Explore Jobs

Find Specific Jobs

Explore Careers

Explore Professions

Best Companies

Explore Companies

These Are The 10 Hardest Working Places In Kansas

By Chris Kolmar
May. 18, 2016
Last Modified and Fact Checked on: Feb. 10, 2026

Find a Job You Really Want In

Top 10 Hardest Working Places in Kansas (2026)

Kansas is often celebrated as a land of opportunity, where dedication and hard work pave the way for a better life. As we move into 2026, the work ethic remains strong across the Sunflower State, particularly in the areas recognized for their exceptional commitment to labor. Here, we highlight the hardest working places in Kansas, showcasing the communities where residents truly embody the spirit of diligence.

Leading the charge is Andover, which has earned the title of the hardest working place in Kansas. The commitment to work is so intense that commuting to work has become a noteworthy endeavor in itself.

Curious about which other locations in Kansas exhibit a strong work ethic? Here’s a list of places where putting in extra hours could lead to promotions and recognition:

  1. Andover
  2. Leawood
  3. Roeland Park
  4. Olathe
  5. Shawnee
  6. Bel Aire
  7. Derby
  8. Lenexa
  9. Prairie Village
  10. Valley Center

This ranking serves as a call to action for cities like Iola, encouraging them to learn from these industrious communities.

For more insights on Kansas job opportunities, explore:

Determining the Hardest Working Places in Kansas

At Zippia, we rely on data to tackle important questions about work habits in Kansas. Our analysis for 2026 utilizes the latest American Community Survey data, focusing on key factors that indicate a strong work ethic.

After evaluating numerous criteria, we selected the following metrics for our assessment:

  • Average hours worked
  • Average commute time
  • Workers per household (employed labor force divided by the number of households)
  • Labor force participation rate
  • Percentage of adults with a college degree

The rationale behind our ranking is straightforward: communities with higher work hours, longer commutes, and a well-educated workforce tend to showcase a stronger commitment to work. We ranked 59 places in Kansas based on these criteria, calculating an overall hardworking index.

The area with the lowest index score was deemed the “Hardest Working Place in Kansas,” and Andover emerged on top once again.

1. Andover

Population: 12,113 College Graduates: 47.8%
Average Hours Worked Per Week: 39.9
Workers Per Household: 1.5

2. Leawood

Population: 32,842 College Graduates: 74.3%
Average Hours Worked Per Week: 40.8
Workers Per Household: 1.3

3. Roeland Park

Population: 6,799 College Graduates: 49.2%
Average Hours Worked Per Week: 38.3
Workers Per Household: 1.5

4. Olathe

Population: 129,913 College Graduates: 45.0%
Average Hours Worked Per Week: 38.7
Workers Per Household: 1.6

5. Shawnee

Population: 63,597 College Graduates: 43.1%
Average Hours Worked Per Week: 39.4
Workers Per Household: 1.5

6. Bel Aire

Population: 6,923 College Graduates: 52.4%
Average Hours Worked Per Week: 38.8
Workers Per Household: 1.6

7. Derby

Population: 23,419 College Graduates: 37.6%
Average Hours Worked Per Week: 39.1
Workers Per Household: 1.5

8. Lenexa

Population: 49,573 College Graduates: 54.3%
Average Hours Worked Per Week: 39.7
Workers Per Household: 1.5

9. Prairie Village

Population: 21,730 College Graduates: 67.5%
Average Hours Worked Per Week: 39.5
Workers Per Household: 1.2

10. Valley Center

Population: 6,449 College Graduates: 29.1%
Average Hours Worked Per Week: 39.3
Workers Per Household: 1.5

Complete List of Hardest Working Places in Kansas

City Rank Population College Graduates Average Hours Worked Per Week Workers Per Household
Andover 1 12,113 47.8% 39.9 1.5
Leawood 2 32,842 74.3% 40.8 1.3
Roeland Park 3 6,799 49.2% 38.3 1.5
Olathe 4 129,913 45.0% 38.7 1.6
Shawnee 5 63,597 43.1% 39.4 1.5
Bel Aire 6 6,923 52.4% 38.8 1.6
Derby 7 23,419 37.6% 39.1 1.5
Lenexa 8 49,573 54.3% 39.7 1.5
Prairie Village 9 21,730 67.5% 39.5 1.2
Valley Center 10 6,449 29.1% 39.3 1.5
Spring Hill 11 5,618 26.7% 39.7 1.6
Colby 12 5,411 28.9% 39.7 1.4
Overland Park 13 178,945 57.4% 39.3 1.4
Gardner 14 20,128 29.0% 40.6 1.6
Mulvane 15 6,000 37.9% 37.7 1.4
Lansing 16 11,535 31.6% 39.9 1.5
Mission 17 9,451 52.7% 39.7 1.2
Manhattan 18 55,112 51.7% 34.6 1.5
Merriam 19 11,191 33.4% 39.3 1.4
Hays 20 20,886 35.2% 38.1 1.5
McPherson 21 13,205 28.7% 39.8 1.3
Lawrence 22 90,194 53.4% 34.0 1.5
Garden City 23 26,924 17.8% 39.6 1.5
Eudora 24 6,152 33.6% 41.0 1.4
De Soto 25 5,888 25.1% 37.0 1.5
Park City 26 7,194 22.2% 39.2 1.5
Pittsburg 27 20,336 34.0% 34.8 1.3
Salina 28 47,894 23.9% 38.1 1.3
Dodge City 29 27,950 15.9% 39.8 1.6
Paola 30 5,589 24.2% 37.3 1.3
Newton 31 19,144 24.0% 38.1 1.3
Wichita 32 385,518 28.8% 38.5 1.3
Junction City 33 24,691 20.2% 42.4 1.4
Ulysses 34 6,010 19.8% 41.8 1.5
Haysville 35 11,235 17.5% 39.2 1.4
Bonner Springs 36 7,420 20.6% 38.2 1.4
Pratt 37 6,889 23.1% 39.4 1.1
Fort Scott 38 7,957 22.2% 37.2 1.2
Leavenworth 39 35,738 30.3% 37.9 1.3
Abilene 40 6,729 19.8% 39.2 1.2
Emporia 41 24,787 25.5% 36.0 1.4
Liberal 42 20,846 12.4% 39.7 1.6
Winfield 43 12,324 23.0% 38.0 1.3
El Dorado 44 12,931 20.2% 38.3 1.2
Ottawa 45 12,548 20.5% 37.0 1.3
Atchison 46 10,920 22.0% 35.6 1.4
Topeka 47 127,660 27.5% 37.8 1.2
Augusta 48 9,239 22.8% 39.5 1.2
Hutchinson 49 41,946 19.6% 38.6 1.2
Parsons 50 10,307 23.1% 38.0 1.2
Chanute 51 9,194 18.1% 37.1 1.2
Wellington 52 8,028 17.7% 38.7 1.3
Great Bend 53 15,942 16.8% 40.7 1.2
Kansas City 54 147,598 15.5% 38.3 1.3
Concordia 55 5,327 19.3% 37.0 1.2
Independence 56 9,282 20.3% 39.0 1.2
Coffeyville 57 10,034 13.0% 38.2 1.2
Arkansas City 58 12,316 15.7% 36.9 1.2
Iola 59 5,650 16.8% 37.1 1.1

In conclusion, the work ethic in Kansas continues to thrive, particularly in these highlighted areas. For those seeking opportunities or considering relocation, these hardworking communities offer both inspiration and potential for personal growth. Whether you’re looking to join their ranks or simply gain insights into the dynamics of the Kansas labor market, this list illustrates the dedication found across the state.

Never miss an opportunity that’s right for you.

Author

Chris Kolmar

Chris Kolmar is a co-founder of Zippia and the editor-in-chief of the Zippia career advice blog. He has hired over 50 people in his career, been hired five times, and wants to help you land your next job. His research has been featured on the New York Times, Thrillist, VOX, The Atlantic, and a host of local news. More recently, he's been quoted on USA Today, BusinessInsider, and CNBC.

Responsive Image

Related posts