Jobs that pay the biggest premium in Topeka, KS

Each occupation's median wage in Topeka, KS 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 Topeka, KS pays a real premium. Limited to occupations with at least 1,000 workers in the state.

Cost of living: prices in Topeka, KS run 11.2% below the national average (2024), so a Topeka, KS salary is worth about 1.13× 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 Topeka, KS

OccupationMedian, Topeka, KS · vs. national

1Physicians, All Other$451,910
Doctoral or professional degree
$68,320 – $454,460+69.9%
2Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists$162,810
Doctoral or professional degree
$63,060 – $219,100+57.4%
3Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products$157,760
Bachelor's degree
$74,720 – $212,150+50.4%
4Millwrights$91,170
High school diploma or equivalent
$54,120 – $92,900+38.8%
5Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers$52,050
No formal educational credential
$35,650 – $59,250+35.9%
6Food Batchmakers$56,390
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,010 – $79,730+33.3%
7Farmworkers, Farm, Ranch, and Aquacultural Animals$47,490
No formal educational credential
$26,940 – $57,050+29.5%
8Loan Officers$95,330
Bachelor's degree
$60,820 – $183,730+24.3%
9Marketing Managers$205,310
Bachelor's degree
$99,990 – $205,310+23.1%
10Bailiffs$69,390
High school diploma or equivalent
$59,900 – $82,280+22.6%
11Medical Records Specialists$62,470
Postsecondary nondegree award
$42,240 – $104,530+22.2%
12Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand$49,140
No formal educational credential
$31,100 – $55,520+22.1%
13Health Technologists and Technicians, All Other$61,340
Postsecondary nondegree award
$36,010 – $102,150+22.0%
14Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$56,610
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,000 – $75,090+21.6%
15Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education$45,950
Associate's degree
$31,280 – $61,710+20.5%
16Facilities Managers$128,460
Bachelor's degree
$71,840 – $201,180+20.4%
17Forensic Science Technicians$86,670
Bachelor's degree
$60,090 – $110,680+20.3%
18Driver/Sales Workers$46,320
High school diploma or equivalent
$21,370 – $62,020+19.5%
19Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$75,090
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,760 – $95,110+17.7%
20Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers$57,050
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,070 – $75,060+17.5%
21Logisticians$94,200
Bachelor's degree
$62,410 – $124,650+14.4%
22Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers$108,720
High school diploma or equivalent
$64,520 – $112,030+14.1%
23Administrative Services Managers$130,100
Bachelor's degree
$68,310 – $212,230+14.0%
24Surveying and Mapping Technicians$59,770
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,390 – $75,030+10.2%
25Industrial Machinery Mechanics$70,650
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,440 – $90,810+9.5%
26Food Service Managers$75,410
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,440 – $99,250+8.7%
27Insurance Underwriters$88,400
Bachelor's degree
$47,490 – $192,380+8.6%
28Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists$66,500
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,560 – $82,860+7.7%
29Information and Record Clerks, All Other$53,270
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,860 – $64,310+7.6%
30Construction Managers$123,180
Bachelor's degree
$83,610 – $171,960+7.1%
31Human Resources Assistants, Except Payroll and Timekeeping$53,930
Associate's degree
$40,640 – $66,000+6.6%
32Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators$49,440
No formal educational credential
$41,610 – $56,060+6.5%
33Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$76,490
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,550 – $125,490+6.1%
34Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$44,880
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,760 – $49,420+5.9%
35Weighers, Measurers, Checkers, and Samplers, Recordkeeping$49,100
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,520 – $49,280+5.9%
36Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers$64,480
Postsecondary nondegree award
$46,610 – $82,060+5.7%
37Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks$63,010
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,360 – $79,660+5.6%
38Surveyors$79,630
Bachelor's degree
$43,280 – $97,190+5.6%
39First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers$58,930
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,650 – $80,920+5.3%
40Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$48,600
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,710 – $75,510+4.9%
41Library Technicians$46,740
Postsecondary nondegree award
$31,260 – $57,190+4.8%
42Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders$45,300
High school diploma or equivalent
$31,870 – $60,880+4.8%
43Tire Repairers and Changers$39,450
High school diploma or equivalent
$32,450 – $48,380+4.6%
44Sales Managers$154,970
Bachelor's degree
$90,490 – $276,080+4.5%
45First-Line Supervisors of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping Workers$60,860
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,800 – $85,410+4.2%
46Electrical Engineers$125,330
Bachelor's degree
$81,600 – $153,480+3.9%
47First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers$77,360
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,400 – $101,540+3.9%
48First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers$96,980
Postsecondary nondegree award
$57,680 – $127,340+3.7%
49Electricians$65,520
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,590 – $82,100+3.7%
50Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors$61,100
Master's degree
$38,240 – $80,880+2.9%

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

#	Occupation	MedianTopeka, KS	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	vs. national
1	Physicians, All OtherDoctoral or professional degree	$451,910	$68,320 – $454,460	+69.9%
2	Medical Scientists, Except EpidemiologistsDoctoral or professional degree	$162,810	$63,060 – $219,100	+57.4%
3	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific ProductsBachelor's degree	$157,760	$74,720 – $212,150	+50.4%
4	MillwrightsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$91,170	$54,120 – $92,900	+38.8%
5	Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and TrimmersNo formal educational credential	$52,050	$35,650 – $59,250	+35.9%
6	Food BatchmakersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$56,390	$38,010 – $79,730	+33.3%
7	Farmworkers, Farm, Ranch, and Aquacultural AnimalsNo formal educational credential	$47,490	$26,940 – $57,050	+29.5%
8	Loan OfficersBachelor's degree	$95,330	$60,820 – $183,730	+24.3%
9	Marketing ManagersBachelor's degree	$205,310	$99,990 – $205,310	+23.1%
10	BailiffsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$69,390	$59,900 – $82,280	+22.6%
11	Medical Records SpecialistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$62,470	$42,240 – $104,530	+22.2%
12	Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, HandNo formal educational credential	$49,140	$31,100 – $55,520	+22.1%
13	Health Technologists and Technicians, All OtherPostsecondary nondegree award	$61,340	$36,010 – $102,150	+22.0%
14	Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$56,610	$37,000 – $75,090	+21.6%
15	Preschool Teachers, Except Special EducationAssociate's degree	$45,950	$31,280 – $61,710	+20.5%
16	Facilities ManagersBachelor's degree	$128,460	$71,840 – $201,180	+20.4%
17	Forensic Science TechniciansBachelor's degree	$86,670	$60,090 – $110,680	+20.3%
18	Driver/Sales WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$46,320	$21,370 – $62,020	+19.5%
19	Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$75,090	$45,760 – $95,110	+17.7%
20	Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and WeighersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$57,050	$38,070 – $75,060	+17.5%
21	LogisticiansBachelor's degree	$94,200	$62,410 – $124,650	+14.4%
22	Electrical Power-Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$108,720	$64,520 – $112,030	+14.1%
23	Administrative Services ManagersBachelor's degree	$130,100	$68,310 – $212,230	+14.0%
24	Surveying and Mapping TechniciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,770	$40,390 – $75,030	+10.2%
25	Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$70,650	$45,440 – $90,810	+9.5%
26	Food Service ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$75,410	$47,440 – $99,250	+8.7%
27	Insurance UnderwritersBachelor's degree	$88,400	$47,490 – $192,380	+8.6%
28	Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine SpecialistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$66,500	$47,560 – $82,860	+7.7%
29	Information and Record Clerks, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$53,270	$37,860 – $64,310	+7.6%
30	Construction ManagersBachelor's degree	$123,180	$83,610 – $171,960	+7.1%
31	Human Resources Assistants, Except Payroll and TimekeepingAssociate's degree	$53,930	$40,640 – $66,000	+6.6%
32	Industrial Truck and Tractor OperatorsNo formal educational credential	$49,440	$41,610 – $56,060	+6.5%
33	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific ProductsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$76,490	$43,550 – $125,490	+6.1%
34	Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$44,880	$34,760 – $49,420	+5.9%
35	Weighers, Measurers, Checkers, and Samplers, RecordkeepingHigh school diploma or equivalent	$49,100	$36,520 – $49,280	+5.9%
36	Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$64,480	$46,610 – $82,060	+5.7%
37	Production, Planning, and Expediting ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,010	$45,360 – $79,660	+5.6%
38	SurveyorsBachelor's degree	$79,630	$43,280 – $97,190	+5.6%
39	First-Line Supervisors of Security WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,930	$37,650 – $80,920	+5.3%
40	Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$48,600	$38,710 – $75,510	+4.9%
41	Library TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$46,740	$31,260 – $57,190	+4.8%
42	Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$45,300	$31,870 – $60,880	+4.8%
43	Tire Repairers and ChangersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$39,450	$32,450 – $48,380	+4.6%
44	Sales ManagersBachelor's degree	$154,970	$90,490 – $276,080	+4.5%
45	First-Line Supervisors of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,860	$45,800 – $85,410	+4.2%
46	Electrical EngineersBachelor's degree	$125,330	$81,600 – $153,480	+3.9%
47	First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$77,360	$49,400 – $101,540	+3.9%
48	First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention WorkersPostsecondary nondegree award	$96,980	$57,680 – $127,340	+3.7%
49	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$65,520	$47,590 – $82,100	+3.7%
50	Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health CounselorsMaster's degree	$61,100	$38,240 – $80,880	+2.9%

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