Jobs that actually got a raise in Kansas

Consumer prices rose about 26% between May 2019 and May 2025, so a wage that grew less than that lost ground while appearing to rise. The column on the right is the inflation-adjusted change; the nominal figure beneath it is what a paycheck comparison would have shown. Limited to occupations employing at least 50,000 people, so the ranking is not dominated by tiny, noisy ones.

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 · Real change since 2019

1Coaches and Scouts$42,900
Bachelor's degree
$15,080 – $82,540+75.7%+121.2% nominal
2Waiters and Waitresses$36,120
No formal educational credential
$17,370 – $62,890+52.5%+92.0% nominal
3Massage Therapists$49,990
Postsecondary nondegree award
$31,490 – $81,760+51.6%+90.9% nominal
4Packers and Packagers, Hand$44,460
No formal educational credential
$30,060 – $45,380+49.0%+87.7% nominal
5Millwrights$79,690
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,880 – $97,340+36.5%+71.9% nominal
6Driver/Sales Workers$43,180
High school diploma or equivalent
$20,540 – $56,440+36.2%+71.6% nominal
7Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers$101,880
High school diploma or equivalent
$79,250 – $109,260+34.7%+69.6% nominal
8Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education$47,750
Associate's degree
$27,850 – $61,790+29.5%+63.1% nominal
9Manicurists and Pedicurists$30,930
Postsecondary nondegree award
$21,320 – $44,820+28.3%+61.5% nominal
10Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers$48,080
No formal educational credential
$39,660 – $59,250+27.5%+60.6% nominal
11Purchasing Managers$159,850
Bachelor's degree
$101,890 – $221,670+26.1%+58.8% nominal
12Crane and Tower Operators$77,100
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,840 – $99,500+24.2%+56.5% nominal
13Food Processing Workers, All Other$46,060
No formal educational credential
$37,480 – $48,830+23.5%+55.5% nominal
14First-Line Supervisors of Correctional Officers$71,590
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,030 – $95,230+23.2%+55.2% nominal
15Psychiatric Technicians$43,780
Postsecondary nondegree award
$36,710 – $49,300+23.0%+54.9% nominal
16Sheet Metal Workers$62,670
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,690 – $108,530+22.7%+54.5% nominal
17Food Batchmakers$42,850
High school diploma or equivalent
$32,000 – $62,350+21.7%+53.3% nominal
18Chefs and Head Cooks$58,390
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,540 – $89,990+21.5%+53.0% nominal
19Correctional Officers and Jailers$56,120
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,000 – $64,940+20.3%+51.5% nominal
20Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products$130,850
Bachelor's degree
$72,310 – $211,230+18.6%+49.3% nominal
21Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop$28,110
No formal educational credential
$18,040 – $39,040+18.0%+48.7% nominal
22Bartenders$27,940
No formal educational credential
$17,150 – $66,010+17.9%+48.5% nominal
23Power Plant Operators$79,980
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,580 – $129,990+17.6%+48.1% nominal
24Residential Advisors$37,680
High school diploma or equivalent
$24,880 – $60,520+17.2%+47.6% nominal
25Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing$43,580
High school diploma or equivalent
$30,560 – $57,580+17.0%+47.3% nominal
26Food Servers, Nonrestaurant$29,040
No formal educational credential
$21,770 – $35,250+17.0%+47.3% nominal
27Automotive and Watercraft Service Attendants$35,440
No formal educational credential
$27,950 – $44,290+16.9%+47.2% nominal
28Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors$45,510
No formal educational credential
$29,100 – $57,090+15.8%+45.8% nominal
29Computer Occupations, All Other$103,380
Bachelor's degree
$49,090 – $143,800+15.7%+45.7% nominal
30Construction Managers$120,810
Bachelor's degree
$77,310 – $163,130+15.5%+45.4% nominal
31Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$43,050
High school diploma or equivalent
$32,890 – $50,580+15.4%+45.3% nominal
32Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment$37,370
No formal educational credential
$28,620 – $46,070+15.3%+45.2% nominal
33Cooks, Fast Food$28,640
No formal educational credential
$22,480 – $38,680+14.7%+44.4% nominal
34Fast Food and Counter Workers$27,580
No formal educational credential
$21,620 – $34,280+14.2%+43.9% nominal
35Layout Workers, Metal and Plastic$79,240
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,560 – $96,310+14.0%+43.5% nominal
36Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists$29,710
Postsecondary nondegree award
$21,910 – $77,790+14.0%+43.5% nominal
37Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation$49,090
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,290 – $62,250+14.0%+43.5% nominal
38Prepress Technicians and Workers$45,290
Postsecondary nondegree award
$34,490 – $64,630+13.9%+43.4% nominal
39Dishwashers$28,060
No formal educational credential
$20,150 – $38,580+13.9%+43.5% nominal
40Carpenters$56,960
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,860 – $88,090+13.8%+43.3% nominal
41Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers$39,960
High school diploma or equivalent
$29,580 – $49,110+13.7%+43.2% nominal
42Weighers, Measurers, Checkers, and Samplers, Recordkeeping$45,760
High school diploma or equivalent
$32,840 – $58,060+13.5%+42.9% nominal
43Library Assistants, Clerical$31,550
High school diploma or equivalent
$20,800 – $41,180+13.1%+42.4% nominal
44Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers$27,220
No formal educational credential
$21,100 – $32,720+13.1%+42.4% nominal
45Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$76,070
Associate's degree
$50,940 – $98,320+13.0%+42.2% nominal
46Mail Clerks and Mail Machine Operators, Except Postal Service$36,020
High school diploma or equivalent
$28,540 – $45,380+12.4%+41.6% nominal
47Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$46,840
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,360 – $63,150+12.2%+41.3% nominal
48Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners$31,100
No formal educational credential
$26,310 – $38,750+12.1%+41.2% nominal
49Bakers$34,300
No formal educational credential
$27,410 – $45,740+11.9%+40.9% nominal
50Bill and Account Collectors$45,760
High school diploma or equivalent
$30,650 – $75,950+11.6%+40.5% nominal

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	Real change since 2019
1	Coaches and ScoutsBachelor's degree	$42,900	$15,080 – $82,540	+75.7%+121.2% nominal
2	Waiters and WaitressesNo formal educational credential	$36,120	$17,370 – $62,890	+52.5%+92.0% nominal
3	Massage TherapistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$49,990	$31,490 – $81,760	+51.6%+90.9% nominal
4	Packers and Packagers, HandNo formal educational credential	$44,460	$30,060 – $45,380	+49.0%+87.7% nominal
5	MillwrightsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$79,690	$44,880 – $97,340	+36.5%+71.9% nominal
6	Driver/Sales WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$43,180	$20,540 – $56,440	+36.2%+71.6% nominal
7	Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and GaugersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$101,880	$79,250 – $109,260	+34.7%+69.6% nominal
8	Preschool Teachers, Except Special EducationAssociate's degree	$47,750	$27,850 – $61,790	+29.5%+63.1% nominal
9	Manicurists and PedicuristsPostsecondary nondegree award	$30,930	$21,320 – $44,820	+28.3%+61.5% nominal
10	Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and TrimmersNo formal educational credential	$48,080	$39,660 – $59,250	+27.5%+60.6% nominal
11	Purchasing ManagersBachelor's degree	$159,850	$101,890 – $221,670	+26.1%+58.8% nominal
12	Crane and Tower OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$77,100	$49,840 – $99,500	+24.2%+56.5% nominal
13	Food Processing Workers, All OtherNo formal educational credential	$46,060	$37,480 – $48,830	+23.5%+55.5% nominal
14	First-Line Supervisors of Correctional OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$71,590	$50,030 – $95,230	+23.2%+55.2% nominal
15	Psychiatric TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$43,780	$36,710 – $49,300	+23.0%+54.9% nominal
16	Sheet Metal WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,670	$38,690 – $108,530	+22.7%+54.5% nominal
17	Food BatchmakersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$42,850	$32,000 – $62,350	+21.7%+53.3% nominal
18	Chefs and Head CooksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,390	$36,540 – $89,990	+21.5%+53.0% nominal
19	Correctional Officers and JailersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$56,120	$37,000 – $64,940	+20.3%+51.5% nominal
20	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific ProductsBachelor's degree	$130,850	$72,310 – $211,230	+18.6%+49.3% nominal
21	Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee ShopNo formal educational credential	$28,110	$18,040 – $39,040	+18.0%+48.7% nominal
22	BartendersNo formal educational credential	$27,940	$17,150 – $66,010	+17.9%+48.5% nominal
23	Power Plant OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$79,980	$46,580 – $129,990	+17.6%+48.1% nominal
24	Residential AdvisorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$37,680	$24,880 – $60,520	+17.2%+47.6% nominal
25	Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except SawingHigh school diploma or equivalent	$43,580	$30,560 – $57,580	+17.0%+47.3% nominal
26	Food Servers, NonrestaurantNo formal educational credential	$29,040	$21,770 – $35,250	+17.0%+47.3% nominal
27	Automotive and Watercraft Service AttendantsNo formal educational credential	$35,440	$27,950 – $44,290	+16.9%+47.2% nominal
28	Refuse and Recyclable Material CollectorsNo formal educational credential	$45,510	$29,100 – $57,090	+15.8%+45.8% nominal
29	Computer Occupations, All OtherBachelor's degree	$103,380	$49,090 – $143,800	+15.7%+45.7% nominal
30	Construction ManagersBachelor's degree	$120,810	$77,310 – $163,130	+15.5%+45.4% nominal
31	Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$43,050	$32,890 – $50,580	+15.4%+45.3% nominal
32	Cleaners of Vehicles and EquipmentNo formal educational credential	$37,370	$28,620 – $46,070	+15.3%+45.2% nominal
33	Cooks, Fast FoodNo formal educational credential	$28,640	$22,480 – $38,680	+14.7%+44.4% nominal
34	Fast Food and Counter WorkersNo formal educational credential	$27,580	$21,620 – $34,280	+14.2%+43.9% nominal
35	Layout Workers, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$79,240	$44,560 – $96,310	+14.0%+43.5% nominal
36	Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and CosmetologistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$29,710	$21,910 – $77,790	+14.0%+43.5% nominal
37	Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, VegetationHigh school diploma or equivalent	$49,090	$38,290 – $62,250	+14.0%+43.5% nominal
38	Prepress Technicians and WorkersPostsecondary nondegree award	$45,290	$34,490 – $64,630	+13.9%+43.4% nominal
39	DishwashersNo formal educational credential	$28,060	$20,150 – $38,580	+13.9%+43.5% nominal
40	CarpentersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$56,960	$38,860 – $88,090	+13.8%+43.3% nominal
41	Merchandise Displayers and Window TrimmersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$39,960	$29,580 – $49,110	+13.7%+43.2% nominal
42	Weighers, Measurers, Checkers, and Samplers, RecordkeepingHigh school diploma or equivalent	$45,760	$32,840 – $58,060	+13.5%+42.9% nominal
43	Library Assistants, ClericalHigh school diploma or equivalent	$31,550	$20,800 – $41,180	+13.1%+42.4% nominal
44	Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service WorkersNo formal educational credential	$27,220	$21,100 – $32,720	+13.1%+42.4% nominal
45	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$76,070	$50,940 – $98,320	+13.0%+42.2% nominal
46	Mail Clerks and Mail Machine Operators, Except Postal ServiceHigh school diploma or equivalent	$36,020	$28,540 – $45,380	+12.4%+41.6% nominal
47	Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$46,840	$36,360 – $63,150	+12.2%+41.3% nominal
48	Maids and Housekeeping CleanersNo formal educational credential	$31,100	$26,310 – $38,750	+12.1%+41.2% nominal
49	BakersNo formal educational credential	$34,300	$27,410 – $45,740	+11.9%+40.9% nominal
50	Bill and Account CollectorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$45,760	$30,650 – $75,950	+11.6%+40.5% nominal

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.

Jobs that actually got a raise in Kansas

More for Kansas

Metro areas in Kansas

By field in Kansas

Without a degree

Jobs that actually got a raise in each state