Updated May 2026 · BLS OEWS 2025 reference period
58 Highest Paying Jobs in Kansas (2026)
The highest-paying job in Kansas is Pediatrician with a state-aggregated median salary of $228,820 as of 2026, based on Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data weighted across the state's 1 BLS-tracked metro. Across all 58 occupations the average median is $92,072, with 16 occupations paying a six-figure ($100K+) median. Kansas's average cost-of-living index is 84, so the average median equates to $109,610 of buying power in an average-cost U.S. metro.
The 58 occupations below are ranked by median wage across Kansas — rolling up wage data across all metropolitan areas in the state. State-level rollups smooth over the substantial intra-state wage variation typical of larger states. For state-level wage comparisons, BLS OEWS state files aggregate across MSAs and non-MSA areas. The aggregation hides legitimate within-state differences: a job in Kansas's primary metro often pays substantially more (and costs substantially more to live near) than the same job in smaller cities.
Use the per-metro pages for the geographic-specific view. The state-level ranking is most useful for comparing Kansas to other states, not for comparing within-state options.
Top 10 Highest-Paying Jobs in Kansas
Ranked by state-aggregated median (50th percentile) salary, employment-weighted across Kansas's single tracked metro.
State median $228,820 · 50 jobs · top metro: Wichita ($228,820)
Pediatricians in Kansas earn $228,820 median state-wide. Pay varies meaningfully across the state's metros — the top-paying metro (Wichita) pays $228,820 median, materially above the state aggregate.
State median $156,130 · 550 jobs · top metro: Wichita ($156,130)
Computer and Information Systems Managers in Kansas earn $156,130 median state-wide. Pay varies meaningfully across the state's metros — the top-paying metro (Wichita) pays $156,130 median, materially above the state aggregate.
State median $155,060 · 1,060 jobs · top metro: Wichita ($155,060)
Financial Managers in Kansas earn $155,060 median state-wide. Pay varies meaningfully across the state's metros — the top-paying metro (Wichita) pays $155,060 median, materially above the state aggregate.
State median $150,210 · 240 jobs · top metro: Wichita ($150,210)
Marketing Managers in Kansas earn $150,210 median state-wide. Pay varies meaningfully across the state's metros — the top-paying metro (Wichita) pays $150,210 median, materially above the state aggregate.
State median $142,400 · 580 jobs · top metro: Wichita ($142,400)
Pharmacists in Kansas earn $142,400 median state-wide. Pay varies meaningfully across the state's metros — the top-paying metro (Wichita) pays $142,400 median, materially above the state aggregate.
State median $134,650 · 960 jobs · top metro: Wichita ($134,650)
Sales Managers in Kansas earn $134,650 median state-wide. Pay varies meaningfully across the state's metros — the top-paying metro (Wichita) pays $134,650 median, materially above the state aggregate.
State median $132,050 · 220 jobs · top metro: Wichita ($132,050)
Human Resources Managers in Kansas earn $132,050 median state-wide. Pay varies meaningfully across the state's metros — the top-paying metro (Wichita) pays $132,050 median, materially above the state aggregate.
State median $123,940 · 120 jobs · top metro: Wichita ($123,940)
Optometrists in Kansas earn $123,940 median state-wide. Pay varies meaningfully across the state's metros — the top-paying metro (Wichita) pays $123,940 median, materially above the state aggregate.
State median $121,640 · 240 jobs · top metro: Wichita ($121,640)
Physician Assistants in Kansas earn $121,640 median state-wide. Pay varies meaningfully across the state's metros — the top-paying metro (Wichita) pays $121,640 median, materially above the state aggregate.
State median $121,510 · 690 jobs · top metro: Wichita ($121,510)
Lawyers in Kansas earn $121,510 median state-wide. Pay varies meaningfully across the state's metros — the top-paying metro (Wichita) pays $121,510 median, materially above the state aggregate.
Full Ranking: All 58 Tracked Occupations
| Rank | Role | Category | State Median | Top Metro | Top Median | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pediatrician | Healthcare | $228,820 | Wichita | $228,820 | 50 |
| 2 | Computer and Information Systems Manager | Technology | $156,130 | Wichita | $156,130 | 550 |
| 3 | Financial Manager | Finance | $155,060 | Wichita | $155,060 | 1,060 |
| 4 | Marketing Manager | Management | $150,210 | Wichita | $150,210 | 240 |
| 5 | Pharmacist | Healthcare | $142,400 | Wichita | $142,400 | 580 |
| 6 | Sales Manager | Management | $134,650 | Wichita | $134,650 | 960 |
| 7 | Human Resources Manager | Management | $132,050 | Wichita | $132,050 | 220 |
| 8 | Optometrist | Healthcare | $123,940 | Wichita | $123,940 | 120 |
| 9 | Physician Assistant | Healthcare | $121,640 | Wichita | $121,640 | 240 |
| 10 | Lawyer | Legal | $121,510 | Wichita | $121,510 | 690 |
| 11 | Nurse Practitioner | Healthcare | $116,100 | Wichita | $116,100 | 690 |
| 12 | Software Developer | Technology | $105,980 | Wichita | $105,980 | 2,040 |
| 13 | Veterinarian | Healthcare | $104,930 | Wichita | $104,930 | 170 |
| 14 | Medical and Health Services Manager | Healthcare | $104,410 | Wichita | $104,410 | 920 |
| 15 | Operations Research Analyst | Technology | $102,880 | Wichita | $102,880 | 140 |
| 16 | Industrial Engineer | Engineering | $101,510 | Wichita | $101,510 | 1,110 |
| 17 | Loan Officer | Finance | $99,170 | Wichita | $99,170 | 700 |
| 18 | Occupational Therapist | Healthcare | $99,000 | Wichita | $99,000 | 320 |
| 19 | Computer Network Architect | Technology | $98,530 | Wichita | $98,530 | 350 |
| 20 | Electrical Engineer | Engineering | $98,480 | Wichita | $98,480 | 400 |
| 21 | Physical Therapist | Healthcare | $97,400 | Wichita | $97,400 | 580 |
| 22 | Computer Occupations (Other) | Technology | $96,890 | Wichita | $96,890 | 220 |
| 23 | Computer Systems Analyst | Technology | $94,790 | Wichita | $94,790 | 620 |
| 24 | Data Scientist | Technology | $94,680 | Wichita | $94,680 | 70 |
| 25 | Mechanical Engineer | Engineering | $94,610 | Wichita | $94,610 | 800 |
| 26 | Computer Programmer | Technology | $92,960 | Wichita | $92,960 | 70 |
| 27 | Information Security Analyst | Technology | $91,670 | Wichita | $91,670 | 370 |
| 28 | Software Quality Assurance Tester | Technology | $90,130 | Wichita | $90,130 | 130 |
| 29 | Audiologist | Healthcare | $89,610 | Wichita | $89,610 | 60 |
| 30 | General and Operations Manager | Management | $85,230 | Wichita | $85,230 | 5,060 |
| 31 | Civil Engineer | Engineering | $84,310 | Wichita | $84,310 | 540 |
| 32 | Database Architect | Technology | $84,260 | Wichita | $84,260 | 70 |
| 33 | Network Architect | Technology | $82,820 | Wichita | $82,820 | 720 |
| 34 | Management Analyst | Management | $82,390 | Wichita | $82,390 | 970 |
| 35 | Personal Financial Advisor | Finance | $81,200 | Wichita | $81,200 | 470 |
| 36 | Financial Examiner | Finance | $80,450 | Wichita | $80,450 | 110 |
| 37 | Accountant | Finance | $79,270 | Wichita | $79,270 | 3,120 |
| 38 | Architect | Engineering | $79,180 | Wichita | $79,180 | 220 |
| 39 | Speech-Language Pathologist | Healthcare | $78,390 | Wichita | $78,390 | 430 |
| 40 | Registered Nurse | Healthcare | $76,540 | Wichita | $76,540 | 7,460 |
| 41 | Engineers (Other) | Engineering | $73,470 | Wichita | $73,470 | 200 |
| 42 | Financial Analyst | Finance | $71,040 | Wichita | $71,040 | 290 |
| 43 | Web Developer | Technology | $70,910 | Wichita | $70,910 | 30 |
| 44 | Clinical Laboratory Technologist | Healthcare | $67,980 | Wichita | $67,980 | 810 |
| 45 | Computer Network Support Specialist | Technology | $66,680 | Wichita | $66,680 | 40 |
| 46 | Electrician | Trades | $65,670 | Wichita | $65,670 | 1,610 |
| 47 | Market Research Analyst | Management | $63,890 | Wichita | $63,890 | 1,470 |
| 48 | Public Relations Specialist | Creative | $63,430 | Wichita | $63,430 | 370 |
| 49 | Business Professor (Postsecondary) | Education | $63,070 | Wichita | $63,070 | 60 |
| 50 | Web Designer | Technology | $62,690 | Wichita | $62,690 | 80 |
| 51 | Secondary School Teacher | Education | $61,840 | Wichita | $61,840 | 2,320 |
| 52 | Plumber | Trades | $60,940 | Wichita | $60,940 | 1,060 |
| 53 | Elementary School Teacher | Education | $58,640 | Wichita | $58,640 | 2,940 |
| 54 | Welder | Trades | $54,190 | Wichita | $54,190 | 1,460 |
| 55 | Graphic Designer | Creative | $52,570 | Wichita | $52,570 | 300 |
| 56 | Carpenter | Trades | $50,930 | Wichita | $50,930 | 1,210 |
| 57 | Paralegal | Legal | $50,240 | Wichita | $50,240 | 480 |
| 58 | Automotive Technician | Trades | $47,800 | Wichita | $47,800 | 1,330 |
Why These Roles Pay the Most in Kansas
Kansas'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.
$Kansas tracks $1 BLS-published metros covering approximately $49,700 workers across the $58 occupations on this page. State-aggregated medians are employment-weighted across metros, which is the right way to read "state pay" when BLS publishes by metro. The Pediatrician top spot reflects Wichita pulling the upper end of the distribution; smaller metros in Kansas typically pay 10–25% less for the same role.
Metro-by-Metro Detail
For salary data specific to one metro within Kansas, see:
Frequently Asked Questions
The highest paying job in Kansas is Pediatrician with a state median salary of $228,820. The top-paying metro for this role is Wichita at $228,820 median. The role employs roughly 50 workers across Kansas.
16 of the 58 BLS-tracked occupations in Kansas have a state-aggregated median salary of $100,000 or higher. That places this state in the upper tier nationally for high-paying occupations.
Across 58 BLS-tracked occupations, the average median salary in Kansas is $92,072. The figure is employment-weighted across 1 metros, so larger occupations and larger metros contribute proportionally more. Cost-of-living-adjusted to a national-average baseline, it equates to $109,610.
BLS OEWS publishes wage data by Metropolitan Statistical Area. For Kansas, this page aggregates Wichita. Some non-MSA areas (small towns, rural counties) are excluded from OEWS metro tables but covered in BLS state-level summaries; we use metro-level data to preserve the percentile granularity.
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. State aggregates are computed by employment-weighting metro-level percentile wages across the BLS-tracked metros in Kansas.
State aggregates are employment-weighted across the BLS-tracked metros in Kansas, using OEWS 2025 data.
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2026.