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These Are The 10 Best Places Places In Kansas To Get A Job

By Chris Kolmar
Jan. 15, 2017
Last Modified and Fact Checked on: Feb. 12, 2026

Find a Job You Really Want In

Top 10 Cities in Kansas for Job Seekers in 2026

If you’re embarking on a job search in Kansas, you’re in the right place.

While you might initially think of Topeka as a prime location for employment opportunities, recent data shows it isn’t the top choice in the state.

At Zippia, we analyze facts and data to help you make informed decisions. We conducted a thorough assessment to identify the best cities in Kansas for finding a job.

After examining employment data from over 40 locations throughout the state, we compiled this list of the best cities for job seekers in the Sunflower State:

  1. Hays
  2. Liberal
  3. Pratt
  4. Iola
  5. Concordia
  6. Eudora
  7. Lawrence
  8. Colby
  9. Pittsburg
  10. Winfield

Parsons and other cities can learn valuable insights from this list as we delve into how these rankings were determined.

Methodology for Ranking the Best Job Markets in Kansas

We began by gathering comprehensive data on all cities in Kansas, applying a minimum population threshold of 5,000 to ensure a fair comparison.

This analysis focused on 42 cities across the state.

Each city was then evaluated based on several key criteria, with rankings assigned from one to 42, one being the best.

The average rank across all criteria determined the overall score, with the city achieving the lowest score crowned as the “Best Place for Jobs in Kansas.”

The criteria evaluated included:

  • Unemployment rate
  • Recent job growth
  • Projected job growth
  • Median household income

Data sources for these criteria include the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and Sperling’s Best Places.

If your city isn’t featured in the top 10, scroll to the end of this post for a detailed chart and downloadable data file.

Now, let’s explore how these cities have climbed the employment ladder.

1. Hays

Population: 20,586
Unemployment Rate: 2.30%
Recent Job Growth: 5.11%
Future Job Growth: 47.90%

2. Liberal

Population: 20,687
Unemployment Rate: 3.30%
Recent Job Growth: 4.84%
Future Job Growth: 46.40%

3. Pratt

Population: 6,834
Unemployment Rate: 2.90%
Recent Job Growth: 3.23%
Future Job Growth: 43.60%

4. Iola

Population: 5,715
Unemployment Rate: 4.10%
Recent Job Growth: 6.77%
Future Job Growth: 49.40%

5. Concordia

Population: 5,359
Unemployment Rate: 2.90%
Recent Job Growth: 1.90%
Future Job Growth: 40.90%

6. Eudora

Population: 6,406
Unemployment Rate: 3.90%
Recent Job Growth: 3.31%
Future Job Growth: 42.70%

7. Lawrence

Population: 87,963
Unemployment Rate: 3.90%
Recent Job Growth: 3.31%
Future Job Growth: 42.70%

8. Colby

Population: 5,347
Unemployment Rate: 2.90%
Recent Job Growth: 1.30%
Future Job Growth: 39.70%

9. Pittsburg

Population: 20,197
Unemployment Rate: 4.60%
Recent Job Growth: 4.05%
Future Job Growth: 43.50%

10. Winfield

Source: Wikipedia

Population: 12,335
Unemployment Rate: 4.10%
Recent Job Growth: 1.93%
Future Job Growth: 39.80%

Comprehensive Rankings of Kansas Cities for Employment Opportunities

City Rank Population Unemployment Rate Recent Job Growth Future Job Growth
Hays 1 20,586 2.30% 5.11% 47.90%
Liberal 2 20,687 3.30% 4.84% 46.40%
Pratt 3 6,834 2.90% 3.23% 43.60%
Iola 4 5,715 4.10% 6.77% 49.40%
Concordia 5 5,359 2.90% 1.90% 40.90%
Eudora 6 6,406 3.90% 3.31% 42.70%
Lawrence 7 87,963 3.90% 3.31% 42.70%
Colby 8 5,347 2.90% 1.30% 39.70%
Pittsburg 9 20,197 4.60% 4.05% 43.50%
Winfield 10 12,335 4.10% 1.93% 39.80%
Leawood 11 31,955 3.50% 0.73% 38.00%
Ulysses 12 6,007 3.10% 0.68% 38.30%
Hutchinson 13 41,939 4.40% 1.26% 38.10%
Lenexa 14 48,300 3.80% 0.73% 37.70%
Emporia 15 25,245 4.80% 1.42% 38.00%
Olathe 16 125,902 3.90% 0.73% 37.60%
Manhattan 17 52,988 3.40% 0.68% 38.00%
Atchison 18 10,970 5.80% 2.20% 38.60%
Shawnee 19 62,106 4.00% 0.73% 37.50%
McPherson 20 13,194 3.10% 0.51% 37.90%
Gardner 21 19,117 4.00% 0.73% 37.50%
Merriam 22 11,090 4.00% 0.73% 37.50%
Mission 23 9,414 4.00% 0.73% 37.50%
Salina 24 47,605 4.30% 0.67% 37.00%
Paola 25 5,565 4.60% 0.72% 36.80%
Topeka 26 127,312 5.30% 0.79% 36.30%
Ottawa 27 12,596 5.20% 0.73% 36.30%
Newton 28 19,036 4.10% 0.30% 36.50%
Lansing 29 11,260 5.30% 0.73% 36.20%
Abilene 30 6,826 4.60% 0.39% 36.20%
Wellington 31 8,123 4.90% 0.30% 35.70%
Andover 32 11,727 5.10% 0.30% 35.50%
Augusta 33 9,231 5.10% 0.30% 35.50%
Leavenworth 34 35,434 6.00% 0.72% 35.40%
Independence 35 9,428 5.70% 0.52% 35.30%
Coffeyville 36 10,219 5.70% 0.52% 35.30%
Mulvane 37 5,957 5.40% 0.30% 35.20%
Haysville 38 10,622 5.40% 0.30% 35.20%
Derby 39 22,555 5.40% 0.30% 35.20%
Wichita 40 381,176 5.60% 0.30% 35.00%
Chanute 41 9,138 5.60% -1.05% 32.30%
Parsons 42 10,506 6.40% -2.20% 29.20%
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.

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