Comparing the lowest and highest-paying jobs in Topeka

TOPEKA (KSNT) - In Kansas, the highest-paying occupation, not including medical professions, paid almost eight times more than the lowest-paying job.

In 2022, data compiled by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) found dentists have the highest-paying occupation in the City of Topeka. Dentists made an average wage of $187,120 per year or an average hourly wage of $89.96 per hour in the Capital City.

Surgeons, ophthalmologists, anesthesiologists, orthodontists, psychiatrists and physicians had the highest paying jobs in Kansas, earning well into the six-figure territory. At the very top, surgeons earned an average wage of $374,300 or nearly 20 times more than the average lowest-paying job, according to BLS data.

Not including medical professions, the highest paying job in Kansas went to Architectural and Engineering Managers who earned an average of $150,240 per year in Kansas. Architectural and Engineering Managers in Topeka made slightly less than the state average at $142,900 per year, according to BLS data.

The lowest paying job in Kansas went to set and exhibit designers who earned an average of $18,880 per year. In Topeka, the lowest-paying job went to lifeguards, ski patrol and other recreational protective service workers who earned an average of $19,000 per year, according to BLS data.

Kansas' highest and lowest paying jobs compared

	Occupation Title	Average Annual Pay	Occupation Title	Average Annual Pay
1	Architectural and Engineering Managers	$150,240	Set and Exhibit Designers	$18,880
2	Sales Managers	$148,170	Ushers, Lobby Attendants, and Ticket Takers	$20,670
3	Financial Managers	$145,030	Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers	$20,710
4	Natural Sciences Managers	$143,970	Food Servers, Non-restaurant	$23,340
5	Computer and Information Systems Managers	$140,650	Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop	$23,480
6	Marketing Managers	$137,960	Motion Picture Projectionists	$23,660
7	Purchasing Managers	$132,910	Amusement and Recreation Attendants	$24,170
8	Air Traffic Controllers	$131,680	Fast Food and Counter Workers	$24,300
9	Petroleum Engineers	$128,930	Cooks, Short Order	$24,500
10	Human Resources Managers	$125,230	Dishwashers	$24,520
11	Managers, All Other	$124,610	Photographic Process Workers and Processing Machine Operators	$24,840
12	Physical Scientists, All Other	$122,340	Cashiers	$25,230
13	Compensation and Benefits Managers	$122,330	Parking Attendants	$25,320
14	Industrial Production Managers	$120,270	Childcare Workers	$25,570
15	Sales Engineers	$120,060	Cooks, Fast Food	$25,680
16	Economics Teachers, Postsecondary	$118,180	Home Health and Personal Care Aides	$25,750
17	Computer and Information Research Scientists	$115,980	Taxi Drivers	$25,880
18	Lawyers	$115,860	Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers	$25,930
19	Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers	$115,540	Hotel, Motel, and Resort Desk Clerks	$26,060
20	Public Relations Managers	$114,800	Pressers, Textile, Garment, and Related Materials	$26,360
21	Administrative Services Managers	$113,820	Manicurists and Pedicurists	$26,530
22	Training and Development Managers	$113,680	Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers	$26,670
23	Actuaries	$112,820	Animal Caretakers	$26,840
24	Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates	$112,000	Transportation Workers, All Other	$26,960
25	Commercial and Industrial Designers	$111,110	Bakers	$26,980

Highest and lowest paying jobs in the Topeka Metro area compared

	Occupation Title	Average Annual Pay	Occupation Title	Average Annual Pay
1	Dentists, General	$187,120	Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, Other Recreational Protective Service Workers	$19,000
2	Judges, Magistrate Judges and Magistrates	$155,420	Amusement and Recreation Attendants	$21,370
3	Chief Executives	$148,500	Food servers, Non-restaurant	$22,150
4	Sales Managers	$145,120	Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant	$22,290
5	Architectural and Engineering Managers	$142,900	Dishwashers	$22,640
6	Financial Managers	$141,600	Fast Food and Counter Workers	$24,100
7	Purchasing Managers	$135,490	Cashiers	$24,740
8	Computer and Information Systems Managers	$125,700	Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers	$25,220
9	Marketing Managers	$124,750	Pressers, Textile, Garment and Related Materials	$25,360
10	Managers, All Other	$120,370	Animal Caretakers	$25,620
11	Pharmacists	$120,100	Home and Health Personal Care Aides	$26,070
12	Human Resources Managers	$118,220	Cooks, Short Order	$26,290
13	Administrative Services Managers	$117,370	Childcare Workers	$26,450
14	Actuaries	$117,220	Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers	$26,540
15	Nurse Practitioners	$116,330	Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers	$26,580
16	Facilities Managers	$115,380	Bakers	$26,900
17	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing	$111,520	Pharmacy Aides	$27,010
18	Industrial Production Managers	$109,430	Couriers and Messengers	$27,090
19	Medical and Health Services Managers	$108,920	Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners	$27,600
20	Personal Financial Advisors	$106,610	Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations	$27,780
21	Veterinarians	$104,870	Cooks, Restaurant	$27,840
22	Management Occupations	$102,540	Library Assistants, Clerical	$28,140
23	Construction Managers	$100,060	Bartenders	$28,230
24	Electrical Engineers	$98,270	Food Preparation Workers	$28,590
25	Power Plant Operators	$97,950	Tutors	$28,650