What this means Our calculation
28 of 38 trades here pay more than the typical U.S. metro; the best-paid is elevator installers at $124,120. Prices run 7% below the U.S. average, so a paycheck here is worth more than the same dollars elsewhere. For the wider job market, unemployment is about the same as most metros (3.9%) and the population is growing at a typical pace (+3.4% since 2020).
Highest-paying trades in Kansas City Government data
All 38 trades
Vs. U.S. compares with the typical metro for that trade. Jobs are employment estimates, not open positions. Click a column to sort.
| Trade | Median pay | Vs. U.S. | Real pay | Jobs | U.S. rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elevator Installer | $124,120 | +15% | $134,121 | 200 | #18 |
| Electrical Lineworker | $101,740 | +5% | $109,938 | 980 | #103 |
| Construction Supervisor | $84,100 | +9% | $90,877 | 5,860 | #86 |
| Sheet Metal Worker | $82,830 | +35% | $89,504 | 1,080 | #21 |
| Plasterer | $78,870 | +34% | $85,225 | 140 | #7 |
| Ironworker | $77,570 | +21% | $83,820 | 380 | #41 |
| Electrician | $76,860 | +23% | $83,053 | 5,400 | #95 |
| Plumber | $76,150 | +24% | $82,286 | 3,740 | #90 |
| Brickmason | $72,370 | +15% | $78,201 | 500 | #49 |
| Industrial Machinery Mechanic | $68,770 | +8% | $74,311 | 2,520 | #129 |
| Paving Equipment Operator | $66,210 | +33% | $71,545 | 500 | #21 |
| Building Inspector | $65,330 | -3% | $70,594 | 650 | #190 |
| Heavy Equipment Operator | $64,060 | +7% | $69,222 | 4,110 | #122 |
| HVAC Technician | $62,680 | +5% | $67,731 | 3,010 | #104 |
| Diesel Mechanic | $62,570 | +4% | $67,612 | 2,890 | #118 |
| Concrete Finisher | $62,250 | +9% | $67,266 | 2,950 | #77 |
| Carpenter | $61,810 | +10% | $66,791 | 4,540 | #103 |
| Telecom Equipment Installer | $60,580 | -3% | $65,461 | 880 | #207 |
| Auto Body Repairer | $60,540 | +17% | $65,418 | 1,550 | #41 |
| Telecom Line Installer | $58,560 | -12% | $63,279 | 920 | #182 |
| Roofer | $58,420 | +17% | $63,127 | 880 | #90 |
| Welder | $57,370 | +10% | $61,993 | 2,710 | #109 |
| Tile Setter | $57,100 | +13% | $61,701 | 290 | #45 |
| Glazier | $56,850 | +3% | $61,431 | 300 | #77 |
| Machinist | $56,740 | -1% | $61,312 | 1,350 | #187 |
| Insulation Installer | $56,460 | +17% | $61,009 | 330 | #27 |
| Auto Mechanic | $53,790 | +10% | $58,124 | 5,380 | #111 |
| Septic & Sewer Technician | $51,570 | +1% | $55,725 | 340 | #71 |
| Construction Laborer | $50,500 | +8% | $54,569 | 6,580 | #119 |
| Flooring Installer | $50,140 | -10% | $54,180 | 170 | #47 |
| Painter | $50,070 | +5% | $54,105 | 1,330 | #119 |
| Maintenance Technician | $48,860 | +1% | $52,797 | 10,360 | #174 |
| Hazmat Removal Worker | $47,780 | -1% | $51,630 | 190 | #73 |
| Appliance Repair Technician | $47,110 | -7% | $50,906 | 220 | #89 |
| Drywall Installer | $46,720 | -13% | $50,485 | 530 | #141 |
| Fence Installer | $44,350 | -8% | $47,924 | 240 | #41 |
| Pest Control Technician | $43,500 | -2% | $47,005 | 580 | #140 |
| Landscaper | $41,450 | +10% | $44,790 | 6,660 | #102 |
Pay: BLS OEWS, May 2025 (metro-level). Real pay: BEA price parities, 2024. How we calculate
Living costs & homes Government data
Homes in Kansas City
The Kansas City area has about 978,202 homes. 50% were built before 1980 (typical metro 45%), so its housing is older than most; 12% were built in 2010 or later. Older homes often need more repair, replacement and upgrade work. 67% of households own their home, and the median home value is $314,300.
Census American Community Survey, 2024 1-year estimates (table DP04).
Working outdoors in Kansas City Government data
In an average year, Kansas City has 47 days at 90°F or hotter (more than most metros; typical metro 33), including 5 at 100°F or more, 93 nights below freezing (typical 90) and 60 days with a tenth of an inch of rain or more, and 11 inches of snow. Summer afternoons average 88°F and winter nights 25°F. That matters for outdoor trades: heat and freezes shape the working season and the hours.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020 averages, Kansas City Downtown Airport, MO station. Compare cities on outdoor work weather.
Job market & growth Government data
Unemployment
3.9% in 2025 (typical metro 4.1%), all workers.
BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, 2021–2025.
Population
The Kansas City area's population grew 3.4% from 2020 to 2025 (2,195,241 → 2,270,682), ranking #150 of 387 metros for growth (typical metro +2.5%). People moving in (net +50,727) account for most of the change.
Census Bureau population estimates, July 1 of each year, 2020–2025.
New homes permitted
New-home permits in Kansas City are down 12% from 2021 to 2025 (11,254 → 9,893). Permits signal construction activity, not open jobs.
Census Building Permits Survey, 2021–2025.
Getting to work
The average commute in the Kansas City area is 24 minutes each way, about the same as the typical metro (24 min). 10% of commuters spend 45 minutes or more. 73% drive alone, 1% take transit and 15% work from home (all workers, not just trades).
Census American Community Survey, 2024 1-year estimates (table S0801).
Licensing in Missouri Official source
Missouri licenses most trades at the city or county level. Check with the building or licensing office where you plan to work.
Requirements for skilled trades vary by state and sometimes by city; always confirm with the official agency.
Union membership
In 2025, 9.8% of wage and salary workers in Missouri were union members, close to the U.S. rate of about 10% (#22 of 51 states and D.C.), and 11.2% were covered by a union contract. These figures cover all jobs in the state, not only the trades.
BLS Union Members, 2025 (Current Population Survey), table 5.
Nearby metros
Compare any trade in two cities with city vs. city, or see every metro in Missouri.