credential
$42,390 – $81,0403,310
49Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks$57,080
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,110 – $89,4404,320
50Carpenters$56,960
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,860 – $88,0905,210

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	Commercial PilotsPostsecondary nondegree award	$105,440	$49,060 – $175,820	680
2	Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and GaugersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$101,880	$79,250 – $109,260	950
3	Electrical Power-Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$101,620	$50,510 – $122,970	1,610
4	Diagnostic Medical SonographersAssociate's degree	$96,310	$72,420 – $112,520	670
5	Tool and Die MakersPostsecondary nondegree award	$83,890	$51,350 – $92,670	660
6	Aircraft Mechanics and Service TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$80,270	$50,630 – $98,070	1,440
7	Power Plant OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$79,980	$46,580 – $129,990	520
8	MillwrightsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$79,690	$44,880 – $97,340	840
9	Layout Workers, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$79,240	$44,560 – $96,310	610
10	Aerospace Engineering and Operations Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$78,350	$51,200 – $100,170	580
11	Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$77,290	$48,980 – $112,710	4,570
12	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$76,970	$60,470 – $94,600	1,450
13	Computer Numerically Controlled Tool ProgrammersPostsecondary nondegree award	$76,080	$53,920 – $125,740	680
14	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$76,070	$50,940 – $98,320	2,270
15	Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$70,310	$47,810 – $100,480	770
16	Cardiovascular Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$69,060	$39,820 – $102,440	540
17	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific ProductsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$68,960	$39,990 – $131,620	12,630
18	Railroad Conductors and YardmastersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$68,730	$49,190 – $71,400	1,200
19	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$65,860	$42,660 – $96,830	6,350
20	Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$65,830	$45,910 – $90,640	7,700
21	Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All OtherAssociate's degree	$65,270	$42,550 – $85,820	880
22	Mechanical DraftersAssociate's degree	$65,250	$45,870 – $100,380	540
23	Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$65,220	$39,130 – $109,290	4,590
24	Occupational Therapy AssistantsAssociate's degree	$65,010	$55,120 – $77,410	660
25	Physical Therapist AssistantsAssociate's degree	$64,500	$52,520 – $79,550	1,300
26	Telecommunications Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,560	$38,840 – $100,400	530
27	Sheet Metal WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,670	$38,690 – $108,530	1,730
28	Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and TravelHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,580	$34,200 – $147,800	12,480
29	Architectural and Civil DraftersAssociate's degree	$62,220	$41,950 – $86,380	630
30	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award	$61,760	$49,780 – $77,290	7,530
31	Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All OtherAssociate's degree	$61,710	$50,720 – $85,240	920
32	Security and Fire Alarm Systems InstallersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,480	$46,740 – $76,770	740
33	Industrial Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$61,000	$39,300 – $82,250	570
34	Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except EnginesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,890	$45,880 – $80,750	1,690
35	Surgical TechnologistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$60,600	$44,720 – $76,880	1,200
36	Postal Service ClerksNo formal educational credential	$60,530	$42,600 – $75,030	1,290
37	Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$60,460	$43,660 – $83,500	3,770
38	Insurance Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,370	$38,020 – $153,520	6,360
39	Maintenance Workers, MachineryHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,160	$45,040 – $78,500	1,040
40	Health Information Technologists and Medical RegistrarsAssociate's degree	$60,030	$37,250 – $103,450	610
41	Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems AssemblersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,850	$52,630 – $77,440	9,710
42	Occupational Health and Safety TechniciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,740	$43,410 – $91,370	480
43	Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine SpecialistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,460	$43,610 – $81,000	3,300
44	Civil Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$59,440	$41,270 – $80,650	1,060
45	Police and Sheriff's Patrol OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,230	$42,040 – $90,530	6,130
46	Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck DriversPostsecondary nondegree award	$58,920	$43,760 – $78,910	24,220
47	Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$58,690	$44,140 – $80,960	1,480
48	Postal Service Mail CarriersNo formal educational credential	$58,540	$42,390 – $81,040	3,310
49	Production, Planning, and Expediting ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$57,080	$38,110 – $89,440	4,320
50	CarpentersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$56,960	$38,860 – $88,090	5,210

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 experience

More for Kansas

Metro areas in Kansas

By field in Kansas

Without a degree

High paying jobs in each state that need no experience