Workers in the Kansas City, MO-KS Metropolitan Statistical Area had an average (mean) hourly wage of $31.99 in May 2025, compared to the nationwide average of $33.54, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Acting Regional Commissioner Jerome Watters noted that higher paying major occupational groups included management ($63.61), legal ($61.47), and computer and mathematical ($49.63). Lower paying occupations included food preparation and serving related ($17.25), personal care and service ($18.10), and healthcare support ($19.21). (See table A.)

Occupational groups with the highest employment shares in the Kansas City area included office and administrative support (11.3 percent), transportation and material moving (9.5 percent), and food preparation and serving related (8.8 percent). Major occupational groups on the lower end of local employment included life, physical, and social science (0.8 percent); legal (0.8 percent); and arts, design, entertainment, sports, and media (1.2 percent).

The Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey is a semiannual survey measuring occupational employment and wage rates for wage and salary workers in nonfarm establishments in the United States. The OEWS data available from BLS include cross-industry occupational employment and wage estimates for the nation; over 530 areas, including states and the District of Columbia, metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs), nonmetropolitan areas, and territories; national industry-specific estimates at the NAICS sector, 3-digit, most 4-digit, and selected 5- and 6-digit industry levels; and national estimates by ownership across all industries and for schools and hospitals. Full OEWS data tables are available online.

Additional information about the OEWS estimates and methodology is available in the national Technical Notes. The overall national response rate for the six panels, based on the 50 states and the District of Columbia, is 66.2 percent based on establishments and 67.2 percent based on weighted sampled employment. Sample sizes and response rates by metropolitan and nonmetropolitan area are available on the Additional OEWS data sets page.

 Metropolitan area definitions

The substate area data published in this release reflect the standards and definitions established by the U.S. Office of Management and Budget.

The Kansas City, MO-KS Metropolitan Statistical Area includes Johnson County, KS; Leavenworth County, KS; Linn County, KS; Miami County, KS; Wyandotte County, KS; Bates County, MO; Caldwell County, MO; Cass County, MO; Clay County, MO; Clinton County, MO; Jackson County, MO; Lafayette County, MO; Platte County, MO; and Ray County, MO.

For more information

Answers to frequently asked questions about the OEWS data, as well as general program documentation, are available on the OEWS website.

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