Highest-paying jobs in Wichita

Written by:
July 8, 2022
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Highest-paying jobs in Wichita

Stacker collected information on the highest-paying jobs in Wichita, KS, using data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Jobs are ranked by average annual salary with information up to date as of May 2021.

In Wichita, the annual mean wage is $48,500 or 16.8% lower than national mean of $58,260, while the highest-paying occupation makes $349,430. Read on to see which jobs make the list.

#50. Database architects

Wichita, KS
- Annual mean salary: $89,250
- #111 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 50

National
- Annual mean salary: $121,840
- Employment: 50,440
- Entry level education requirements: nan
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($187,070)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($161,830)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($156,530)

#49. Veterinarians

Wichita, KS
- Annual mean salary: $89,640
- #270 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 160

National
- Annual mean salary: $109,920
- Employment: 77,260
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($144,440)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($141,670)
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($140,390)

#48. Industrial engineers

Wichita, KS
- Annual mean salary: $89,910
- #162 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,000

National
- Annual mean salary: $95,200
- Employment: 293,950
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Anchorage, AK ($142,770)
--- Midland, TX ($129,440)
--- Billings, MT ($126,170)

#47. Sales engineers

Wichita, KS
- Annual mean salary: $90,090
- #118 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 70

National
- Annual mean salary: $118,630
- Employment: 59,550
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Salisbury, MD-DE ($169,330)
--- Birmingham-Hoover, AL ($158,740)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($158,320)

#46. Petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers

Wichita, KS
- Annual mean salary: $90,150
- #13 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 280

National
- Annual mean salary: $80,500
- Employment: 34,230
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($105,090)
--- St. Louis, MO-IL ($97,860)
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($96,520)

#45. Information security analysts

Wichita, KS
- Annual mean salary: $90,810
- #140 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 170

National
- Annual mean salary: $113,270
- Employment: 157,220
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($150,820)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($149,250)
--- Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA ($135,080)

#44. Facilities managers

Wichita, KS
- Annual mean salary: $91,220
- #182 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 160

National
- Annual mean salary: $101,970
- Employment: 101,230
- Entry level education requirements: nan
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Kennewick-Richland, WA ($146,040)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($136,440)
--- Ithaca, NY ($136,210)

#43. Physical therapists

Wichita, KS
- Annual mean salary: $91,480
- #150 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 450

National
- Annual mean salary: $92,920
- Employment: 225,350
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($123,190)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($118,370)
--- Midland, TX ($116,880)

#42. General and operations managers

Wichita, KS
- Annual mean salary: $91,620
- #289 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 4,270

National
- Annual mean salary: $115,250
- Employment: 2,984,920
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($165,340)
--- Trenton, NJ ($165,030)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($159,210)

#41. Environmental engineers

Wichita, KS
- Annual mean salary: $91,790
- #107 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 60

National
- Annual mean salary: $100,220
- Employment: 42,660
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX ($131,700)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($127,470)
--- Idaho Falls, ID ($127,160)

#40. Personal financial advisors

Wichita, KS
- Annual mean salary: $92,230
- #263 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 350

National
- Annual mean salary: $119,960
- Employment: 263,030
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Barnstable Town, MA ($172,780)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($161,010)
--- East Stroudsburg, PA ($158,790)

#39. Civil engineers

Wichita, KS
- Annual mean salary: $92,820
- #100 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 430

National
- Annual mean salary: $95,490
- Employment: 304,310
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($119,720)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($116,550)
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($115,120)

#38. Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, technical and scientific products

Wichita, KS
- Annual mean salary: $94,940
- #113 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 260

National
- Annual mean salary: $102,750
- Employment: 266,160
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($150,760)
--- Durham-Chapel Hill, NC ($141,470)
--- Iowa City, IA ($138,870)

#37. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers

Wichita, KS
- Annual mean salary: $96,270
- #174 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 180

National
- Annual mean salary: $105,580
- Employment: 144,640
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($159,890)
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($154,170)
--- Trenton, NJ ($144,620)

#36. Lawyers

Wichita, KS
- Annual mean salary: $97,480
- #327 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 780

National
- Annual mean salary: $148,030
- Employment: 681,010
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($231,200)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($191,460)
--- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ($186,610)

#35. Medical and health services managers

Wichita, KS
- Annual mean salary: $97,780
- #319 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 860

National
- Annual mean salary: $119,840
- Employment: 436,770
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($162,110)
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($157,340)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($156,370)

#34. Training and development managers

Wichita, KS
- Annual mean salary: $98,030
- #111 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 40

National
- Annual mean salary: $128,800
- Employment: 35,830
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($180,360)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($176,270)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($166,410)

#33. Software developers

Wichita, KS
- Annual mean salary: $98,270
- #201 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,480

National
- Annual mean salary: $120,990
- Employment: 1,364,180
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($167,420)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($158,320)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($148,220)

#32. Transportation inspectors

Wichita, KS
- Annual mean salary: $98,820
- #9 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 60

National
- Annual mean salary: $77,620
- Employment: 25,070
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Portland-South Portland, ME ($112,260)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($111,930)
--- Anchorage, AK ($108,140)

#31. Elevator and escalator installers and repairers

Wichita, KS
- Annual mean salary: $99,240
- #16 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 190

National
- Annual mean salary: $91,320
- Employment: 22,510
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($130,290)
--- Kansas City, MO-KS ($113,590)
--- Urban Honolulu, HI ($113,480)

#30. Nurse practitioners

Wichita, KS
- Annual mean salary: $100,320
- #352 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 500

National
- Annual mean salary: $118,040
- Employment: 234,690
- Entry level education requirements: Master’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($197,870)
--- Napa, CA ($184,700)
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($180,380)

#29. Judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates

Wichita, KS
- Annual mean salary: $101,180
- #70 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 60

National
- Annual mean salary: $142,520
- Employment: 27,790
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($225,610)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($208,310)
--- Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI ($200,980)

#28. Food scientists and technologists

Wichita, KS
- Annual mean salary: $102,100
- #3 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 90

National
- Annual mean salary: $84,150
- Employment: 13,510
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Kansas City, MO-KS ($138,600)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($103,970)
--- Wichita, KS ($102,100)

#27. Public relations managers

Wichita, KS
- Annual mean salary: $102,690
- #130 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 40

National
- Annual mean salary: $138,000
- Employment: 59,850
- Entry level education requirements: nan
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($183,410)
--- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ($182,890)
--- Boulder, CO ($174,250)

#26. Petroleum engineers

Wichita, KS
- Annual mean salary: $103,670
- #39 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 40

National
- Annual mean salary: $145,720
- Employment: 22,100
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($214,700)
--- Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA ($175,590)
--- Anchorage, AK ($169,650)

#25. Air traffic controllers

Wichita, KS
- Annual mean salary: $105,130
- #27 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 40

National
- Annual mean salary: $127,920
- Employment: 21,230
- Entry level education requirements: Associate’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI ($158,210)
--- Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX ($154,180)
--- Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA ($153,770)

#24. Education administrators, postsecondary

Wichita, KS
- Annual mean salary: $106,770
- #102 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 260

National
- Annual mean salary: $111,260
- Employment: 155,990
- Entry level education requirements: Master’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Corvallis, OR ($178,570)
--- Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC ($165,940)
--- Syracuse, NY ($164,660)

#23. Human resources managers

Wichita, KS
- Annual mean salary: $106,930
- #248 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 290

National
- Annual mean salary: $136,590
- Employment: 166,530
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($190,020)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($186,930)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($175,410)

#22. Electronics engineers, except computer

Wichita, KS
- Annual mean salary: $107,500
- #66 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 250

National
- Annual mean salary: $115,490
- Employment: 107,170
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($152,060)
--- Santa Rosa, CA ($138,480)
--- Idaho Falls, ID ($136,310)

#21. Aerospace engineers

Wichita, KS
- Annual mean salary: $108,960
- #45 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,510

National
- Annual mean salary: $122,970
- Employment: 56,640
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Omaha-Council Bluffs, NE-IA ($166,060)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($149,490)
--- Boulder, CO ($148,990)

#20. Administrative services managers

Wichita, KS
- Annual mean salary: $109,010
- #105 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 190

National
- Annual mean salary: $113,030
- Employment: 224,620
- Entry level education requirements: nan
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($149,360)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($142,650)
--- Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH ($141,950)

#19. Physician assistants

Wichita, KS
- Annual mean salary: $109,750
- #224 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 300

National
- Annual mean salary: $119,460
- Employment: 132,940
- Entry level education requirements: Master’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Portsmouth, NH-ME ($167,240)
--- Panama City, FL ($165,000)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($164,150)

#18. Optometrists

Wichita, KS
- Annual mean salary: $109,830
- #150 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 90

National
- Annual mean salary: $125,440
- Employment: 38,720
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Wilmington, NC ($198,370)
--- Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT ($172,190)
--- Norwich-New London-Westerly, CT-RI ($169,140)

#17. Industrial production managers

Wichita, KS
- Annual mean salary: $116,440
- #129 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 520

National
- Annual mean salary: $117,780
- Employment: 192,270
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($155,640)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($153,860)
--- Fort Collins, CO ($153,470)

#16. Pharmacists

Wichita, KS
- Annual mean salary: $119,950
- #256 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 570

National
- Annual mean salary: $125,690
- Employment: 312,550
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($168,640)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($163,840)
--- Santa Rosa, CA ($158,420)

#15. Airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers

Wichita, KS
- Annual mean salary: $120,980
- #36 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 40

National
- Annual mean salary: $198,190
- Employment: 81,310
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA ($255,250)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($243,380)
--- Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL ($242,540)

#14. Commercial pilots

Wichita, KS
- Annual mean salary: $122,100
- #33 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 330

National
- Annual mean salary: $115,080
- Employment: 42,770
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($185,920)
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($184,260)
--- Savannah, GA ($177,450)

#13. Marketing managers

Wichita, KS
- Annual mean salary: $123,250
- #192 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 240

National
- Annual mean salary: $153,440
- Employment: 278,690
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($210,280)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($198,870)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($191,310)

#12. Purchasing managers

Wichita, KS
- Annual mean salary: $129,260
- #62 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 120

National
- Annual mean salary: $134,590
- Employment: 69,310
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Trenton, NJ ($181,030)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($177,010)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($174,760)

#11. Computer and information systems managers

Wichita, KS
- Annual mean salary: $130,170
- #195 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 520

National
- Annual mean salary: $162,930
- Employment: 485,190
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($228,030)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($211,470)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($202,800)

#10. Sales managers

Wichita, KS
- Annual mean salary: $134,300
- #83 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 580

National
- Annual mean salary: $142,390
- Employment: 453,800
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($198,960)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($196,910)
--- Boulder, CO ($182,820)

#9. Financial managers

Wichita, KS
- Annual mean salary: $137,880
- #122 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 800

National
- Annual mean salary: $153,460
- Employment: 681,070
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($209,100)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($201,330)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($188,900)

#8. Pediatricians, general

Wichita, KS
- Annual mean salary: $141,840
- #91 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 80

National
- Annual mean salary: $198,420
- Employment: 33,620
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Austin-Round Rock, TX ($298,760)
--- Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA ($298,320)
--- Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX ($291,940)

#7. Architectural and engineering managers

Wichita, KS
- Annual mean salary: $144,890
- #132 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 350

National
- Annual mean salary: $158,970
- Employment: 187,100
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($228,000)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($206,050)
--- Naples-Immokalee-Marco Island, FL ($198,430)

#6. Nurse anesthetists

Wichita, KS
- Annual mean salary: $154,660
- #109 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: data not available

National
- Annual mean salary: $202,470
- Employment: 43,950
- Entry level education requirements: Master’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Springfield, IL ($298,890)
--- Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA ($283,550)
--- Ann Arbor, MI ($276,810)

#5. Chief executives

Wichita, KS
- Annual mean salary: $167,720
- #241 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 510

National
- Annual mean salary: $213,020
- Employment: 200,480
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($313,440)
--- Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX ($298,960)
--- Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX ($296,480)

#4. Dentists, general

Wichita, KS
- Annual mean salary: $174,990
- #118 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 240

National
- Annual mean salary: $167,160
- Employment: 108,680
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Manchester, NH ($276,510)
--- Salinas, CA ($234,410)
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($229,800)

#3. Family medicine physicians

Wichita, KS
- Annual mean salary: $247,810
- #103 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: data not available

National
- Annual mean salary: $235,930
- Employment: 102,930
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Coeur d'Alene, ID ($336,820)
--- Fond du Lac, WI ($336,140)
--- Gainesville, GA ($330,930)

#2. Orthopedic surgeons, except pediatric

Wichita, KS
- Annual mean salary: $313,390
- #20 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 60

National
- Annual mean salary: $306,220
- Employment: 16,260
- Entry level education requirements: nan
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA ($366,650)
--- Birmingham-Hoover, AL ($364,290)
--- Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH ($354,880)

#1. Anesthesiologists

Wichita, KS
- Annual mean salary: $349,430
- #8 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 70

National
- Annual mean salary: $331,190
- Employment: 31,130
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Billings, MT ($367,320)
--- Tallahassee, FL ($363,190)
--- Fort Wayne, IN ($358,430)

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