Careers in Kansas
Kansas’s regional price level is below the national average (index 90.068, where 100 = U.S. average, 2024 BEA data).
Unemployment rate: 4.2% · Labor force participation: 67% · 1,496,079 people employed (2026-07, BLS LAUS, not seasonally adjusted).
Highest-Paying Careers
See full list →- 1Anesthesiologists$437,030
- 2Orthopedic Surgeons, Except Pediatric$311,630
- 3Psychiatrists$278,100
- 4Family Medicine Physicians$229,390
- 5Physicians, Pathologists$224,280
Largest Occupations
See full list →- 1Fast Food and Counter Workers47,140 employed
- 2Registered Nurses33,800 employed
- 3Retail Salespersons33,360 employed
- 4Cashiers33,080 employed
- 5Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive32,120 employed
Highest Concentration
See full list →- 1Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers30.86× national avg
- 2Layout Workers, Metal and Plastic11.11× national avg
- 3Farm and Home Management Educators6.26× national avg
- 4Farm Equipment Mechanics and Service Technicians6.09× national avg
- 5Aerospace Engineering and Operations Technologists and Technicians5.59× national avg
Best Purchasing Power
See full list →cost-of-living adjusted
- 1Anesthesiologists$485,222
- 2Orthopedic Surgeons, Except Pediatric$345,994
- 3Psychiatrists$308,767
- 4Family Medicine Physicians$254,685
- 5Physicians, Pathologists$249,012
Strongest Opportunity Score
See full list →- 1Layout Workers, Metal and Plastic95.8 / 100
- 2Packers and Packagers, Hand94.6 / 100
- 3Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment92.6 / 100
- 4Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Programmers91.3 / 100
- 5Slaughterers and Meat Packers90 / 100
Sources
Wage and employment data: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS). Cost of living: BEA Regional Price Parities. Unemployment rate: BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS). Opportunity Score is a Career Atlas USA calculation — see methodology.