How to Become a Construction Trades Worker in Kansas (2026)

Updated June 8, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

Kansas employs about 9,990 construction trades workers earning a median $44,840 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Most construction trades workers train through a trade school program or a registered apprenticeship before entering the field in Kansas.

Compare Construction Trades Worker Schools in Kansas

BOC Score, tuition, graduation rate, and median graduate earnings from federal IPEDS and U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard data. Tuition is the published annual figure for the latest reported year and excludes room, board, books and fees. Earnings are reported across all programs at the school (all majors), not a single trade. Distance is measured from the page's primary location.
#SchoolBOC Score (0–100)Tuition (published, per year)Median grad earnings (all majors)Graduation rateOnlineDistance
175.5$6,400$52,44268%Yes*48 mi
271.0$8,880$56,77468%Yes*86 mi
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360.9$7,350Not reported78%—93 mi
455.2$4,650 in-state / $5,850 out-of-state$48,31135%Yes*164 mi
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554.4Contact school for pricing$37,17573%—114 mi
645.8$3,630 in-state / $9,600 out-of-state$50,12134%Yes*144 mi
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744.9$3,541 in-state / $6,271 out-of-state$46,56932%Yes*41 mi
844.4$3,210 in-state / $6,945 out-of-state$50,54542%Yes*137 mi
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Schools closest to the page's primary location are gathered first, then ranked by BOC Score; distance from the page's primary location is shown for reference. The BOC Score is an independent measure of school outcomes (graduation, earnings, net price, retention) expressed as a 0–100 percentile within each school's peer group; higher is better and advertising never affects it. *Online availability refers to coursework; hands-on trade training is completed in person. Read the full methodology.

Kansas employs approximately 9,990 construction trades workers according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $44,840 1. Nationally, construction trades worker employment is projected to grow 7.3% from 2024 to 2034, with about 129,400 openings per year 2. This page covers how to become a Construction Trades Worker in Kansas, including requirements, training programs, and salary data.

At a Glance

  • Training paths: trade school, community college, or apprenticeship
  • Typical timeline: 1 to 5 years depending on the path
  • Median wage (Kansas): $44,840 per year 1

Quick Answers About How to Become a Construction Trades Worker in Kansas

How to become a Construction Trades Worker in Kansas? Complete a training program or apprenticeship, gain work experience, and meet any state or employer requirements for construction trades workers in Kansas.

How long does it take? Most paths into the construction trades worker field take 1 to 5 years, depending on whether you complete a trade school program, a registered apprenticeship, or a combination of both.

What do construction trades workers earn in Kansas? The median annual wage for construction trades workers in Kansas is $44,840 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $31,500 and experienced professionals can earn $60,070 or more 1.

How to Become a Construction Trades Worker in Kansas

  1. Finish high school or earn a GED. Most Kansas training programs and registered apprenticeships require a high school diploma or GED to enroll.
  2. Complete a training program or apprenticeship. Enroll in an approved trade school program or a registered apprenticeship in Kansas that combines classroom instruction with supervised hands-on hours.
  3. Gain supervised work experience. Build documented on-the-job hours under a qualified supervisor; confirm the exact total currently required with the licensing board.
  4. Meet state and employer requirements. Confirm any registration, certification, or employer requirements that apply to construction trades workers in Kansas before you start working.

Steps and hour totals vary by credential level; confirm current requirements with the state board before you apply.

Construction Trades Worker Apprenticeship Information in Kansas

Apprenticeships combine paid on-the-job training with classroom instruction and typically last 3 to 5 years. Kansas’s apprenticeship program is administered by the Kansas Registered Apprenticeship 3.

Contact Information:

  • Office: Kansas Department of Commerce, Apprenticeship Program
  • Address: 1000 Southwest Jackson Street, Topeka, KS 66612-1354
  • Phone: (785) 296-4161
  • Email: [email protected]

Construction Trades Worker Wages by Metro Area in Kansas

Construction Laborers Wages by Metro Area in Kansas

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics ( OES data), construction laborers wages in Kansas vary by metro area.

Metro AreaEmploymentMedian Annual WageAvg. Annual WageEntry Level
(10th pctile)		Experienced
(90th pctile)
Kansas City6,580$50,500$56,460$36,270$80,170
Wichita2,300$41,360$43,070$31,200$55,470
Topeka810$46,070$46,140$32,000$61,970
Joplin510$49,880$52,150$36,130$73,050
Manhattan420$47,730$48,080$35,750$59,220
Lawrence280$47,680$50,630$33,060$71,530
St. Joseph280$51,760$57,600$37,220$77,630

Wages reflect survey data and vary based on experience, credentials, employer, and local market conditions. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May .

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the job outlook for construction trades workers in Kansas? Kansas currently employs approximately 9,990 construction trades workers 1. Nationally, construction trades worker employment is projected to grow 7.3% from 2024 to 2034 2.

What training programs are available in Kansas? Options include trade schools, community colleges, and apprenticeship programs. Use the school finder above to search for programs in Kansas. You can also contact the Kansas Registered Apprenticeship for apprenticeship opportunities.

How much do construction trades workers earn in Kansas compared to the national average? The median annual wage for construction trades workers in Kansas is $44,840, which is $1,890 below the national median of $46,730 according to BLS data 1.

In Kansas

Top local programs

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Citations

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/.

References

  1. Bureau of Labor Statistics - Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics: https://www.bls.gov/oes/ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎

  2. Bureau of Labor Statistics - Employment Projections: https://www.bls.gov/emp/ ↩︎ ↩︎

  3. Kansas Registered Apprenticeship: https://www.apprenticeship.gov/ ↩︎

Data sources

Figures on this page are sourced from the federal and state datasets below. Methodology: how we rank and source data.

DataProviderVintage
Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)U.S. Bureau of Labor StatisticsMay 2025
Employment ProjectionsU.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics2024-2034
Integrated Postsecondary Education Data SystemNational Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)2024
College Scorecard (school-level outcomes)U.S. Department of Educationlatest release
College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings)U.S. Department of Educationlatest release (updated 2026-06-12)
Occupational licensing requirementsCareerOneStop (U.S. Department of Labor)latest release (updated 2026-02-22)
Registered apprenticeship programsCareerOneStop / Apprenticeship.gov (U.S. Department of Labor)latest release (updated 2025-10-25)
O*NET occupation profiles (skills, tasks, tools, job zones)U.S. Department of Labor (O*NET / Employment & Training Admin.)O*NET 29.1 (updated 2026-06-13)