31 August 2023
TOPEKA (KSNT) – In Kansas, the highest-paying occupation, not including medical professions, paid almost eight times more than the lowest-paying job.
In 2022, data compiled by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) found dentists have the highest-paying occupation in the City of Topeka. Dentists made an average wage of $187,120 per year or an average hourly wage of $89.96 per hour in the Capital City.
Surgeons, ophthalmologists, anesthesiologists, orthodontists, psychiatrists and physicians had the highest paying jobs in Kansas, earning well into the six-figure territory. At the very top, surgeons earned an average wage of $374,300 or nearly 20 times more than the average lowest-paying job, according to BLS data.
Not including medical professions, the highest paying job in Kansas went to Architectural and Engineering Managers who earned an average of $150,240 per year in Kansas. Architectural and Engineering Managers in Topeka made slightly less than the state average at $142,900 per year, according to BLS data.
The lowest paying job in Kansas went to set and exhibit designers who earned an average of $18,880 per year. In Topeka, the lowest-paying job went to lifeguards, ski patrol and other recreational protective service workers who earned an average of $19,000 per year, according to BLS data.
Kansas’ highest and lowest paying jobs compared
Occupation TitleAverage Annual PayOccupation TitleAverage Annual Pay1Architectural and Engineering Managers$150,240Set and Exhibit Designers$18,8802Sales Managers$148,170Ushers, Lobby Attendants, and Ticket Takers$20,6703Financial Managers$145,030Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers$20,7104Natural Sciences Managers$143,970Food Servers, Non-restaurant$23,3405Computer and Information Systems Managers$140,650Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop$23,4806Marketing Managers$137,960Motion Picture Projectionists$23,6607Purchasing Managers$132,910Amusement and Recreation Attendants$24,1708Air Traffic Controllers$131,680Fast Food and Counter Workers$24,3009Petroleum Engineers$128,930Cooks, Short Order$24,50010Human Resources Managers$125,230Dishwashers$24,52011Managers, All Other$124,610Photographic Process Workers and Processing Machine Operators$24,84012Physical Scientists, All Other$122,340Cashiers$25,23013Compensation and Benefits Managers$122,330Parking Attendants$25,32014Industrial Production Managers$120,270Childcare Workers$25,57015Sales Engineers$120,060Cooks, Fast Food$25,68016Economics Teachers, Postsecondary$118,180Home Health and Personal Care Aides$25,75017Computer and Information Research Scientists$115,980Taxi Drivers$25,88018Lawyers$115,860Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers$25,93019Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers$115,540Hotel, Motel, and Resort Desk Clerks$26,06020Public Relations Managers$114,800Pressers, Textile, Garment, and Related Materials$26,36021Administrative Services Managers$113,820Manicurists and Pedicurists$26,53022Training and Development Managers$113,680Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers$26,67023Actuaries$112,820Animal Caretakers$26,84024Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates$112,000Transportation Workers, All Other$26,96025Commercial and Industrial Designers$111,110Bakers$26,980Top-paying jobs compared to lowest-paying jobs based on 2022 BLS data. Data excluding medical professions.
Highest and lowest paying jobs in the Topeka Metro area compared
Occupation TitleAverage Annual PayOccupation TitleAverage Annual Pay1Dentists, General$187,120Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, Other Recreational Protective Service Workers$19,0002Judges, Magistrate Judges and Magistrates$155,420Amusement and Recreation Attendants$21,3703Chief Executives$148,500Food servers, Non-restaurant$22,1504Sales Managers$145,120Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant$22,2905Architectural and Engineering Managers$142,900Dishwashers$22,6406Financial Managers$141,600Fast Food and Counter Workers$24,1007Purchasing Managers$135,490Cashiers$24,7408Computer and Information Systems Managers$125,700Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers$25,2209Marketing Managers$124,750Pressers, Textile, Garment and Related Materials$25,36010Managers, All Other$120,370Animal Caretakers$25,62011Pharmacists$120,100Home and Health Personal Care Aides$26,07012Human Resources Managers$118,220Cooks, Short Order$26,29013Administrative Services Managers$117,370Childcare Workers$26,45014Actuaries$117,220Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers$26,54015Nurse Practitioners$116,330Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers$26,58016Facilities Managers$115,380Bakers$26,90017Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing$111,520Pharmacy Aides$27,01018Industrial Production Managers$109,430Couriers and Messengers$27,09019Medical and Health Services Managers$108,920Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners$27,60020Personal Financial Advisors$106,610Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations$27,78021Veterinarians$104,870Cooks, Restaurant$27,84022Management Occupations$102,540Library Assistants, Clerical$28,14023Construction Managers$100,060Bartenders$28,23024Electrical Engineers$98,270Food Preparation Workers$28,59025Power Plant Operators$97,950Tutors$28,650Top-paying jobs compared to lowest-paying jobs based on 2022 BLS data. Data including medical professions.