Kansas City Employment

Employment and Industries in the Kansas City, Missouri Area

The Kansas City metropolitan area sprawls across parts of both Missouri and Kansas. As might be expected for a large metropolitan area, the Kansas City area has a thriving economy. The Kansas City metropolitan area is home to eight Fortune 1000 company headquarters. The largest company headquartered in the Kansas City area is YRC Worldwide, the most famous is probably H&R Block.

Historically known for beef and its large rail network, major industries in the Kansas City area now include:

  • Distribution
  • Education
  • Government
  • Health services
  • Inter modal transportation
  • Manufacturing
  • Professional and business services
  • Warehousing

Helping to fuel the Kansas City economy is a well educated work force. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, almost 27% of the Kansas City population has a college degree or higher. In 2005, Central Connecticut State University ranked Kansas City in the top 15 most literate cities in the United States.

Business honors and awards received by the Kansas City area include:

  • The Kansas City metropolitan area was ranked 11th among the top fifty large U.S. cities on Entrepreneur magazine's 2005 list of "Hot Cities for Entrepreneurs". Entrepreneur also ranked Kansas City tenth for "rapid growth rank".
  • The Kansas City metropolitan area was ranked 20th on Expansion Management's list of "America's 50 Hottest Cities".
  • Expansion Management also ranks Kansas City as a "Five Star Business Opportunity Metro".
  • The Kansas City metropolitan area ranked in the top fifty among large U.S. Cities in Inc. magazine's 2006 list of "Best Cities for Doing Business". In 2004 and 2005, Kansas city ranked second for "Most Balanced Economy and Growth".
  • The Kansas City area was ranked 68th on Forbes magazine's list of the "Best Places For Business And Careers" (out of the 200 largest metropolitan areas).

For business travelers, the Kansas City area is served by the Kansas City International Airport (MCI). The airport serves almost ten million passengers a year making it one of the busier airports in the United States.

Fortune 1000 companies with headquarters in the Kansas City area include:

  • AMC Entertainment
  • Aquila
  • DST Systems
  • Ferrellgas Partners
  • Great Plains Energy
  • H&R Block
  • Seaboard
  • YRC Worldwide

Other companies with headquarters or major operations in the Kansas City metropolitan area include:

  • American Century Companies
  • Andrews McMeel Universal
  • Applebee's restaurant chain
  • Black and Veatch
  • Burns and McDonnell
  • Cerner
  • Commerce Bancshares
  • Garmin
  • Hallmark Cards
  • Inergy
  • Interstate Bakeries Corporation
  • J.E. Dunn Construction Group
  • Kansas City Power and Light Company
  • Kansas City Southern Industries
  • Lockton Companies
  • Premium Standard Farms
  • Russell Stover Candies
  • Sprint Nextel Corporation
  • The Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States of America
  • Wolferman's bakery

Business organizations and associations in the Kansas City area include:

The Kansas City Business Journal and the "Business Section" of the Kansas City Star are good sources of information on the Kansas City area economy and Kansas City business.

Jobs in Kansas City

RankTitleTotal EmployeesLocal Mean Salary (Per Year)Local Mean Salary (Per hour)National Growth % 2014-2024
1All Occupations1077300$51,630$24.82100
2Office and Administrative Support Occupations150620$40,080$19.2713.75
3Sales and Related Occupations107090$43,750$21.049.5
4Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations96380$25,150$12.098.7
5Transportation and Material Moving Occupations96070$36,480$17.546.7
6Business and Financial Operations Occupations72030$74,430$35.785.35
7Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations70240$76,310$36.695.85
8Production Occupations65020$41,860$20.125.6
9Management Occupations56450$116,390$55.966.35
10Educational Instruction and Library Occupations54540$49,580$23.846
11Computer and Mathematical Occupations46240$81,890$39.373
12Construction and Extraction Occupations43480$55,380$26.624.6
13Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations41310$48,850$23.493.75
14Healthcare Support Occupations40160$29,210$14.042.85
15Fast Food and Counter Workers28930$22,780$10.952.45
16Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations28230$32,060$15.423.6
17Retail Salespersons27530$27,010$12.992.7
18Cashiers27290$23,640$11.362.2
19Customer Service Representatives26510$37,620$18.091.75
20Registered Nurses26420$68,130$32.761.95
21Protective Service Occupations23150$47,790$22.982.2
22Personal Care and Service Occupations22530$28,970$13.934.65
23Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand21330$32,150$15.461.8
24Stockers and Order Fillers19680$29,240$14.061.25
25Architecture and Engineering Occupations19210$78,720$37.851.7
26Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive19190$38,300$18.411.4
27General and Operations Managers18650$110,340$53.051.5
28Waiters and Waitresses18590$22,640$10.881.65
29Home Health and Personal Care Aides16760$23,910$11.50
30Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers15730$49,170$23.641.2
31Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators15710$42,930$20.640.8
32Office Clerks, General14700$34,280$16.481.9
33Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations13770$52,460$25.221.8
34Community and Social Service Occupations13420$44,990$21.631.75
35Software Developers and Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers13400$92,530$44.490.65
36Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners12680$30,030$14.441.5
37Accountants and Auditors11790$70,880$34.080.9
38Nursing Assistants11440$28,450$13.680.95
39Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products11190$72,100$34.660.85
40Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks10700$41,770$20.081.05
41Cooks, Restaurant10190$28,210$13.560.9
42Maintenance and Repair Workers, General10100$42,070$20.230.9
43First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers10070$60,340$29.010.95
44Project Management Specialists and Business Operations Specialists, All Other10030$82,390$39.610.7
45Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel9910$72,250$34.740.7
46Legal Occupations9490$86,460$41.570.8
47Security Guards7870$38,850$18.680.7
48First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers7850$37,870$18.210.6
49First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers7240$43,530$20.930.95
50Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations7100$71,910$34.570.8
51Construction Laborers7030$44,120$21.210.9
52Computer Systems Analysts6980$77,350$37.190.4
53Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers6960$37,470$18.010.75
54Light Truck Drivers6590$38,020$18.280.6
55Receptionists and Information Clerks6240$29,720$14.290.7
56Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators6090$40,350$19.40.4
57Computer User Support Specialists5990$51,910$24.960.4
58Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists5750$70,230$33.760.45
59Passenger Vehicle Drivers, Except Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity5670$29,460$14.160.3
60Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners5630$23,510$11.30.9
61Human Resources Specialists5590$64,860$31.180.4
62Management Analysts5520$87,980$42.30.55
63Childcare Workers5430$23,390$11.240.7
64Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants5400$55,560$26.710.35
65Substitute Teachers, Short-Term5350$33,950$16.320.4
66Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks5320$35,080$16.870.4
67Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics5060$47,230$22.710.5
68Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses5030$46,660$22.430.5
69Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants5000$35,990$17.30.4
70Network and Computer Systems Administrators4900$84,240$40.50.2
71Lawyers4820$120,010$57.70.5
72Food Preparation Workers4610$25,070$12.050.5
73Carpenters4600$56,040$26.940.6
74Insurance Sales Agents4590$59,920$28.810.3
75Cooks, Fast Food4300$22,330$10.740.3
76Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers4300$54,960$26.420.4
77Medical Assistants4260$34,920$16.790.45
78First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers4250$64,840$31.170.4
79Electricians4240$58,020$27.890.45
80First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers4220$76,690$36.870.4
81Financial Managers4120$145,000$69.710.4
82Bartenders4070$27,020$12.990.4
83Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers4040$45,690$21.970.35
84Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents4040$102,620$49.340.3
85Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters3990$68,940$33.140.3
86Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria3960$28,190$13.550.3
87Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators3710$52,960$25.460.25
88Packers and Packagers, Hand3640$29,370$14.120.4
89First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors3530$56,490$27.160.3
90Pharmacy Technicians3500$33,080$15.90.3
91Driver/Sales Workers3480$27,960$13.440.3
92Buyers and Purchasing Agents3420$67,060$32.240.25
93Billing and Posting Clerks3370$40,100$19.280.3
94Financial and Investment Analysts, Financial Risk Specialists, and Financial Specialists, All Other3290$84,530$40.640.2
95Tellers3270$29,880$14.360.25
96Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders3210$37,530$18.040.2
97Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians3150$50,550$24.30.2
98Computer Occupations, All Other3150$85,950$41.320.3
99Dishwashers3150$21,650$10.410.3
100Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators3140$73,790$35.470.2
Source: 2019 Occupational Employment Statistics and 2018-28 Employment Projections, Bureau of Labor Statistics, BLS.gov
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Additional Details

Kansas City Colleges
Kansas City colleges and trade schools.

Jobs More Common Near Kansas City Than Most Other Cities

* Average job popularity for metro areas = 1.0

TitleMean Local SalaryLocal Jobs
All Occupations$51,6301,077,300
Office and Administrative Support Occupations$40,080150,620
Sales and Related Occupations$43,750107,090
Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations$25,15096,380
Transportation and Material Moving Occupations$36,48096,070
Business and Financial Operations Occupations$74,43072,030
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations$76,31070,240
Production Occupations$41,86065,020
Management Occupations$116,39056,450
Educational Instruction and Library Occupations$49,58054,540
Computer and Mathematical Occupations$81,89046,240
Construction and Extraction Occupations$55,38043,480
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations$48,85041,310
Healthcare Support Occupations$29,21040,160
Fast Food and Counter Workers$22,78028,930
Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations$32,06028,230
Retail Salespersons$27,01027,530
Cashiers$23,64027,290
Customer Service Representatives$37,62026,510
Registered Nurses$68,13026,420
Protective Service Occupations$47,79023,150
Personal Care and Service Occupations$28,97022,530
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand$32,15021,330
Stockers and Order Fillers$29,24019,680
Architecture and Engineering Occupations$78,72019,210
Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive$38,30019,190
General and Operations Managers$110,34018,650
Waiters and Waitresses$22,64018,590
Home Health and Personal Care Aides$23,91016,760
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers$49,17015,730
Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators$42,93015,710
Office Clerks, General$34,28014,700
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations$52,46013,770
Community and Social Service Occupations$44,99013,420
Software Developers and Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers$92,53013,400
Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners$30,03012,680
Accountants and Auditors$70,88011,790
Nursing Assistants$28,45011,440
Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$72,10011,190
Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks$41,77010,700
Cooks, Restaurant$28,21010,190
Maintenance and Repair Workers, General$42,07010,100
First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers$60,34010,070
Project Management Specialists and Business Operations Specialists, All Other$82,39010,030
Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel$72,2509,910
Legal Occupations$86,4609,490
Security Guards$38,8507,870
First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers$37,8707,850
First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers$43,5307,240
Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations$71,9107,100

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

* Average Salary Index for metro areas = 1.0

TitleMean Local SalaryLocal Jobs
All Occupations$51,6301,077,300
Office and Administrative Support Occupations$40,080150,620
Sales and Related Occupations$43,750107,090
Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations$25,15096,380
Transportation and Material Moving Occupations$36,48096,070
Business and Financial Operations Occupations$74,43072,030
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations$76,31070,240
Production Occupations$41,86065,020
Management Occupations$116,39056,450
Educational Instruction and Library Occupations$49,58054,540
Computer and Mathematical Occupations$81,89046,240
Construction and Extraction Occupations$55,38043,480
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations$48,85041,310
Healthcare Support Occupations$29,21040,160
Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations$32,06028,230
Retail Salespersons$27,01027,530
Customer Service Representatives$37,62026,510
Registered Nurses$68,13026,420
Protective Service Occupations$47,79023,150
Personal Care and Service Occupations$28,97022,530
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand$32,15021,330
Stockers and Order Fillers$29,24019,680
Architecture and Engineering Occupations$78,72019,210
Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive$38,30019,190
General and Operations Managers$110,34018,650
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers$49,17015,730
Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators$42,93015,710
Office Clerks, General$34,28014,700
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations$52,46013,770
Community and Social Service Occupations$44,99013,420
Software Developers and Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers$92,53013,400
Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners$30,03012,680
Accountants and Auditors$70,88011,790
Nursing Assistants$28,45011,440
Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$72,10011,190
Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks$41,77010,700
Cooks, Restaurant$28,21010,190
Maintenance and Repair Workers, General$42,07010,100
First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers$60,34010,070
Project Management Specialists and Business Operations Specialists, All Other$82,39010,030
Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel$72,2509,910
Legal Occupations$86,4609,490
Security Guards$38,8507,870
First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers$37,8707,850
First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers$43,5307,240
Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations$71,9107,100
Construction Laborers$44,1207,030
Computer Systems Analysts$77,3506,980
Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers$37,4706,960
Light Truck Drivers$38,0206,590

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