
Fastest-growing jobs in Kansas
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis revealed that, as of September 2025, the national hiring rate has reached a decade low, with the exception of the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Associated Press reports that several factors have contributed to this, including the impact of the eleven interest rate hikes that occurred in 2022 and 2023 and the dozens of tariffs enacted by President Donald Trump since the beginning of the year.
Economists generally agree that the long-run breakeven employment growth rate (or the rate at which new jobs need to be added to keep up with population growth) is somewhere between 70,000 and 90,000 jobs per month. However, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, in August 2025, just 22,000 new jobs were added. June and July saw a combined 87,000 new jobs added to the workforce.
Those numbers are bleak, to be sure, but not all employment news is bad. Certain sectors, like health care and social services, continue to see rapid growth. The Bureau of Labor Statistics said average hourly earnings for all employees are also up by 3.7% over the past 12 months. The total number of hours worked per week has been edging down for all employees, providing opportunities for much-needed work-life balance.
The employment story also looks quite different from state to state. Some places, like Utah, New Mexico, Hawai'i, and Idaho, are seeing high-percentage job growth year over year; others, like Washington D.C., Iowa, and Kansas, have actually seen a shrinkage in the overall number of job openings.
Using BLS jobs data, Stacker determined the fastest-growing jobs in Kansas. Occupations were ranked by the percentage increase in employment between 2023 and 2024. Jobs were excluded from the ranking if they had fewer than 1,000 people working in them in the state.
Keep reading to learn which jobs are growing the fastest in Kansas.

#50. Food Service Managers
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +12.5% (180 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,620
--- Employment in 2023: 1,440
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $62,490

#49. Human Resources Specialists
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +12.5% (980 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 8,830
--- Employment in 2023: 7,850
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $76,490
#48. Public Relations Specialists
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +12.5% (270 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 2,430
--- Employment in 2023: 2,160
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $61,910
#47. Manicurists and Pedicurists
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +12.5% (150 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,350
--- Employment in 2023: 1,200
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $30,650
#46. Facilities Managers
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +12.6% (120 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,070
--- Employment in 2023: 950
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $108,580
#45. Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +12.7% (720 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 6,380
--- Employment in 2023: 5,660
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $47,010

#44. Architectural and Engineering Managers
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +13.0% (200 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,740
--- Employment in 2023: 1,540
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $147,020

#43. Firefighters
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +13.8% (440 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 3,630
--- Employment in 2023: 3,190
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $44,060

#42. Industrial Machinery Mechanics
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +13.9% (800 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 6,570
--- Employment in 2023: 5,770
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $70,170
#41. First-Line Supervisors of Housekeeping and Janitorial Workers
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +14.1% (200 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,620
--- Employment in 2023: 1,420
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $50,070

#40. Conveyor Operators and Tenders
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +14.3% (130 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,040
--- Employment in 2023: 910
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $39,870
#39. Childcare Workers
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +14.3% (900 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 7,180
--- Employment in 2023: 6,280
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $28,800

#38. Training and Development Specialists
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +14.6% (600 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 4,700
--- Employment in 2023: 4,100
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $64,670

#37. Farm Equipment Mechanics and Service Technicians
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +14.7% (250 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,950
--- Employment in 2023: 1,700
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $49,450

#36. Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +15.9% (530 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 3,860
--- Employment in 2023: 3,330
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $76,660

#35. Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +16.1% (180 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,300
--- Employment in 2023: 1,120
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $65,940
#34. Recreation Workers
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +16.3% (480 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 3,430
--- Employment in 2023: 2,950
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $30,370

#33. Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +16.7% (150 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,050
--- Employment in 2023: 900
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $96,150
#32. Veterinary Technologists and Technicians
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +16.8% (180 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,250
--- Employment in 2023: 1,070
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $39,070
#31. Social and Community Service Managers
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +17.1% (240 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,640
--- Employment in 2023: 1,400
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $73,470

#30. Dental Hygienists
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +18.3% (380 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 2,460
--- Employment in 2023: 2,080
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $82,060

#29. Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +18.6% (590 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 3,770
--- Employment in 2023: 3,180
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $58,650

#28. Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +18.8% (250 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,580
--- Employment in 2023: 1,330
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $24,960

#27. Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +19.0% (420 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 2,630
--- Employment in 2023: 2,210
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $73,470

#26. Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +20.0% (490 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 2,940
--- Employment in 2023: 2,450
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $123,560
#25. Phlebotomists
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +20.8% (210 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,220
--- Employment in 2023: 1,010
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $38,330

#24. Highway Maintenance Workers
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +21.7% (460 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 2,580
--- Employment in 2023: 2,120
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $45,170
#23. Logisticians
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +21.7% (470 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 2,640
--- Employment in 2023: 2,170
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $51,430

#22. Millwrights
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +22.1% (230 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,270
--- Employment in 2023: 1,040
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $68,680
#21. Administrative Services Managers
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +22.9% (250 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,340
--- Employment in 2023: 1,090
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $106,140

#20. Construction Managers
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +23.0% (600 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 3,210
--- Employment in 2023: 2,610
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $103,760
#19. Financial Specialists, All Other
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +23.1% (210 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,120
--- Employment in 2023: 910
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $50,660

#18. Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +23.6% (460 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 2,410
--- Employment in 2023: 1,950
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $57,760
#17. Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +24.3% (1,360 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 6,950
--- Employment in 2023: 5,590
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $38,130
#16. School Bus Monitors
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +25.0% (200 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,000
--- Employment in 2023: 800
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $29,320

#15. Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +25.0% (230 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,150
--- Employment in 2023: 920
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $99,790

#14. Physician Assistants
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +26.2% (210 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,010
--- Employment in 2023: 800
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $124,440

#13. Food Batchmakers
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +27.1% (570 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 2,670
--- Employment in 2023: 2,100
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $41,830

#12. Property Appraisers and Assessors
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +27.3% (240 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,120
--- Employment in 2023: 880
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $52,870

#11. Property Appraisers and Assessors
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +27.3% (240 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,120
--- Employment in 2023: 880
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $52,870

#10. Butchers and Meat Cutters
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +33.0% (290 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,170
--- Employment in 2023: 880
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $35,800
#9. Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +38.4% (530 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,910
--- Employment in 2023: 1,380
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $50,020

#8. Roofers
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +39.5% (320 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,130
--- Employment in 2023: 810
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $47,400
#7. Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +40.8% (290 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,000
--- Employment in 2023: 710
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $43,660

#6. Dentists, General
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +42.5% (370 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,240
--- Employment in 2023: 870
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $170,090

#5. Sales Managers
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +44.9% (1,530 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 4,940
--- Employment in 2023: 3,410
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $151,440
#4. Project Management Specialists
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +45.6% (1,150 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 3,670
--- Employment in 2023: 2,520
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $86,330
#3. Psychiatric Technicians
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +46.3% (630 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,990
--- Employment in 2023: 1,360
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $38,700

#2. Mechanical Engineers
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +51.5% (1,400 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 4,120
--- Employment in 2023: 2,720
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $91,770

#1. Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +55.2% (640 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,800
--- Employment in 2023: 1,160
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $49,290
This story features data reporting by Wade Zhou, writing by Madison Troyer, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 51 states.