Updated May 2026 · BLS OEWS 2025 reference period
64 Highest Paying Jobs in Kansas City, MO (2026)
The highest-paying job in Kansas City, MO, Missouri is Pediatrician with a median salary of $271,410 as of 2026, based on Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data. Across all 64 tracked occupations the average median is $104,337, with 28 occupations paying a six-figure ($100K+) median. Kansas City, MO has a cost-of-living index of 95.4 (national average = 100), so a $104,337 nominal salary equals $109,368 in average-cost-metro buying power.
The 64 occupations below are ranked by median wage in Kansas City, MO, MO, from BLS OEWS data. Kansas City, MO's cost-of-living index runs 95.4 (national baseline = 100), which shapes the headline-wage interpretation. Top-paying occupations in any U.S. metro typically cluster around physicians, dentists, executives, tech specialists, and licensed professionals. The specific top of the list varies with local industry concentration: tech-heavy metros boost software-engineering ranks, finance-heavy metros boost banking ranks.
Each role on the ranking links to the per-role-and-city page with full percentile distribution (p10 to p90), employment count, and cost-adjusted wage. For workers comparing offers within Kansas City, MO, the percentile data is the most decision-relevant.
Top 10 Highest-Paying Jobs in Kansas City, MO
Ranked by median (50th percentile) salary. The COL-Adjusted column rebases each nominal salary to Kansas City, MO's cost-of-living index of 95.4 so you can compare buying power against an average-cost U.S. metro.
Median $271,410 · 10th–90th $134,310–$302,830 · 70 jobs in metro
Pediatricians in Kansas City, MO earn $271,410 median, with top earners (90th percentile) over $302,830.
Median $213,950 · 10th–90th $74,550–$425,160 · 590 jobs in metro
Family Medicine Physicians in Kansas City, MO earn $213,950 median, with top earners (90th percentile) over $425,160.
Median $171,690 · 10th–90th $95,610–$340,330 · 1,070 jobs in metro
Dentists in Kansas City, MO earn $171,690 median, with top earners (90th percentile) over $340,330.
Median $168,050 · 10th–90th $105,680–$234,030 · 4,710 jobs in metro
Computer and Information Systems Managers in Kansas City, MO earn $168,050 median, with top earners (90th percentile) over $234,030.
Median $162,490 · 10th–90th $101,060–$296,870 · 4,970 jobs in metro
Financial Managers in Kansas City, MO earn $162,490 median, with top earners (90th percentile) over $296,870.
Median $159,990 · 10th–90th $83,790–$249,990 · 0 jobs in metro
Sales Managers in Kansas City, MO earn $159,990 median, with top earners (90th percentile) over $249,990.
Median $140,890 · 10th–90th $91,780–$220,570 · 1,380 jobs in metro
Human Resources Managers in Kansas City, MO earn $140,890 median, with top earners (90th percentile) over $220,570.
Median $139,460 · 10th–90th $85,500–$172,430 · 2,640 jobs in metro
Pharmacists in Kansas City, MO earn $139,460 median, with top earners (90th percentile) over $172,430.
Median $139,240 · 10th–90th $81,710–$227,820 · 2,260 jobs in metro
Marketing Managers in Kansas City, MO earn $139,240 median, with top earners (90th percentile) over $227,820.
Median $138,580 · 10th–90th $93,640–$176,030 · 450 jobs in metro
Optometrists in Kansas City, MO earn $138,580 median, with top earners (90th percentile) over $176,030.
Full Ranking (64 Occupations)
| Rank | Role | Category | Median | 10th–90th | COL-Adjusted | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pediatrician | Healthcare | $271,410 | $134,310–$302,830 | $284,497 | 70 |
| 2 | Family Medicine Physician | Healthcare | $213,950 | $74,550–$425,160 | $224,266 | 590 |
| 3 | Dentist | Healthcare | $171,690 | $95,610–$340,330 | $179,969 | 1,070 |
| 4 | Computer and Information Systems Manager | Technology | $168,050 | $105,680–$234,030 | $176,153 | 4,710 |
| 5 | Financial Manager | Finance | $162,490 | $101,060–$296,870 | $170,325 | 4,970 |
| 6 | Sales Manager | Management | $159,990 | $83,790–$249,990 | $167,704 | 0 |
| 7 | Human Resources Manager | Management | $140,890 | $91,780–$220,570 | $147,683 | 1,380 |
| 8 | Pharmacist | Healthcare | $139,460 | $85,500–$172,430 | $146,184 | 2,640 |
| 9 | Marketing Manager | Management | $139,240 | $81,710–$227,820 | $145,954 | 2,260 |
| 10 | Optometrist | Healthcare | $138,580 | $93,640–$176,030 | $145,262 | 450 |
| 11 | Lawyer | Legal | $134,640 | $78,310–$287,200 | $141,132 | 5,310 |
| 12 | Physician Assistant | Healthcare | $133,350 | $101,600–$165,740 | $139,780 | 540 |
| 13 | Nurse Practitioner | Healthcare | $130,760 | $97,030–$159,810 | $137,065 | 2,730 |
| 14 | Software Developer | Technology | $124,990 | $76,340–$169,440 | $131,017 | 12,160 |
| 15 | Medical and Health Services Manager | Healthcare | $124,990 | $74,570–$206,050 | $131,017 | 3,950 |
| 16 | Personal Financial Advisor | Finance | $123,140 | $60,890–$320,820 | $129,078 | 3,500 |
| 17 | Veterinarian | Healthcare | $122,490 | $76,910–$199,910 | $128,396 | 750 |
| 18 | Statistician | Technology | $111,780 | $75,030–$151,860 | $117,170 | 100 |
| 19 | Electrical Engineer | Engineering | $110,740 | $78,080–$166,710 | $116,080 | 1,760 |
| 20 | Computer Network Architect | Technology | $107,450 | $68,830–$169,660 | $112,631 | 1,620 |
| 21 | Computer Occupations (Other) | Technology | $105,470 | $59,630–$162,510 | $110,556 | 3,900 |
| 22 | Software Quality Assurance Analyst | Technology | $104,670 | $78,410–$172,210 | $109,717 | 120 |
| 23 | Information Security Analyst | Technology | $104,010 | $65,110–$158,410 | $109,025 | 1,810 |
| 24 | Database Architect | Technology | $103,640 | $62,200–$155,980 | $108,637 | 440 |
| 25 | Computer Programmer | Technology | $101,830 | $63,110–$133,590 | $106,740 | 500 |
| 26 | Computer Systems Analyst | Technology | $101,340 | $64,520–$165,390 | $106,226 | 4,180 |
| 27 | Physical Therapist | Healthcare | $101,270 | $75,170–$125,790 | $106,153 | 2,010 |
| 28 | Industrial Engineer | Engineering | $100,480 | $74,200–$155,900 | $105,325 | 2,080 |
| 29 | Architect | Engineering | $99,920 | $61,340–$167,560 | $104,738 | 1,250 |
| 30 | Data Scientist | Technology | $99,870 | $61,820–$149,060 | $104,686 | 1,260 |
| 31 | Occupational Therapist | Healthcare | $99,840 | $70,890–$122,960 | $104,654 | 1,360 |
| 32 | Audiologist | Healthcare | $99,650 | $62,230–$118,900 | $104,455 | 120 |
| 33 | Mechanical Engineer | Engineering | $99,630 | $78,070–$136,650 | $104,434 | 4,330 |
| 34 | Civil Engineer | Engineering | $98,860 | $68,040–$155,110 | $103,627 | 3,230 |
| 35 | Management Analyst | Management | $98,430 | $61,370–$139,320 | $103,176 | 4,500 |
| 36 | Financial Analyst | Finance | $97,680 | $62,500–$141,130 | $102,390 | 2,050 |
| 37 | Software Quality Assurance Tester | Technology | $94,970 | $52,650–$134,290 | $99,549 | 1,430 |
| 38 | Engineers (Other) | Engineering | $93,330 | $60,890–$159,980 | $97,830 | 580 |
| 39 | Dental Hygienist | Healthcare | $92,750 | $75,550–$97,260 | $97,222 | 1,800 |
| 40 | Network Architect | Technology | $91,980 | $62,640–$133,970 | $96,415 | 2,760 |
| 41 | General and Operations Manager | Management | $90,490 | $47,080–$219,230 | $94,853 | 31,080 |
| 42 | Web Designer | Technology | $89,420 | $58,810–$156,830 | $93,732 | 520 |
| 43 | Financial Examiner | Finance | $89,300 | $61,360–$170,250 | $93,606 | 870 |
| 44 | Speech-Language Pathologist | Healthcare | $86,120 | $59,390–$118,340 | $90,273 | 1,270 |
| 45 | Operations Research Analyst | Technology | $85,380 | $57,270–$139,240 | $89,497 | 0 |
| 46 | Registered Nurse | Healthcare | $83,040 | $66,970–$103,540 | $87,044 | 29,650 |
| 47 | Loan Officer | Finance | $82,330 | $46,350–$150,700 | $86,300 | 2,180 |
| 48 | Accountant | Finance | $80,040 | $54,680–$130,320 | $83,899 | 11,260 |
| 49 | Business Professor (Postsecondary) | Education | $79,790 | $38,530–$201,600 | $83,637 | 280 |
| 50 | Computer Network Support Specialist | Technology | $77,040 | $48,290–$129,510 | $80,755 | 850 |
| 51 | Electrician | Trades | $76,860 | $46,280–$110,170 | $80,566 | 5,400 |
| 52 | Plumber | Trades | $76,150 | $46,800–$122,820 | $79,822 | 3,740 |
| 53 | Web Developer | Technology | $75,690 | $48,820–$136,480 | $79,340 | 310 |
| 54 | Market Research Analyst | Management | $72,580 | $43,130–$131,080 | $76,080 | 6,920 |
| 55 | Public Relations Specialist | Creative | $68,050 | $43,750–$112,810 | $71,331 | 1,950 |
| 56 | Writer/Author | Creative | $67,230 | $44,990–$102,070 | $70,472 | 220 |
| 57 | Paralegal | Legal | $63,880 | $47,230–$97,890 | $66,960 | 2,900 |
| 58 | Carpenter | Trades | $61,810 | $44,950–$96,410 | $64,790 | 4,540 |
| 59 | Secondary School Teacher | Education | $61,200 | $48,820–$78,940 | $64,151 | 7,750 |
| 60 | Elementary School Teacher | Education | $61,060 | $48,120–$78,940 | $64,004 | 11,500 |
| 61 | Graphic Designer | Creative | $59,990 | $41,100–$97,290 | $62,883 | 1,720 |
| 62 | Clinical Laboratory Technologist | Healthcare | $59,230 | $38,760–$95,840 | $62,086 | 2,990 |
| 63 | Welder | Trades | $57,370 | $42,850–$78,150 | $60,136 | 2,710 |
| 64 | Automotive Technician | Trades | $53,790 | $36,030–$80,850 | $56,384 | 5,380 |
Why These Roles Pay the Most in Kansas City, MO
Kansas City, MO's pay distribution reflects its mix of regional employers and industries, plus the local cost of living that affects nominal salary levels in the BLS data.
An average median salary above $90K places this metro in the top tier of U.S. cities for nominal pay. Most of that premium accrues to the upper percentiles of skilled and managerial occupations; entry-level and service-sector pay is closer to national norms.
Kansas City, MO's cost-of-living index of 95.4 runs 5% below the U.S. national average. Lower nominal pay here often translates to comparable or better purchasing power than higher headline numbers in coastal hubs — see the COL-Adjusted column for the apples-to-apples figure.
How to Use This Ranking
For salary negotiation, the median is a starting anchor — not the ceiling. A Pediatrician with five-plus years of experience in Kansas City, MO should be benchmarking against the 75th percentile ($287,120) or 90th percentile ($302,830), not the $271,410 median. Use the salary percentile calculator to place any specific salary into the BLS distribution for any role-and-city pair.
For cross-city comparisons, ignore the nominal Median column and look at COL-Adjusted. A $271K Pediatrician salary in Kansas City, MO (COL 95.4) translates to $284K of buying power in an average-cost metro — that is the apples-to-apples figure when weighing a relocation. Read the methodology behind these adjustments in our methodology page.
For job hunting, focus on the top-10 ranking above and on the role-by-role detail pages — each links through to a Pediatrician in Kansas City, MO page with full percentile breakdowns, year-over-year change, and prevailing-wage references for H-1B / PERM applicants.
Frequently Asked Questions
The highest paying job in Kansas City, MO is Pediatrician with a median salary of $271,410 and a 90th-percentile reading of $302,830. The role employs roughly 70 workers in this metro according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics' 2025 OEWS data.
28 of the 64 BLS-tracked occupations in Kansas City, MO have a median salary of $100,000 or higher. That is well above what most U.S. metros offer. See the full list ranked by median salary above.
Across 64 BLS-tracked occupations, the average median salary in Kansas City, MO is $104,337. The cost-of-living index is 95.4, so adjusted to a national-average baseline, the average is $109,368 in equivalent purchasing power.
Kansas City, MO has a cost-of-living index of 95.4, below the national average. Nominal pay translates better than face value, making it a strong choice for many careers — particularly the Pediatrician, Family Medicine Physician, Dentist occupations at the top of the ranking.
Every wage figure on this page is sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program at bls.gov/oes — public domain federal survey data covering about 1.2 million U.S. employers across all industries. The OEWS publishes 10th, 25th, 50th (median), 75th, and 90th percentile wages by Metropolitan Statistical Area and Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) code. The same data is used by the Department of Labor for prevailing wage determinations.
Related Pages
Rankings based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2025 reference period. COL adjustments use a composite cost-of-living index calibrated to U.S. average = 100.
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2026.