Highest-paying jobs in Kansas City for high school graduates

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#50. Maintenance workers, machinery

- Median annual wage: $62,310
- Median hourly wage: $29.96
- Total employment: 430 people (0.4 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#48. Sales representatives of services, except advertising, insurance, financial services, and travel (tie)

- Median annual wage: $62,420
- Median hourly wage: $30.01
- Total employment: 8,950 people (8.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#48. Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (tie)

- Median annual wage: $62,420
- Median hourly wage: $30.01
- Total employment: 3,770 people (3.45 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#47. Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists

- Median annual wage: $62,680
- Median hourly wage: $30.14
- Total employment: 2,830 people (2.59 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#46. First-line supervisors of transportation and material moving workers, except aircraft cargo handling supervisors

- Median annual wage: $62,830
- Median hourly wage: $30.21
- Total employment: 4,730 people (4.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#45. Crushing, grinding, and polishing machine setters, operators, and tenders

- Median annual wage: $62,960
- Median hourly wage: $30.27
- Total employment: 190 people (0.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#44. Rail car repairers

- Median annual wage: $62,990
- Median hourly wage: $30.28
- Total employment: 80 people (0.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#43. Police and sheriff's patrol officers

- Median annual wage: $63,050
- Median hourly wage: $30.31
- Total employment: 4,560 people (4.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#42. Bus drivers, transit and intercity

- Median annual wage: $63,340
- Median hourly wage: $30.45
- Total employment: 650 people (0.59 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#41. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants

- Median annual wage: $63,480
- Median hourly wage: $30.52
- Total employment: 3,430 people (3.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#40. Construction and building inspectors

- Median annual wage: $63,570
- Median hourly wage: $30.56
- Total employment: 760 people (0.7 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#39. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines

- Median annual wage: $63,720
- Median hourly wage: $30.64
- Total employment: 1,500 people (1.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#38. Explosives workers, ordnance handling experts, and blasters

- Median annual wage: $63,970
- Median hourly wage: $30.75
- Total employment: 50 people (0.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#37. Food service managers

- Median annual wage: $64,210
- Median hourly wage: $30.87
- Total employment: 1,110 people (1.01 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#36. Industrial machinery mechanics

- Median annual wage: $65,190
- Median hourly wage: $31.34
- Total employment: 2,140 people (1.96 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#35. First-line supervisors of office and administrative support workers

- Median annual wage: $65,320
- Median hourly wage: $31.40
- Total employment: 9,460 people (8.65 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#34. First-line supervisors of security workers

- Median annual wage: $66,140
- Median hourly wage: $31.80
- Total employment: 390 people (0.36 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#33. Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products

- Median annual wage: $68,290
- Median hourly wage: $32.83
- Total employment: 11,250 people (10.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#32. Personal service managers, all other

- Median annual wage: $69,790
- Median hourly wage: $33.55
- Total employment: 40 people (0.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#30. Paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators (tie)

- Median annual wage: $70,520
- Median hourly wage: $33.91
- Total employment: 610 people (0.56 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#30. Brickmasons and blockmasons (tie)

- Median annual wage: $70,520
- Median hourly wage: $33.91
- Total employment: 600 people (0.55 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#29. Control and valve installers and repairers, except mechanical door

- Median annual wage: $70,870
- Median hourly wage: $34.07
- Total employment: 270 people (0.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#28. Machine feeders and offbearers

- Median annual wage: $71,910
- Median hourly wage: $34.57
- Total employment: 410 people (0.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#27. Crane and tower operators

- Median annual wage: $72,260
- Median hourly wage: $34.74
- Total employment: 170 people (0.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#26. Hearing aid specialists

- Median annual wage: $72,590
- Median hourly wage: $34.90
- Total employment: 140 people (0.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#25. Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters

- Median annual wage: $72,600
- Median hourly wage: $34.90
- Total employment: 3,300 people (3.02 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#24. Transportation inspectors

- Median annual wage: $73,180
- Median hourly wage: $35.18
- Total employment: 80 people (0.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#23. First-line supervisors of production and operating workers

- Median annual wage: $73,550
- Median hourly wage: $35.36
- Total employment: 4,510 people (4.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#22. Insurance sales agents

- Median annual wage: $74,100
- Median hourly wage: $35.62
- Total employment: 5,260 people (4.81 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#21. Electricians

- Median annual wage: $74,560
- Median hourly wage: $35.85
- Total employment: 4,920 people (4.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#20. Millwrights

- Median annual wage: $75,870
- Median hourly wage: $36.48
- Total employment: 920 people (0.84 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#19. Lodging managers

- Median annual wage: $76,130
- Median hourly wage: $36.60
- Total employment: 140 people (0.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#18. Airfield operations specialists

- Median annual wage: $76,190
- Median hourly wage: $36.63
- Total employment: 40 people (0.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#17. First-line supervisors of mechanics, installers, and repairers

- Median annual wage: $77,690
- Median hourly wage: $37.35
- Total employment: 3,850 people (3.52 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#16. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators

- Median annual wage: $78,410
- Median hourly wage: $37.70
- Total employment: 3,190 people (2.92 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#15. First-line supervisors of non-retail sales workers

- Median annual wage: $79,550
- Median hourly wage: $38.25
- Total employment: 850 people (0.78 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#14. Stationary engineers and boiler operators

- Median annual wage: $79,800
- Median hourly wage: $38.37
- Total employment: 60 people (0.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#13. Sheet metal workers

- Median annual wage: $81,500
- Median hourly wage: $39.19
- Total employment: 1,310 people (1.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#12. Gas plant operators

- Median annual wage: $81,810
- Median hourly wage: $39.33
- Total employment: 70 people (0.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#11. Gambling managers

- Median annual wage: $81,830
- Median hourly wage: $39.34
- Total employment: 50 people (0.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#10. Aircraft cargo handling supervisors

- Median annual wage: $82,800
- Median hourly wage: $39.81
- Total employment: 30 people (0.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#9. First-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers

- Median annual wage: $83,580
- Median hourly wage: $40.18
- Total employment: 5,200 people (4.76 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#8. Service unit operators, oil and gas

- Median annual wage: $88,880
- Median hourly wage: $42.73
- Total employment: 30 people (0.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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

- Median annual wage: $90,180
- Median hourly wage: $43.36
- Total employment: 50 people (0.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#6. Detectives and criminal investigators

- Median annual wage: $91,620
- Median hourly wage: $44.05
- Total employment: 820 people (0.75 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#5. Postmasters and mail superintendents

- Median annual wage: $91,810
- Median hourly wage: $44.14
- Total employment: 50 people (0.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#4. First-line supervisors of police and detectives

- Median annual wage: $97,880
- Median hourly wage: $47.06
- Total employment: 1,360 people (1.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#3. Electrical power-line installers and repairers

- Median annual wage: $100,130
- Median hourly wage: $48.14
- Total employment: 920 people (0.84 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#2. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers

- Median annual wage: $101,480
- Median hourly wage: $48.79
- Total employment: 1,230 people (1.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#1. Elevator and escalator installers and repairers

- Median annual wage: $121,960
- Median hourly wage: $58.64
- Total employment: 240 people (0.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

This story features data reporting by Wade Zhou, writing by Cu Fleshman, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 364 metros.

Jacob Lund // Shutterstock