Topeka Employment

Employment and Industries in the Topeka, Kansas Area

Over 50% of Topeka's economy is based on government and services. About 25% of the workforce is employed by state, city and county governments. The state of Kansas is the city's largest employer. More than 30% of the labor force is working in services industries. Other significant industries that provide employment include printing and publishing, flour mills, food processing and iron foundries.

Fortune 500 companies which have manufacturing or distribution facilities in the city include Frito-Lay Inc, Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway, Payless Shoe Source, Goodyear Tire & Rubber, Hallmark Cards and Hill's Pet Nutrition.

The Kansas Industrial Training program, provides pre-employment training and on-the-job training for new and expanding companies. The Kansas Industrial Retraining Program works with companies that are restructuring where existing employees might be displaced due to obsolete job skills.

Some of the occupations more prevalent in Topeka than most other cities include first-line supervisors/managers of correctional officers; merchandise displayers and window trimmers; legislators, correctional officers and jailers; healthcare practitioners and technical workers; civil engineering technicians; environmental scientists and specialists, including health; and personal and home care aides.

The following is a list of Topeka's largest employers:

  • The state of Kansas
  • Stormont-Vail Health Care
  • Unified School District #501
  • Blue Cross, Blue Shield of Kansas
  • St. Francis Hospital & Medical center
  • Payless Shoe Store
  • Goodyear Tire and Rubber
  • Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway
  • Washburn University
  • U.S. Government
  • Shawnee County
  • Jostens Printing and Publishing
  • Colmery-O'Neil VA Hospital
  • Walmart
  • Hill's Pet Nutrition
  • Frito-Lay, Inc
  • Hallmark Cards, Inc
  • Reser's Fine Foods
  • Westar Energy
  • Midwest Health

Topeka's top non-agricultural employment sectors are shown below:

  • Government
  • Services
  • Trade, transportation and utilities
  • Education and health services
  • Leisure and hospitality
  • Professional and business services
  • Manufacturing
  • Financial activities
  • Arts, entertainment and recreation

Noteworthy data regarding Topeka Kansas: In 2007 the estimated median household income was $42,000. About 25% of the adult population has earned a bachelor's degree or better. The cost of living index in Topeka in 2008 was 76.7 which is low when compared to the national average of 100.

Some of the helpful business organizations for local companies are:

Topeka's newspaper the Topeka Capital-Journal is a good resource for local business and industry news.

Jobs in Topeka

RankTitleTotal EmployeesLocal Mean Salary (Per Year)Local Mean Salary (Per hour)National Growth % 2014-2024
1All Occupations109820$45,090$21.68100
2Office and Administrative Support Occupations16230$36,540$17.5713.75
3Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations9040$22,350$10.748.7
4Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations8500$65,520$31.55.85
5Transportation and Material Moving Occupations8380$34,760$16.716.7
6Sales and Related Occupations8130$36,030$17.329.5
7Educational Instruction and Library Occupations7040$45,070$21.676
8Healthcare Support Occupations6930$28,700$13.82.85
9Business and Financial Operations Occupations6700$62,450$30.035.35
10Production Occupations5650$39,150$18.825.6
11Management Occupations5430$93,750$45.076.35
12Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations5140$47,820$22.993.75
13Construction and Extraction Occupations4870$45,010$21.644.6
14Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations3420$28,890$13.893.6
15Fast Food and Counter Workers3360$20,200$9.712.45
16Registered Nurses3090$66,270$31.861.95
17Protective Service Occupations3020$46,610$22.412.2
18Retail Salespersons2870$27,160$13.062.7
19Computer and Mathematical Occupations2850$73,400$35.293
20Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive2820$33,300$16.011.4
21Home Health and Personal Care Aides2780$23,420$11.260
22Nursing Assistants2440$28,310$13.610.95
23Cashiers2090$21,720$10.442.2
24Community and Social Service Occupations2030$42,590$20.481.75
25Customer Service Representatives1990$34,620$16.651.75
26Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners1970$27,770$13.351.5
27General and Operations Managers1960$81,390$39.131.5
28Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand1930$35,500$17.071.8
29Personal Care and Service Occupations1870$27,380$13.164.65
30Waiters and Waitresses1570$20,180$9.71.65
31Stockers and Order Fillers1500$27,010$12.991.25
32Office Clerks, General1330$29,640$14.251.9
33Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers1260$40,400$19.421.2
34Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks1220$35,840$17.231.05
35First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers1220$51,490$24.760.95
36Accountants and Auditors1210$62,220$29.910.9
37Architecture and Engineering Occupations1190$67,740$32.571.7
38Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations1140$50,390$24.221.8
39Legal Occupations1140$87,740$42.180.8
40Maintenance and Repair Workers, General1090$38,590$18.550.9
41Project Management Specialists and Business Operations Specialists, All Other1040$61,050$29.350.7
42Construction Laborers980$34,470$16.570.9
43Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations970$57,040$27.420.8
44Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses920$44,690$21.490.5
45First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers910$41,460$19.930.95
46First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers900$30,700$14.760.6
47Software Developers and Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers860$84,300$40.530.65
48Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants840$42,410$20.390.35
49Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers840$50,290$24.180.4
50Management Analysts830$57,910$27.840.55
51Lawyers730$103,850$49.930.5
52Eligibility Interviewers, Government Programs720$39,470$18.980.1
53Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics660$38,520$18.520.5
54Packers and Packagers, Hand620$30,980$14.890.4
55Passenger Vehicle Drivers, Except Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity620$31,220$15.010.3
56Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel600$58,220$27.990.7
57Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners590$21,890$10.520.9
58Receptionists and Information Clerks590$28,820$13.850.7
59Cooks, Restaurant580$24,430$11.750.9
60Food Preparation Workers580$23,380$11.240.5
61Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products570$65,590$31.530.85
62Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators550$41,300$19.860.25
63Human Resources Specialists540$60,640$29.150.4
64Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers540$33,850$16.270.75
65Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria520$26,270$12.630.3
66Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators520$37,750$18.150.4
67Interviewers, Except Eligibility and Loan520$33,790$16.250.1
68Computer User Support Specialists510$47,160$22.670.4
69Light Truck Drivers510$38,120$18.330.6
70Social and Human Service Assistants500$33,290$16.010.3
71Carpenters480$42,600$20.480.6
72First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers470$64,110$30.820.3
73Emergency Medical Technicians and Paramedics460$31,940$15.350
74Medical and Health Services Managers460$93,820$45.110.3
75Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators460$30,660$14.740.8
76Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants450$33,600$16.160.4
77Security Guards450$29,440$14.150.7
78Electricians440$52,500$25.240.45
79First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers440$62,630$30.110.4
80Substitute Teachers, Short-Term440$27,330$13.140.4
81Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment430$30,240$14.540.3
82Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters430$54,720$26.310.3
83Tellers410$27,980$13.450.25
84Industrial Machinery Mechanics400$54,540$26.220.2
85Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers400$39,760$19.110.35
86Network and Computer Systems Administrators400$86,270$41.480.2
87Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers390$59,740$28.720.2
88Childcare Workers370$22,810$10.970.7
89Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists370$55,170$26.520.45
90First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers350$55,460$26.660.4
91Mail Clerks and Mail Machine Operators, Except Postal Service350$24,880$11.960.05
92Medical Assistants340$32,540$15.650.45
93Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education340$28,670$13.780.3
94Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks340$41,760$20.080.4
95Computer Systems Analysts330$72,930$35.060.4
96Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists330$23,720$11.40.4
97Loan Officers330$91,210$43.850.2
98Pharmacy Technicians330$35,320$16.980.3
99Chief Executives320$137,690$66.20.15
100Financial Managers320$123,980$59.60.4
Source: 2019 Occupational Employment Statistics and 2018-28 Employment Projections, Bureau of Labor Statistics, BLS.gov
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Additional Details

Topeka Colleges
Topeka colleges and trade schools.

Jobs More Common Near Topeka Than Most Other Cities

* Average job popularity for metro areas = 1.0

TitleMean Local SalaryLocal Jobs
All Occupations$45,090109,820
Office and Administrative Support Occupations$36,54016,230
Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations$22,3509,040
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations$65,5208,500
Transportation and Material Moving Occupations$34,7608,380
Sales and Related Occupations$36,0308,130
Educational Instruction and Library Occupations$45,0707,040
Healthcare Support Occupations$28,7006,930
Business and Financial Operations Occupations$62,4506,700
Production Occupations$39,1505,650
Management Occupations$93,7505,430
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations$47,8205,140
Construction and Extraction Occupations$45,0104,870
Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations$28,8903,420
Fast Food and Counter Workers$20,2003,360
Registered Nurses$66,2703,090
Protective Service Occupations$46,6103,020
Retail Salespersons$27,1602,870
Computer and Mathematical Occupations$73,4002,850
Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive$33,3002,820
Home Health and Personal Care Aides$23,4202,780
Nursing Assistants$28,3102,440
Cashiers$21,7202,090
Community and Social Service Occupations$42,5902,030
Customer Service Representatives$34,6201,990
Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners$27,7701,970
General and Operations Managers$81,3901,960
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand$35,5001,930
Personal Care and Service Occupations$27,3801,870
Waiters and Waitresses$20,1801,570
Stockers and Order Fillers$27,0101,500
Office Clerks, General$29,6401,330
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers$40,4001,260
Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks$35,8401,220
First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers$51,4901,220
Accountants and Auditors$62,2201,210
Architecture and Engineering Occupations$67,7401,190
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations$50,3901,140
Legal Occupations$87,7401,140
Maintenance and Repair Workers, General$38,5901,090
Project Management Specialists and Business Operations Specialists, All Other$61,0501,040
Construction Laborers$34,470980
Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations$57,040970
Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$44,690920
First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers$41,460910
First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers$30,700900
Software Developers and Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers$84,300860
Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants$42,410840
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$50,290840
Management Analysts$57,910830

Work Paying Relatively Well in the Topeka, Kansas Metro Area (2008 data)

* Average Salary Index for metro areas = 1.0

TitleMean Local SalaryLocal Jobs
All Occupations$45,090109,820
Office and Administrative Support Occupations$36,54016,230
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations$65,5208,500
Transportation and Material Moving Occupations$34,7608,380
Sales and Related Occupations$36,0308,130
Educational Instruction and Library Occupations$45,0707,040
Healthcare Support Occupations$28,7006,930
Business and Financial Operations Occupations$62,4506,700
Production Occupations$39,1505,650
Management Occupations$93,7505,430
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations$47,8205,140
Construction and Extraction Occupations$45,0104,870
Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations$28,8903,420
Registered Nurses$66,2703,090
Protective Service Occupations$46,6103,020
Retail Salespersons$27,1602,870
Computer and Mathematical Occupations$73,4002,850
Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive$33,3002,820
Nursing Assistants$28,3102,440
Community and Social Service Occupations$42,5902,030
Customer Service Representatives$34,6201,990
Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners$27,7701,970
General and Operations Managers$81,3901,960
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand$35,5001,930
Personal Care and Service Occupations$27,3801,870
Stockers and Order Fillers$27,0101,500
Office Clerks, General$29,6401,330
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers$40,4001,260
Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks$35,8401,220
First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers$51,4901,220
Accountants and Auditors$62,2201,210
Architecture and Engineering Occupations$67,7401,190
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations$50,3901,140
Legal Occupations$87,7401,140
Maintenance and Repair Workers, General$38,5901,090
Project Management Specialists and Business Operations Specialists, All Other$61,0501,040
Construction Laborers$34,470980
Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations$57,040970
Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$44,690920
First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers$41,460910
First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers$30,700900
Software Developers and Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers$84,300860
Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants$42,410840
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$50,290840
Management Analysts$57,910830
Lawyers$103,850730
Eligibility Interviewers, Government Programs$39,470720
Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics$38,520660
Packers and Packagers, Hand$30,980620
Passenger Vehicle Drivers, Except Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity$31,220620

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