Jobs, pay and daily life in McPherson, from official statistics with source and year on every table.
Click any dot to open that city: jobs, pay, rent, commute, county economy and climate. Dot size follows population; colours follow the state flag.
By AtiveSite · Published 07/11/2026 · Updated 07/11/2026 · Every figure is linked to its source below.
McPherson is a city in Kansas with 13,995 residents. The median household earns $77,529 a year and the median rent is $925 a month, which is 14.3% of the median household income. The nearest metropolitan area with BLS wage data is Wichita, KS (308,570 jobs), about 29 miles away; this place is probably not part of it, so its pay tables are a reference only.
How McPherson compares. Among the 60 largest places in Kansas, McPherson is #27 by population, #10 for long commutes (#1 = fewest), #49 for remote work (#1 = most), #20 for household income (#1 = highest). Its county, McPherson County, is #6 of 105 counties for average pay ($59,013).
McPherson has 13,995 residents (ACS 2020–2024), about 0.5% of the population of Kansas. It covers 8 square miles of land, which works out to roughly 1,709 people per square mile. The median age is 35.4, 5% younger than the state median (35.4 against 37.4).
The median gross rent is $925 a month (rent plus utilities), 13% below the state median ($925 against $1,060). Over a year that is 14.3% of the median household income. US housing guidance treats housing as affordable when it takes 30% of income or less, so the typical household is under that line. The median home value is $211,700, which is 2.7 times the median household income ($77,529); a ratio under 4 usually means ownership is within reach for many households. 65.4% of households own their home, about the same as the state average (65.4% against 67.2%).
The nearest metropolitan area with wage data is Wichita, KS, metropolitan area has 308,570 jobs in the BLS wage survey, and the median pay across all occupations is $47,630 a year, 7% below the national median ($47,630 against $50,980). The biggest occupation groups are office and administrative support (34,310 jobs, median $43,740); production (33,420 jobs, median $59,450); food preparation and serving related (28,710 jobs, median $28,300). The area is most specialised in production (2.0 times) and architecture and engineering (1.5 times), where the share of workers is well above the national share. The best-paying groups with at least 5,000 jobs are management ($105,260) and computer and mathematical ($84,790). In 2026M09 the unemployment rate of McPherson County was 3.1%. 68.2% of residents aged 16 and over are in the labour force. The city lies in McPherson County; its jobs, pay by industry and GDP are on the county page.
Among workers, 80.9% drive alone, 0.0% use public transit, 5.2% walk, 5.0% work from home. 3.1% of workers commute 45 minutes or more, 58% below the state average (3.1% against 7.4%).
38.4% of adults aged 25 and over hold a bachelor's degree or higher, 8% above the state share (38.4% against 35.6%). 5.1% of residents were born outside the United States, 31% below the state share (5.1% against 7.4%). The poverty rate is 13.5%, 20% above the state rate (13.5% against 11.3%).
The warmest month is Jul, averaging 82°F (27.8°C), and the coolest is Jan at 30°F (-0.9°C). About 801 mm (32 inches) of precipitation falls in a year; May is the wettest month (127 mm) and Jan the driest (19 mm). These values come from NASA satellite-based climatology on a grid of about 50 km, so they describe the wider area, not a weather station in the city.
Closest cities in this guide: Hutchinson (25 miles, rent 5% lower); Newton (29 miles, similar rent); Salina (31 miles, rent 4% higher); Valley Center (40 miles, rent 5% lower). Rent differences are against McPherson; use the Compare tab to put any two cities side by side.
Federal jobs in Kansas (341) →State guide: KansasCountry guideMcPherson CountyKansas rankings
These links go to official sources and open in a new window. The first one is the government's or company's own site as listed in Wikidata (property "official website"); check it before relying on it.
There are 341 federal postings open in Kansas (USAJOBS, state level; we do not have a city filter for them). Private-sector jobs are not in this feed.
| Occupation ⇅ | Jobs ⇅ | Location quotient ⇅ | Median pay (year) ⇅ | Entry (10th pct.) ⇅ | Top (90th pct.) ⇅ | Median vs US ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | 11,580 | 1.51 | $27,420 | $21,530 | $30,010 | -12% |
| Retail Salespersons | 7,530 | 0.97 | $30,760 | $23,000 | $45,150 | -13% |
| Registered Nurses | 7,460 | 1.11 | $76,540 | $60,300 | $99,530 | -22% |
| Cashiers | 7,070 | 1.15 | $28,430 | $22,450 | $35,150 | -14% |
| Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive | 6,290 | 1.86 | $41,480 | $29,960 | $58,240 | -13% |
| Customer Service Representatives | 5,950 | 1.16 | $39,330 | $29,280 | $56,190 | -12% |
| Home Health and Personal Care Aides | 5,850 | 0.68 | $30,600 | $27,470 | $36,190 | -15% |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | 5,710 | 1.02 | $34,510 | $28,980 | $45,000 | -8% |
| Nursing Assistants | 5,220 | 1.82 | $37,290 | $31,840 | $44,930 | -12% |
| General and Operations Managers | 5,060 | 0.73 | $85,230 | $48,910 | $191,600 | -19% |
| Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary | 4,740 | 1.68 | $30,870 | $21,860 | $41,910 | -16% |
| Waiters and Waitresses | 4,570 | 1.01 | $37,300 | $17,300 | $63,560 | +6% |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | 3,890 | 0.95 | $57,930 | $39,610 | $75,630 | -1% |
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | 3,690 | 0.63 | $37,750 | $29,470 | $48,750 | -6% |
| Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners | 3,650 | 0.83 | $32,510 | $27,320 | $45,490 | -12% |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | 3,590 | 3.03 | $63,030 | $41,100 | $88,450 | +30% |
| Accountants and Auditors | 3,120 | 1.08 | $79,270 | $52,810 | $133,460 | -5% |
| Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks | 3,070 | 1.13 | $46,500 | $35,710 | $61,080 | -8% |
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | 2,940 | 1.07 | $58,640 | $48,470 | $65,150 | -8% |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | 2,930 | 1.05 | $44,090 | $32,070 | $62,840 | -1% |
| Occupation ⇅ | Jobs ⇅ | Location quotient ⇅ | Median pay (year) ⇅ | Entry (10th pct.) ⇅ | Top (90th pct.) ⇅ | Median vs US ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Computer and Information Systems Managers | 550 | 0.41 | $156,130 | $94,730 | $241,830 | -11% |
| Financial Managers | 1,060 | 0.63 | $155,060 | $81,590 | $250,650 | -7% |
| Physicians, All Other | 1,170 | 1.71 | $151,470 | $64,630 | $408,370 | -43% |
| Pharmacists | 580 | 0.91 | $142,400 | $107,230 | $165,940 | +1% |
| Sales Managers | 960 | 0.76 | $134,650 | $76,390 | $221,090 | -9% |
| Aerospace Engineers | 1,430 | 10.66 | $130,720 | $81,100 | $167,400 | -3% |
| Industrial Production Managers | 510 | 1.03 | $127,360 | $85,380 | $210,960 | +1% |
| Lawyers | 690 | 0.46 | $121,510 | $76,380 | $209,200 | -24% |
| Nurse Practitioners | 690 | 1.07 | $116,100 | $95,600 | $145,620 | -12% |
| Construction Managers | 730 | 0.97 | $108,180 | $72,190 | $159,140 | -6% |
| Software Developers | 2,040 | 0.61 | $105,980 | $62,860 | $152,500 | -22% |
| Medical and Health Services Managers | 920 | 0.78 | $104,410 | $73,990 | $181,840 | -16% |
| Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary | 520 | 0.80 | $102,480 | $81,570 | $131,140 | -3% |
| Industrial Engineers | 1,110 | 1.53 | $101,510 | $75,940 | $137,160 | -1% |
| Physical Therapists | 580 | 1.10 | $97,400 | $71,960 | $118,780 | -5% |
| Computer Systems Analysts | 620 | 0.60 | $94,790 | $62,000 | $175,700 | -10% |
| Mechanical Engineers | 800 | 1.36 | $94,610 | $65,840 | $139,660 | -9% |
| Project Management Specialists | 1,140 | 0.54 | $89,170 | $53,420 | $139,990 | -13% |
| General and Operations Managers | 5,060 | 0.73 | $85,230 | $48,910 | $191,600 | -19% |
| Business Operations Specialists, All Other | 2,160 | 1.00 | $84,460 | $51,240 | $135,500 | +2% |
These figures are for the nearest metropolitan area with wage data, Wichita, KS, about 29 miles away. They show what the regional labour market pays; they are not a measure of this city.
Median pay across all occupations: $47,630 (US $50,980); unemployment 4.1% (2026M09).
| Industry (residents) ⇅ | Share of employed residents ⇅ |
|---|---|
| Education and health care | 25.6% |
| Manufacturing | 20.3% |
| Arts, entertainment, accommodation, food | 10.3% |
| Finance, insurance, real estate | 9.3% |
| Retail trade | 6.3% |
| Transportation, warehousing, utilities | 5.3% |
| Other services | 4.9% |
| Professional, scientific, management, administrative | 4.6% |
| Public administration | 4.2% |
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing, mining | 4.1% |
| Construction | 3.0% |
| Wholesale trade | 1.2% |
| Information | 0.8% |
Cities have no official GDP or payroll count of their own. These figures are for the county where McPherson lies and cover the whole county, not only the city.
| County ⇅ | Population ⇅ | GDP (2024) ⇅ | GDP per resident ⇅ | Jobs (QCEW 2024) ⇅ | Employer sites ⇅ | Average annual pay ⇅ | Job change vs 2023 ⇅ | Unemployment rate ⇅ | Labour force ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| McPherson County | 30,205 | $2,636 million | $87,255 | 16,413 | 974 | $59,013 | +1.4% | 3.1% | 17,102 |
| Industry ⇅ | Jobs ⇅ | Share of private jobs ⇅ | Average annual pay ⇅ | Concentration vs US (location quotient) ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 5,559 | 42.8% | $80,302 | 4.12 |
| Health care and social assistance | 2,253 | 17.3% | $41,764 | 0.96 |
| Retail trade | 1,193 | 9.2% | $31,144 | 0.73 |
| Accommodation and food services | 1,031 | 7.9% | $18,509 | 0.69 |
| Construction | 816 | 6.3% | $71,573 | 0.95 |
| Administrative and waste services | 458 | 3.5% | $55,500 | 0.47 |
| Finance and insurance | 438 | 3.4% | $71,580 | 0.66 |
| Educational services | 430 | 3.3% | $41,166 | 1.27 |
| Other services (except public administration) | 373 | 2.9% | $36,045 | 0.75 |
| Arts, entertainment, recreation | 132 | 1.0% | $14,685 | 0.48 |
| Information | 101 | 0.8% | $86,379 | 0.33 |
| Real estate and rental | 77 | 0.6% | $35,033 | 0.30 |
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing | 70 | 0.5% | $37,338 | 0.53 |
| Mining, oil and gas | 55 | 0.4% | $56,524 | 0.89 |
QCEW counts jobs covered by unemployment insurance; sectors with too few employers are withheld by BLS. Latest-month unemployment is preliminary.
| How residents get to work ⇅ | Share ⇅ |
|---|---|
| Drive alone | 80.9% |
| Public transit | 0.0% |
| Walk | 5.2% |
| Work from home | 5.0% |
| Commute of 45 minutes or more | 3.1% |
Shares are of workers aged 16 and over; they describe residents, wherever they work.
| Indicator ⇅ | Value ⇅ |
|---|---|
| Median household income | $77,529 |
| Income per person | $36,077 |
| Median gross rent per month | $925 |
| Yearly rent as share of median household income | 14.3% |
| Median home value | $211,700 |
| Homeowners | 65.4% |
| Poverty rate | 13.5% |
| Price level of the nearest metro area (US = 100) | 88.9 |
| Nearest metro median pay, all occupations | $47,630 |
Estimate for a wage earner: 2026 federal brackets and standard deduction (IRS), Social Security 6.2% up to $184,500, Medicare 1.45% (+0.9% above $200,000 single / $250,000 married), and a state rate you set; graduated states show 0 until you enter your own estimate. It ignores credits, pre-tax deductions, local taxes and benefits. Sources: IRS: tax year 2026 inflation adjustments · SSA wage base per Federal Register notice 2025-19763.
State tax: Graduated, top rate 5.58%.
| Indicator ⇅ | Value ⇅ |
|---|---|
| Median age | 35.4 |
| High school or higher (25+) | 94.5% |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (25+) | 38.4% |
| Born abroad | 5.1% |
| Labour force participation (16+) | 68.2% |
Work permits are federal: see permits and first steps.
| Month ⇅ | Mean temperature (°C) ⇅ | Mean temperature (°F) ⇅ | Precipitation (mm) ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | -0.9 | 30 | 19 |
| Feb | 0.7 | 33 | 29 |
| Mar | 7.3 | 45 | 50 |
| Apr | 13.2 | 56 | 75 |
| May | 18.9 | 66 | 127 |
| Jun | 24.9 | 77 | 110 |
| Jul | 27.8 | 82 | 92 |
| Aug | 26.4 | 80 | 109 |
| Sep | 21.6 | 71 | 67 |
| Oct | 13.6 | 56 | 65 |
| Nov | 6.6 | 44 | 27 |
| Dec | 0.4 | 33 | 31 |
Satellite-reanalysis climatology on a grid of roughly 50 km, so it smooths local effects (hills, coast, city heat). It is not a weather-station record.
| City ⇅ | State ⇅ | Distance (straight line) ⇅ | Population ⇅ | Median household income ⇅ | Median rent ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hutchinson | KS | 25 mi | 39,709 | $58,687 | $881 |
| Newton | KS | 29 mi | 18,397 | $68,885 | $903 |
| Salina | KS | 31 mi | 46,307 | $61,783 | $959 |
| Valley Center | KS | 40 mi | 8,590 | $77,020 | $883 |
| Maize | KS | 43 mi | 6,824 | $72,024 | $1,399 |
| Park City | KS | 43 mi | 7,673 | $74,301 | $1,077 |
| Abilene | KS | 45 mi | 6,449 | $57,924 | $1,022 |
| Bel Aire | KS | 47 mi | 9,043 | $97,795 | $1,649 |
| Goddard | KS | 49 mi | 6,030 | $94,004 | $1,758 |
| Wichita | KS | 50 mi | 397,945 | $64,620 | $975 |
Straight-line distance in miles, not driving distance.
Pick two cities.
vs
13,995 (Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-year estimate).
$925 a month (ACS 2020–2024), which is 14.3% of the median household income.
$77,529 (ACS 2020–2024, in 2024 dollars).
3.1% (BLS county, McPherson County (latest month 2026M09)).
Kansas. See the state guide for minimum wage, taxes and pay.