Jobs that pay the biggest premium in Kansas

Each occupation's median wage in Kansas compared against the national median for the same occupation. Unlike a cost-of-living adjustment — which scales every job in a state by the same constant and so cannot change their order — this genuinely re-ranks, and it shows where Kansas pays a real premium. Limited to occupations with at least 1,000 workers in the state.

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 · vs. national

1Teachers and Instructors, All Other$94,520
Bachelor's degree
$40,670 – $124,200+42.9%
2Tool and Die Makers$83,890
Postsecondary nondegree award
$51,350 – $92,670+31.0%
3Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers$48,080
No formal educational credential
$39,660 – $59,250+25.5%
4Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education$47,750
Associate's degree
$27,850 – $61,790+25.2%
5Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products$130,850
Bachelor's degree
$72,310 – $211,230+24.7%
6Layout Workers, Metal and Plastic$79,240
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,560 – $96,310+24.1%
7Packers and Packagers, Hand$44,460
No formal educational credential
$30,060 – $45,380+22.5%
8Millwrights$79,690
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,880 – $97,340+21.3%
9Slaughterers and Meat Packers$48,240
No formal educational credential
$39,180 – $57,660+20.2%
10Food Processing Workers, All Other$46,060
No formal educational credential
$37,480 – $48,830+16.1%
11Dental Laboratory Technicians$56,790
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,800 – $84,700+14.5%
12Loan Officers$86,970
Bachelor's degree
$48,560 – $160,560+13.4%
13Crane and Tower Operators$77,100
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,840 – $99,500+13.2%
14Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Programmers$76,080
Postsecondary nondegree award
$53,920 – $125,740+11.7%
15Anesthesiologists$437,030
Doctoral or professional degree
$222,520 – $536,800+11.6%
16Driver/Sales Workers$43,180
High school diploma or equivalent
$20,540 – $56,440+11.4%
17Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers$53,680
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,800 – $80,910+10.5%
18Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders$45,850
High school diploma or equivalent
$33,330 – $50,030+10.2%
19Facilities Managers$117,270
Bachelor's degree
$77,180 – $177,780+9.9%
20Agricultural Equipment Operators$45,570
No formal educational credential
$38,120 – $57,340+9.2%
21Purchasing Managers$159,850
Bachelor's degree
$101,890 – $221,670+7.9%
22Sales Managers$159,990
Bachelor's degree
$91,530 – $249,990+7.9%
23Health Technologists and Technicians, All Other$54,180
Postsecondary nondegree award
$38,640 – $98,210+7.7%
24Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers$101,620
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,510 – $122,970+6.6%
25Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation$49,090
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,290 – $62,250+5.9%
26Helpers--Electricians$44,990
High school diploma or equivalent
$32,000 – $56,630+5.4%
27Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers$101,880
High school diploma or equivalent
$79,250 – $109,260+5.3%
28Education Administrators, Postsecondary$110,020
Master's degree
$62,750 – $227,000+5.2%
29Construction Managers$120,810
Bachelor's degree
$77,310 – $163,130+5.1%
30First-Line Supervisors of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping Workers$61,270
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,840 – $79,580+4.9%
31Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other$65,270
Associate's degree
$42,550 – $85,820+4.8%
32Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment$37,370
No formal educational credential
$28,620 – $46,070+4.3%
33Electricians$65,860
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,660 – $96,830+4.2%
34Administrative Services Managers$118,570
Bachelor's degree
$74,500 – $179,990+3.9%
35Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders$44,890
High school diploma or equivalent
$31,150 – $57,740+3.9%
36Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse$37,020
No formal educational credential
$28,440 – $46,980+3.8%
37Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers, All Other$51,060
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,820 – $74,170+3.7%
38Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$50,750
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,700 – $70,660+3.6%
39First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers$57,960
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,720 – $87,530+3.6%
40Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic$47,360
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,170 – $61,780+2.6%
41Waiters and Waitresses$36,120
No formal educational credential
$17,370 – $62,890+2.5%
42Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers$61,480
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,740 – $76,770+2.3%
43Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$65,220
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,130 – $109,290+2.2%
44Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators$47,430
No formal educational credential
$37,910 – $58,640+2.2%
45Industrial Machinery Mechanics$65,830
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,910 – $90,640+2.0%
46Optometrists$138,580
Doctoral or professional degree
$85,010 – $192,720+1.5%
47Sheet Metal Workers$62,670
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,690 – $108,530+1.4%
48Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers$39,960
High school diploma or equivalent
$29,580 – $49,110+1.4%
49First-Line Supervisors of Housekeeping and Janitorial Workers$49,780
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,920 – $74,770+1.4%
50Food Batchmakers$42,850
High school diploma or equivalent
$32,000 – $62,350+1.3%

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	vs. national
1	Teachers and Instructors, All OtherBachelor's degree	$94,520	$40,670 – $124,200	+42.9%
2	Tool and Die MakersPostsecondary nondegree award	$83,890	$51,350 – $92,670	+31.0%
3	Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and TrimmersNo formal educational credential	$48,080	$39,660 – $59,250	+25.5%
4	Preschool Teachers, Except Special EducationAssociate's degree	$47,750	$27,850 – $61,790	+25.2%
5	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific ProductsBachelor's degree	$130,850	$72,310 – $211,230	+24.7%
6	Layout Workers, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$79,240	$44,560 – $96,310	+24.1%
7	Packers and Packagers, HandNo formal educational credential	$44,460	$30,060 – $45,380	+22.5%
8	MillwrightsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$79,690	$44,880 – $97,340	+21.3%
9	Slaughterers and Meat PackersNo formal educational credential	$48,240	$39,180 – $57,660	+20.2%
10	Food Processing Workers, All OtherNo formal educational credential	$46,060	$37,480 – $48,830	+16.1%
11	Dental Laboratory TechniciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$56,790	$42,800 – $84,700	+14.5%
12	Loan OfficersBachelor's degree	$86,970	$48,560 – $160,560	+13.4%
13	Crane and Tower OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$77,100	$49,840 – $99,500	+13.2%
14	Computer Numerically Controlled Tool ProgrammersPostsecondary nondegree award	$76,080	$53,920 – $125,740	+11.7%
15	AnesthesiologistsDoctoral or professional degree	$437,030	$222,520 – $536,800	+11.6%
16	Driver/Sales WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$43,180	$20,540 – $56,440	+11.4%
17	Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and WeighersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$53,680	$37,800 – $80,910	+10.5%
18	Food Cooking Machine Operators and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$45,850	$33,330 – $50,030	+10.2%
19	Facilities ManagersBachelor's degree	$117,270	$77,180 – $177,780	+9.9%
20	Agricultural Equipment OperatorsNo formal educational credential	$45,570	$38,120 – $57,340	+9.2%
21	Purchasing ManagersBachelor's degree	$159,850	$101,890 – $221,670	+7.9%
22	Sales ManagersBachelor's degree	$159,990	$91,530 – $249,990	+7.9%
23	Health Technologists and Technicians, All OtherPostsecondary nondegree award	$54,180	$38,640 – $98,210	+7.7%
24	Electrical Power-Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$101,620	$50,510 – $122,970	+6.6%
25	Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, VegetationHigh school diploma or equivalent	$49,090	$38,290 – $62,250	+5.9%
26	Helpers--ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$44,990	$32,000 – $56,630	+5.4%
27	Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and GaugersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$101,880	$79,250 – $109,260	+5.3%
28	Education Administrators, PostsecondaryMaster's degree	$110,020	$62,750 – $227,000	+5.2%
29	Construction ManagersBachelor's degree	$120,810	$77,310 – $163,130	+5.1%
30	First-Line Supervisors of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,270	$44,840 – $79,580	+4.9%
31	Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All OtherAssociate's degree	$65,270	$42,550 – $85,820	+4.8%
32	Cleaners of Vehicles and EquipmentNo formal educational credential	$37,370	$28,620 – $46,070	+4.3%
33	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$65,860	$42,660 – $96,830	+4.2%
34	Administrative Services ManagersBachelor's degree	$118,570	$74,500 – $179,990	+3.9%
35	Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$44,890	$31,150 – $57,740	+3.9%
36	Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and GreenhouseNo formal educational credential	$37,020	$28,440 – $46,980	+3.8%
37	Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$51,060	$34,820 – $74,170	+3.7%
38	Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$50,750	$36,700 – $70,660	+3.6%
39	First-Line Supervisors of Security WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$57,960	$37,720 – $87,530	+3.6%
40	Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$47,360	$39,170 – $61,780	+2.6%
41	Waiters and WaitressesNo formal educational credential	$36,120	$17,370 – $62,890	+2.5%
42	Security and Fire Alarm Systems InstallersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,480	$46,740 – $76,770	+2.3%
43	Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$65,220	$39,130 – $109,290	+2.2%
44	Industrial Truck and Tractor OperatorsNo formal educational credential	$47,430	$37,910 – $58,640	+2.2%
45	Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$65,830	$45,910 – $90,640	+2.0%
46	OptometristsDoctoral or professional degree	$138,580	$85,010 – $192,720	+1.5%
47	Sheet Metal WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,670	$38,690 – $108,530	+1.4%
48	Merchandise Displayers and Window TrimmersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$39,960	$29,580 – $49,110	+1.4%
49	First-Line Supervisors of Housekeeping and Janitorial WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$49,780	$36,920 – $74,770	+1.4%
50	Food BatchmakersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$42,850	$32,000 – $62,350	+1.3%

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 pay the biggest premium in Kansas

More for Kansas

Metro areas in Kansas

By field in Kansas

Without a degree

Jobs that pay the biggest premium in each state