Jobs, pay and daily life in Topeka, from official statistics with source and year on every table.
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By AtiveSite · Published 07/11/2026 · Updated 07/11/2026 · Every figure is linked to its source below.
Topeka is a city in Kansas with 125,786 residents. The median household earns $56,956 a year and the median rent is $979 a month, which is 20.6% of the median household income. It is part of the Topeka, KS metropolitan area, where BLS counts 115,750 jobs.
Federal jobs in Kansas (341) →State guide: KansasCountry guide
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 | 3,260 | 1.14 | $27,810 | $22,670 | $34,890 | -11% |
| Registered Nurses | 3,190 | 1.27 | $81,820 | $67,070 | $104,280 | -16% |
| Home Health and Personal Care Aides | 3,090 | 0.96 | $31,470 | $25,290 | $36,580 | -12% |
| Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive | 2,920 | 2.29 | $39,500 | $30,730 | $55,700 | -17% |
| General and Operations Managers | 2,450 | 0.94 | $85,080 | $54,100 | $171,620 | -20% |
| Customer Service Representatives | 2,340 | 1.21 | $43,180 | $29,460 | $63,920 | -4% |
| Retail Salespersons | 2,270 | 0.78 | $32,820 | $24,710 | $46,690 | -7% |
| Nursing Assistants | 2,270 | 2.10 | $38,720 | $35,080 | $46,430 | -8% |
| Cashiers | 2,240 | 0.98 | $28,580 | $22,520 | $35,100 | -13% |
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | 2,140 | 0.97 | $49,140 | $31,100 | $55,520 | +22% |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | 1,890 | 0.90 | $36,980 | $29,170 | $47,730 | -1% |
| Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary | 1,620 | 1.53 | $34,280 | $27,730 | $47,720 | -7% |
| Software Developers | 1,500 | 1.19 | $111,870 | $67,000 | $158,210 | -18% |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | 1,450 | 0.95 | $58,870 | $46,330 | $77,260 | +0% |
| Accountants and Auditors | 1,420 | 1.32 | $76,280 | $51,540 | $118,080 | -9% |
| Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners | 1,380 | 0.84 | $34,860 | $26,230 | $46,920 | -5% |
| Waiters and Waitresses | 1,330 | 0.79 | $35,090 | $17,250 | $62,690 | -0% |
| Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks | 1,260 | 1.23 | $48,350 | $32,940 | $66,210 | -5% |
| First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers | 1,250 | 1.17 | $61,330 | $46,520 | $88,390 | -12% |
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | 1,170 | 1.14 | $58,950 | $48,870 | $61,480 | -8% |
| Occupation ⇅ | Jobs ⇅ | Location quotient ⇅ | Median pay (year) ⇅ | Entry (10th pct.) ⇅ | Top (90th pct.) ⇅ | Median vs US ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Physicians, All Other | 500 | 1.96 | $451,910 | $68,320 | $454,460 | +70% |
| Nurse Practitioners | 500 | 2.07 | $132,740 | $108,930 | $163,660 | +0% |
| Software Developers | 1,500 | 1.19 | $111,870 | $67,000 | $158,210 | -18% |
| Lawyers | 680 | 1.22 | $102,500 | $76,480 | $164,170 | -36% |
| Project Management Specialists | 520 | 0.65 | $100,000 | $60,880 | $152,100 | -2% |
| General and Operations Managers | 2,450 | 0.94 | $85,080 | $54,100 | $171,620 | -20% |
| First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers | 560 | 1.21 | $81,860 | $50,960 | $126,210 | +3% |
| Registered Nurses | 3,190 | 1.27 | $81,820 | $67,070 | $104,280 | -16% |
| First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers | 650 | 1.07 | $77,390 | $55,690 | $106,870 | -3% |
| Human Resources Specialists | 720 | 1.06 | $76,690 | $49,120 | $113,610 | +1% |
| Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products | 740 | 0.81 | $76,490 | $43,550 | $125,490 | +6% |
| Accountants and Auditors | 1,420 | 1.32 | $76,280 | $51,540 | $118,080 | -9% |
| Business Operations Specialists, All Other | 1,000 | 1.24 | $75,550 | $43,950 | $125,080 | -9% |
| Management Analysts | 1,090 | 1.63 | $66,710 | $46,180 | $107,810 | -35% |
| Electricians | 510 | 0.91 | $65,520 | $47,590 | $82,100 | +4% |
| Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists | 620 | 0.92 | $65,340 | $37,370 | $124,050 | -17% |
| Training and Development Specialists | 530 | 1.55 | $64,470 | $46,160 | $85,850 | -7% |
| Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers | 610 | 1.21 | $63,920 | $47,320 | $97,860 | -16% |
| Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel | 790 | 0.85 | $63,260 | $35,030 | $120,840 | -10% |
| Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses | 840 | 1.74 | $62,210 | $52,390 | $78,280 | -3% |
These figures are for the whole Topeka, KS metropolitan area, not the city alone.
Median pay across all occupations: $49,540 (US $50,980); unemployment 3.9% (2026M09).
| Industry (residents) ⇅ | Share of employed residents ⇅ |
|---|---|
| Education and health care | 25.1% |
| Public administration | 10.1% |
| Manufacturing | 9.4% |
| Retail trade | 9.4% |
| Professional, scientific, management, administrative | 8.2% |
| Arts, entertainment, accommodation, food | 8.2% |
| Finance, insurance, real estate | 7.3% |
| Transportation, warehousing, utilities | 6.8% |
| Construction | 6.0% |
| Other services | 4.5% |
| Wholesale trade | 2.1% |
| Information | 1.9% |
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing, mining | 1.1% |
| How residents get to work ⇅ | Share ⇅ |
|---|---|
| Drive alone | 75.5% |
| Public transit | 0.5% |
| Walk | 1.9% |
| Work from home | 10.9% |
| Commute of 45 minutes or more | 6.0% |
Shares are of workers aged 16 and over; they describe residents, wherever they work.
| Indicator ⇅ | Value ⇅ |
|---|---|
| Median household income | $56,956 |
| Income per person | $34,089 |
| Median gross rent per month | $979 |
| Yearly rent as share of median household income | 20.6% |
| Median home value | $144,200 |
| Homeowners | 59.0% |
| Poverty rate | 15.7% |
| Price level of the metro area (US = 100) | 88.8 |
| Metro median pay, all occupations | $49,540 |
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 | 38.0 |
| High school or higher (25+) | 91.7% |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (25+) | 29.0% |
| Born abroad | 5.1% |
| Labour force participation (16+) | 60.8% |
Work permits are federal: see permits and first steps.
| Month ⇅ | Mean temperature (°C) ⇅ | Mean temperature (°F) ⇅ | Precipitation (mm) ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | -1.9 | 29 | 26 |
| Feb | -0.3 | 31 | 37 |
| Mar | 6.6 | 44 | 59 |
| Apr | 12.8 | 55 | 96 |
| May | 18.4 | 65 | 138 |
| Jun | 23.9 | 75 | 134 |
| Jul | 26.5 | 80 | 100 |
| Aug | 25.4 | 78 | 125 |
| Sep | 20.6 | 69 | 88 |
| Oct | 13.0 | 55 | 83 |
| Nov | 6.2 | 43 | 37 |
| Dec | 0.0 | 32 | 39 |
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 ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Olathe | KS | 48 mi | 145,057 | $114,009 | $1,314 |
| Kansas City | KS | 52 mi | 155,135 | $62,401 | $1,123 |
| Overland Park | KS | 55 mi | 200,306 | $104,834 | $1,515 |
| Kansas City | MO | 62 mi | 516,045 | $69,958 | $1,292 |
| Independence | MO | 72 mi | 121,740 | $60,339 | $1,109 |
| Wichita | KS | 129 mi | 400,993 | $65,855 | $989 |
| Lincoln | NE | 133 mi | 294,856 | $71,867 | $1,086 |
| Omaha | NE | 155 mi | 489,263 | $71,640 | $1,229 |
| Columbia | MO | 181 mi | 128,548 | $66,498 | $1,097 |
| Springfield | MO | 182 mi | 169,954 | $49,311 | $964 |
Straight-line distance in miles, not driving distance.
Pick two cities.
vs
125,786 (Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-year estimate).
$979 a month (ACS 2020–2024), which is 20.6% of the median household income.
$56,956 (ACS 2020–2024, in 2024 dollars).
3.9% (BLS metro area 2026M09).
Kansas. See the state guide for minimum wage, taxes and pay.