Industrial Technology Degree Programs in Wichita, KS (2026)

Quick answer: Industrial Production Managers in the Wichita area earn a median $127,360 per year, above the national median of $126,060, and the metro employs about 510 of them (BLS OEWS, May 2025).

Industrial Technology Pay in Wichita, KS

MetricWichita metroKansasNational
Median annual wage$127,360$125,750$126,060
10th percentile$85,380$82,340$78,000
25th percentile$103,010$100,360$98,160
75th percentile$167,620$159,660$161,880
90th percentile$210,960$203,680$205,520
Employment5102,420246,250
Location quotient1.03-1.00

Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. Metro figures cover the Wichita, KS metropolitan statistical area.

What the Numbers Say About This Market

The Wichita median of $127,360 is above the national median of $126,060, and above the Kansas statewide median of $125,750 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).

The metro’s location quotient of 1.03 means industrial production managers are more concentrated here than in the average U.S. labor market (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Higher concentration generally means more employers competing for the same people, and an easier job change later.

Production management demand follows the region’s manufacturing base directly, so it is concentrated in industrial states rather than spread with population.

Other Kansas Metro Areas

Metro areaMedian annual wageEmployment
Topeka$119,550120

Figures: BLS OEWS, May 2025.

Licensing

Licensing is a state matter, not a city one. Production management is not a licensed occupation. What employers screen on is demonstrated plant experience plus, increasingly, Lean and Six Sigma certification from private bodies. Safety regulation through OSHA governs the facility rather than the manager as an individual.

See the Kansas licensing and pay overview for the statewide picture, and confirm current requirements with the employers and certifying bodies you are targeting.

Schools Near You

Schools in our database near this area, ranked by BOC Score. The list favors schools with a related program on record, but program availability and delivery format change, so confirm directly with any school that it currently offers the program you want.

How We Rank Schools

We first gather the schools closest to the city or state page you are viewing, then rank that local group by BOC Score, with the highest at the top. The BOC Score is computed from federal IPEDS and College Scorecard data; schools without enough data to score appear last.

Location / proximity to this page
Defines the local group
Graduation rate
30%
Median earnings, 10 years after entry
25%
Average net price (lower is better)
20%
Retention rate
15%
Fully online availability
10%

Schools without enough federal outcome data appear after ranked schools, without a score. Advertising never affects these rankings. Read the full methodology.

#1

Flint Hills Technical College

Emporia, KS 79.4 miles away BOC Score 75.5
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Key stats
  • Completion rate: 67.7% (College Scorecard)
  • Programs offered: 25
  • Annual completions: 654
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $52,442 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#2

Manhattan Area Technical College

Manhattan, KS 111.4 miles away BOC Score 58.6
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Key stats
  • Completion rate: 70.5% (College Scorecard)
  • Programs offered: 26
  • Annual completions: 607
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $57,918 (College Scorecard)

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#3

Hutchinson Community College

Hutchinson, KS 40.8 miles away BOC Score 57.3
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Key stats
  • Completion rate: 49.2% (College Scorecard)
  • Programs offered: 65
  • Annual completions: 1994
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $49,591 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#4

Neosho County Community College

Chanute, KS 102.8 miles away BOC Score 55.0
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Key stats
  • Completion rate: 36.5% (College Scorecard)
  • Programs offered: 42
  • Annual completions: 886
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $55,338 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#5

Wichita State University-Campus of Applied Sciences and Technology

Wichita, KS 8.0 miles away BOC Score 54.7
Tuition Contact school for pricing
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Key stats
  • Programs offered: 50
  • Annual completions: 3158
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $47,431 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#6

Cowley County Community College

Arkansas City, KS 46.5 miles away BOC Score 52.2
Tuition Contact school for pricing
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Key stats
  • Completion rate: 46.2% (College Scorecard)
  • Programs offered: 34
  • Annual completions: 861
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $42,324 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#7

Wichita State University

Wichita, KS 2.2 miles away BOC Score 51.5
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Key stats
  • Programs offered: 31
  • Annual completions: 709
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $59,707 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#8

Butler Community College

El Dorado, KS 26.8 miles away BOC Score 44.9
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Key stats
  • Completion rate: 31.0% (College Scorecard)
  • Programs offered: 60
  • Annual completions: 633
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $46,569 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#9

Wichita Technical Institute

Wichita, KS 2.6 miles away BOC Score 42.0
Tuition Contact school for pricing
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Key stats
  • Programs offered: 8
  • Annual completions: 895
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $35,708 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#10

McPherson College

McPherson, KS 49.9 miles away BOC Score 30.4
Tuition Contact school for pricing
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Key stats
  • Completion rate: 43.7% (College Scorecard)
  • Programs offered: 5
  • Annual completions: 48
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $50,934 (College Scorecard)

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do industrial production managers make in Wichita?

The median annual wage for industrial production managers in the Wichita, KS metro area is $127,360, above the national median of $126,060 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).

How many industrial production managers work in the Wichita area?

The Wichita, KS metro area employs about 510 industrial production managers (BLS OEWS, May 2025).

Do industrial production managers in Wichita need a license?

Licensing is handled at state level rather than by city. Production management is not a licensed occupation. What employers screen on is demonstrated plant experience plus, increasingly, Lean and Six Sigma certification from private bodies. Safety regulation through OSHA governs the facility rather than the manager as an individual. Confirm current requirements with the employers and certifying bodies you are targeting.

Can I study industrial technology online from Wichita?

The academic portion of these programs is widely available online for working adults, while labs, clinical hours or supervised field work are completed in person. Check that the program's accreditation satisfies the employers and certifying bodies you are targeting.

Is Wichita a better market than the rest of Kansas?

The Wichita metro median is $127,360 against a statewide median of $125,750 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Compare that gap with the difference in living costs before treating it as a raise.

Sources

  • U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 - Industrial Production Managers (SOC 11-3051), national, state and metropolitan estimates
  • U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, 2024-34
  • U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook - education and licensing requirements

Wage and employment figures describe the occupation as measured by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, not the graduates of any particular program, and individual outcomes may vary. Licensing rules change; confirm current requirements with the responsible state board before enrolling.

About this guide: Researched and written by the TradeCareerPath Editorial Team. Our editorial team researches and sources every trade school and career guide using federal labor and education data, including BLS OEWS and Employment Projections, DOL apprenticeship records, IPEDS, College Scorecard, and state licensing boards. We follow the editorial standards documented at /editorial-policy/.