These are the 5 rarest and most common jobs in Kansas. Is your profession on the list?
Kansas had 1.4 million workers in 2023. That includes a large variety of professions, from common to unusual. But which ones are the rarest?
The federal government sorts workers into 867 occupational categories, ranging from astronomers and dishwashers to tree trimmers and phlebotomists.
Employers receive a survey twice a year from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics to estimate the number of workers in different professions. The Kansas Department of Labor shared the May 2023 data, the most recent information available.
The mean wage of all Kansas workers is $56,270. In July, unemployment increased in Kansas compared to the year before, but the 3.2% unemployment rate is still lower than the rest of the nation, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Kansas’ rarest jobs
Here are the least common professions in Kansas, according to the most recent data from the Kansas Department of Labor. The example job titles come from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Podiatrist, a foot doctor
- Number of workers: 30
- Mean wage: $141,650
Explosives worker, ordnance handling expert and blaster, who place and detonate explosives
- Number of workers: 30
- Mean wage: $42,590
- Example job titles: blast setter, dynamiter, explosive technician, mining powder crew worker
Hydrologist, an environmental scientist focused on water
- Number of workers: 30
- Mean wage: $84,850
Hand grinding and polishing worker, uses handheld tools to grind, sand and polish a variety of materials
- Number of workers: 30
- Mean wage: $37,330
- Example job titles: hand buffer, hand sander, jewelry polisher, knife grinder
Gambling manager, oversees gambling operations at a casino
- Number of workers: 30
- Mean wage: $90,310
- Example job titles: casino manager, slot operations director, table games manager
Kansas’ most popular jobs
Here are the most common professions in Kansas, from the state Department of Labor.
Fast food and counter worker
- Number of workers: 40,690
- Mean wage: $25,860 per year
- Example job titles: barista, cafeteria server, ice cream server
Cashier
- Number of workers: 34,780
- Mean wage: $26,800
- Example job titles: cash register operator, grocery checker, toll collector
Customer service representative
- Number of workers: 32,410
- Mean wage: $39,760
- Example job titles: customer complaint clerk, passenger relations representative, warranty clerk
Registered nurse
- Number of workers: 31,120
- Mean wage: $76,240
- Example job titles: coronary care unit nurse, hospice registered nurse, psychiatric nurse
Retail salesperson
- Number of workers: 30,500
- Mean wage: $35,100
- Example job titles: used car salesperson, women’s apparel salesperson
Have more questions about jobs in Kansas? Ask the Service Journalism team at kcq@kcstar.com.
This story was originally published November 10, 2024 at 5:00 AM.
