Skilled Wages

Highest-paying trades in Kansas

29 trades ranked by median hourly wage, with the range, the rank among states and the union scale.

Data compiled by Skilled WagesBLS OEWS May 2025

Every trade in Kansas, ranked by median pay

Ranked median wagesMedian wageCost-of-living adjusted$0$20$40$60$80/hrConstruction manager: $58.08 (cost-of-living adjusted $64.46)Construction manager$58.08Lineman: $48.86 (cost-of-living adjusted $54.23)Lineman$48.86Elevator mechanic: $40.75 (cost-of-living adjusted $45.23)Elevator mechanic$40.75Millwright: $38.31 (cost-of-living adjusted $42.52)Millwright$38.31Wind turbine technician: $37.62 (cost-of-living adjusted $41.75)Wind turbine technician$37.62Crane operator: $37.07 (cost-of-living adjusted $41.14)Crane operator$37.07Construction supervisor: $36.91 (cost-of-living adjusted $40.97)Construction supervisor$36.91Boilermaker: $34.70 (cost-of-living adjusted $38.51)Boilermaker$34.70Electrician: $31.66 (cost-of-living adjusted $35.14)Electrician$31.66Plumber: $31.36 (cost-of-living adjusted $34.81)Plumber$31.36Sheet metal worker: $30.13 (cost-of-living adjusted $33.44)Sheet metal worker$30.13HVAC technician: $29.07 (cost-of-living adjusted $32.26)HVAC technician$29.07Diesel mechanic: $28.59 (cost-of-living adjusted $31.73)Diesel mechanic$28.59Brickmason: $28.47 (cost-of-living adjusted $31.60)Brickmason$28.47Ironworker: $28.15 (cost-of-living adjusted $31.24)Ironworker$28.15Carpenter: $27.39 (cost-of-living adjusted $30.40)Carpenter$27.39Tile setter: $26.40 (cost-of-living adjusted $29.30)Tile setter$26.40Plasterer: $25.69 (cost-of-living adjusted $28.51)Plasterer$25.69Cement mason: $25.06 (cost-of-living adjusted $27.81)Cement mason$25.06Heavy equipment operator: $24.82 (cost-of-living adjusted $27.55)Heavy equipment operator$24.82Insulation worker: $24.77 (cost-of-living adjusted $27.49)Insulation worker$24.77Machinist: $24.63 (cost-of-living adjusted $27.34)Machinist$24.63Solar installer: $24.04 (cost-of-living adjusted $26.68)Solar installer$24.04Welder: $23.75 (cost-of-living adjusted $26.36)Welder$23.75Roofer: $22.69 (cost-of-living adjusted $25.18)Roofer$22.69Glazier: $22.64 (cost-of-living adjusted $25.13)Glazier$22.64Painter: $21.88 (cost-of-living adjusted $24.28)Painter$21.88Construction laborer: $21.56 (cost-of-living adjusted $23.93)Construction laborer$21.56Drywall installer: $19.18 (cost-of-living adjusted $21.29)Drywall installer$19.18
Median hourly wage by trade in Kansas, May 2025. Thin marker: cost-of-living adjusted (BEA price parity 90.1, US = 100).
#TradeMedian $/hrMedian $/yr90th pct $/hrJobsState rank10-yr real changevs US
1Construction manager$58.08$120,810$78.432,96016th of 51+21.2%5% above
2Lineman$48.86$101,620$59.121,61023rd of 51+9.3%7% above
3Elevator mechanic$40.75$84,760$68.967031st of 37-28.5%23% below
4Millwright$38.31$79,690$46.808406th of 48-9.9%21% above
5Wind turbine technician$37.62$78,240$45.423302nd of 25+4.7%22% above
6Crane operator$37.07$77,100$47.8478018th of 50+0.4%13% above
7Construction supervisor$36.91$76,780$54.558,94037th of 51-0.1%4% below
8Boilermaker$34.70$72,170$46.267028th of 37+1.0%6% below
9Electrician$31.66$65,860$46.556,35023rd of 51-4.3%4% above
10Plumber$31.36$65,220$52.544,59022nd of 51-2.7%2% above
11Sheet metal worker$30.13$62,670$52.181,73024th of 50+18.0%1% above
12HVAC technician$29.07$60,460$40.143,77029th of 51-0.9%1% below
13Diesel mechanic$28.59$59,460$38.943,30034th of 51+7.1%4% below
14Brickmason$28.47$59,220$39.4633034th of 50-18.5%5% below
15Ironworker$28.15$58,560$38.3826036th of 50+11.3%7% below
16Carpenter$27.39$56,960$42.355,21032nd of 51+12.7%6% below
17Tile setter$26.40$54,920$36.0631020th of 47-27.4%1% below
18Plasterer$25.69$53,440$29.008018th of 28-2.5%7% below
19Cement mason$25.06$52,130$38.303,61033rd of 51-3.5%9% below
20Heavy equipment operator$24.82$51,620$41.077,07041st of 51+6.2%14% below
21Insulation worker$24.77$51,520$42.8443017th of 48—5% above
22Machinist$24.63$51,220$36.023,87046th of 51-2.4%13% below
23Solar installer$24.04$49,990$29.63—17th of 32—6% below
24Welder$23.75$49,410$32.066,37046th of 51+1.7%8% below
25Roofer$22.69$47,190$39.2090040th of 51+3.7%15% below
26Glazier$22.64$47,090$35.8144042nd of 50-14.6%17% below
27Painter$21.88$45,510$28.131,57040th of 51+1.9%8% below
28Construction laborer$21.56$44,840$28.889,99038th of 51+8.6%5% below
29Drywall installer$19.18$39,890$29.5265048th of 49-19.8%32% below

Construction jobs in Kansas

79.3kConstruction jobs2026-08
+4.9%Change over 12 months
+18.5%Change over 5 years
Construction employment, 1990-202620k40k60k80k100k1990199520002005201020152020202579kAug 2026
Construction employment in Kansas, thousands, BLS CES, not seasonally adjusted.

Prevailing wage in Kansas

Davis-Bacon determinations set the minimum wage package on federally funded construction. In Kansas, 23 of 105 counties with a Building rate for electricians use a union contract rate (typical package $64.30/hr including fringe). Look up any county and trade.

Metros in Kansas

Questions this page answers

What is the highest-paying trade in Kansas?

Construction managers had the highest median wage among the trades tracked here at $58.08 an hour in May 2025, followed by electrical power-line installers and repairers ($48.86) and elevator and escalator installers and repairers ($40.75).

How does Kansas compare with the rest of the country?

Across the 29 trades listed, 9 pay above the national median in Kansas and 20 pay below it. The state's cost of living is 90.1% of the US average (BEA).

Sources and notes

  • BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, Kansas.
  • BLS Current Employment Statistics through 2026-08.
  • BEA Regional Price Parities.
  • SAM.gov Davis-Bacon wage determinations (not the official determination).