Highest-paying trades in Kansas
Updated September 27, 2026
Electrical and electronics repairers, powerhouse, substation, and relay are the highest-paying skilled trade in Kansas, with a median of $104,970 a year, according to May 2025 BLS data. 49 of the 78 trades ranked here pay more than the $48,010 median for all jobs in Kansas.
All 78 trades by median pay in Kansas
| # | Trade | Median a year |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Electrical and electronics repairers, powerhouse, substation, and relay280 jobs · +2% vs U.S. | $104,970$50.46/hr |
| 2 | Electrical power-line installers and repairers1,610 jobs · +7% vs U.S. | $101,620$48.86/hr |
| 3 | Electrical and electronics installers and repairers, transportation equipment60 jobs · +17% vs U.S. | $99,420$47.80/hr |
| 4 | Elevator and escalator installers and repairers70 jobs · −23% vs U.S. | $84,760$40.75/hr |
| 5 | Signal and track switch repairers120 jobs · −10% vs U.S. | $83,550$40.17/hr |
| 6 | Aircraft mechanics and service technicians1,440 jobs · +1% vs U.S. | $80,270$38.59/hr |
| 7 | Millwrights840 jobs · +21% vs U.S. | $79,690$38.31/hr |
| 8 | Wind turbine service technicians330 jobs · +22% vs U.S. | $78,240$37.62/hr |
| 9 | Control and valve installers and repairers, except mechanical door290 jobs · +5% vs U.S. | $77,720$37.36/hr |
| 10 | Electrical and electronics repairers, commercial and industrial equipment340 jobs · +4% vs U.S. | $77,360$37.19/hr |
| 11 | Precision instrument and equipment repairers, all other170 jobs · +12% vs U.S. | $77,330$37.18/hr |
| 12 | Tapers30 jobs · +9% vs U.S. | $74,120$35.63/hr |
| 13 | Boilermakers70 jobs · −6% vs U.S. | $72,170$34.70/hr |
| 14 | Electricians6,350 jobs · +4% vs U.S. | $65,860$31.66/hr |
| 15 | Industrial machinery mechanics7,700 jobs · +2% vs U.S. | $65,830$31.65/hr |
| 16 | Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters4,590 jobs · +2% vs U.S. | $65,220$31.36/hr |
| 17 | Telecommunications line installers and repairers530 jobs · −14% vs U.S. | $63,560$30.56/hr |
| 18 | Construction and building inspectors840 jobs · −15% vs U.S. | $63,150$30.36/hr |
| 19 | Sheet metal workers1,730 jobs · +1% vs U.S. | $62,670$30.13/hr |
| 20 | Security and fire alarm systems installers740 jobs · +2% vs U.S. | $61,480$29.56/hr |
| 21 | Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines1,690 jobs · −7% vs U.S. | $60,890$29.28/hr |
| 22 | Heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers3,770 jobs · −1% vs U.S. | $60,460$29.07/hr |
| 23 | Maintenance workers, machinery1,040 jobs · −1% vs U.S. | $60,160$28.92/hr |
| 24 | Avionics technicians170 jobs · −27% vs U.S. | $59,810$28.75/hr |
| 25 | Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists3,300 jobs · −4% vs U.S. | $59,460$28.59/hr |
| 26 | Brickmasons and blockmasons330 jobs · −5% vs U.S. | $59,220$28.47/hr |
| 27 | Telecommunications equipment installers and repairers, except line installers1,480 jobs · −8% vs U.S. | $58,690$28.22/hr |
| 28 | Rail-Track laying and maintenance equipment operators310 jobs · −16% vs U.S. | $58,590$28.17/hr |
| 29 | Structural iron and steel workers260 jobs · −7% vs U.S. | $58,560$28.15/hr |
| 30 | Radio, cellular, and tower equipment installers and repairers80 jobs · −9% vs U.S. | $58,010$27.89/hr |
| 31 | Carpet installers70 jobs · +15% vs U.S. | $57,920$27.84/hr |
| 32 | Electric motor, power tool, and related repairers110 jobs · +2% vs U.S. | $57,600$27.69/hr |
| 33 | Stonemasons90 jobs · 0% vs U.S. | $57,550$27.67/hr |
| 34 | Carpenters5,210 jobs · −6% vs U.S. | $56,960$27.39/hr |
| 35 | Tile and stone setters310 jobs · −1% vs U.S. | $54,920$26.40/hr |
| 36 | Plasterers and stucco masons80 jobs · −7% vs U.S. | $53,440$25.69/hr |
| 37 | Locksmiths and safe repairers110 jobs · +3% vs U.S. | $52,930$25.45/hr |
| 38 | Cement masons and concrete finishers3,610 jobs · −9% vs U.S. | $52,130$25.06/hr |
| 39 | Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators7,070 jobs · −14% vs U.S. | $51,620$24.82/hr |
| 40 | Insulation workers, floor, ceiling, and wall430 jobs · +5% vs U.S. | $51,520$24.77/hr |
| 41 | Installation, maintenance, and repair workers, all other1,020 jobs · +4% vs U.S. | $51,060$24.55/hr |
| 42 | Farm equipment mechanics and service technicians2,130 jobs · −11% vs U.S. | $50,290$24.18/hr |
| 43 | Audiovisual equipment installers and repairers100 jobs · −5% vs U.S. | $50,130$24.10/hr |
| 44 | Solar photovoltaic installers−6% vs U.S. | $49,990$24.04/hr |
| 45 | Welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers6,370 jobs · −8% vs U.S. | $49,410$23.75/hr |
| 46 | Paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators540 jobs · −8% vs U.S. | $49,070$23.59/hr |
| 47 | Insulation workers, mechanical130 jobs · −16% vs U.S. | $49,050$23.58/hr |
| 48 | Automotive body and related repairers1,530 jobs · −11% vs U.S. | $48,920$23.52/hr |
| 49 | Rail car repairers300 jobs · −29% vs U.S. | $48,160$23.15/hr |
| 50 | Mechanical door repairers340 jobs · −14% vs U.S. | $47,960$23.06/hr |
| 51 | Automotive service technicians and mechanics6,240 jobs · −6% vs U.S. | $47,790$22.98/hr |
| 52 | Motorboat mechanics and service technicians90 jobs · −17% vs U.S. | $47,720$22.94/hr |
| 53 | Pipelayers240 jobs · −3% vs U.S. | $47,390$22.78/hr |
| 54 | Maintenance and repair workers, general12,730 jobs · −5% vs U.S. | $47,210$22.70/hr |
| 55 | Roofers900 jobs · −15% vs U.S. | $47,190$22.69/hr |
| 56 | Fence erectors80 jobs · −2% vs U.S. | $47,130$22.66/hr |
| 57 | Glaziers440 jobs · −18% vs U.S. | $47,090$22.64/hr |
| 58 | Septic tank servicers and sewer pipe cleaners150 jobs · −6% vs U.S. | $46,960$22.58/hr |
| 59 | Camera and photographic equipment repairers−11% vs U.S. | $46,920$22.56/hr |
| 60 | Outdoor power equipment and other small engine mechanics170 jobs · −3% vs U.S. | $46,540$22.38/hr |
| 61 | Highway maintenance workers1,960 jobs · −8% vs U.S. | $46,050$22.14/hr |
| 62 | Floor layers, except carpet, wood, and hard tiles180 jobs · −19% vs U.S. | $45,970$22.10/hr |
| 63 | Miscellaneous construction and related workers310 jobs · −8% vs U.S. | $45,950$22.09/hr |
| 64 | Coin, vending, and amusement machine servicers and repairers220 jobs · −4% vs U.S. | $45,750$21.99/hr |
| 65 | Hazardous materials removal workers480 jobs · −8% vs U.S. | $45,530$21.89/hr |
| 66 | Painters, construction and maintenance1,570 jobs · −8% vs U.S. | $45,510$21.88/hr |
| 67 | Medical equipment repairers1,270 jobs · −27% vs U.S. | $45,200$21.73/hr |
| 68 | Recreational vehicle service technicians130 jobs · −13% vs U.S. | $45,020$21.64/hr |
| 69 | Construction laborers9,990 jobs · −5% vs U.S. | $44,840$21.56/hr |
| 70 | Computer, automated teller, and office machine repairers570 jobs · −7% vs U.S. | $44,290$21.29/hr |
| 71 | Musical instrument repairers and tuners80 jobs · −6% vs U.S. | $43,680$21.00/hr |
| 72 | Riggers40 jobs · −34% vs U.S. | $41,060$19.74/hr |
| 73 | Automotive glass installers and repairers60 jobs · −16% vs U.S. | $39,900$19.18/hr |
| 74 | Drywall and ceiling tile installers650 jobs · −32% vs U.S. | $39,890$19.18/hr |
| 75 | Home appliance repairers310 jobs · −24% vs U.S. | $38,840$18.67/hr |
| 76 | Tire repairers and changers930 jobs · 0% vs U.S. | $37,880$18.21/hr |
| 77 | Bicycle repairers−17% vs U.S. | $35,360$17.00/hr |
| 78 | Electronic equipment installers and repairers, motor vehicles90 jobs · −31% vs U.S. | $33,380$16.05/hr |
Linked trades have full Kansas pay pages, with pay in each metro area. See also: highest-paying trades in the U.S.
How we ranked them
Ranked by median annual wage in Kansas, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics state estimates, May 2025. “vs U.S.” compares each trade with its own national median. Which occupations count as trades: Construction occupations and installation, maintenance, and repair occupations (BLS major groups 47 and 49), plus welders, excluding first-line supervisors, helpers, and mining and oil-and-gas extraction occupations. BLS doesn't publish a Kansas median for 10 of the 88 trades in the national ranking, usually because too few people do that work there to estimate; they're left out. Wages exclude self-employed workers. Methodology
Questions
- What is the highest-paying trade in Kansas?
- Electrical and electronics repairers, powerhouse, substation, and relay, with a median of $104,970 a year ($50.46 an hour) in Kansas, per May 2025 BLS data.
- Which trades pay over $100,000 in Kansas?
- 2 trades have a median of $100,000 or more in Kansas: electrical and electronics repairers, powerhouse, substation, and relay ($104,970), electrical power-line installers and repairers ($101,620).
- How many trades pay more than the typical job in Kansas?
- 49 of the 78 trades ranked here have a median above $48,010, the median for all occupations in Kansas.
- Do trades pay more in Kansas than in the rest of the U.S.?
- 20 of the 78 trades have a higher median in Kansas than nationally. The biggest gap is wind turbine service technicians: $78,240, 22% above the U.S. median of $64,120.
- Which trade employs the most people in Kansas?
- Maintenance and repair workers, general, with about 12,730 jobs and a median of $47,210 a year.