Kansas City Jobs: Overview
When you look for Kansas City jobs, you'll need to decide if that's KCMO or KCK—there's a big difference. KCMO is Kansas City, Missouri. KCK is Kansas City, Kansas. To help confuse you, they're both in the same metro area. KCMO was named after the Kansas River and incorporated first. Legend says the people of Kansas (KCK) resented that another state named a city after them. They took the name partly out of resentment and partly to capitalize on the good fortune of the other Kansas City, hoping that confused industries and investors would bring Kansas City jobs and money to their side of the border.
KCMO held its ground. Today, it has more fountains than anywhere but Rome (200+), more boulevards than anywhere but Paris (132 miles), and more barbecue restaurants per capita than anywhere else in the world. If you're a new graduate looking for jobs in Kansas City, you'll be happy to know that the city is one of the best-paying locations in the U.S. for recent college grads. When you land one of those Kansas City jobs and start looking for housing, you can have a quick commute to the city from the suburbs of Independence, Blue Springs, and Lee's Summit.
Popular Jobs in Kansas City
Kansas City has bragging rights in the area of tech and computer jobs. CompTIA ranked the city in third place for having the highest percentage of tech jobs anywhere in the U.S. Garmin and Sprint chose Kansas City as their headquarters, and Google Fiber tapped Kansas City to be its pilot market. The financial services industry is strong in Kansas City, providing a healthy environment for finance jobs. One of Missouri's two Federal Reserve Banks is located in Kansas City (the other is St. Louis). Major employers in the city include Bank of America, National City, U.S. Bancorp, Commerce Bank, Thomson Reuters, MasterCard, and Edward Jones. The city is also home to four research hospitals. Three of these are teaching hospitals—a springboard for healthcare jobs. Other occupations are well-represented in KCMO as well:
Update Your Resume
Since Kansas City is in the "Show Me State," get your resume ready to show off to employers! If you need a refresh, you can use any of Monster's resume templates for a new look. You can also look at sample resumes in your industry and browse Monster's library of resume tips. When you get ready to send that resume, you'll want a cover letter that emphasizes your skills. One effective cover letter strategy is to tailor it to the job posting you are responding to.
Interviewing for a Kansas City Job
Some of the most challenging interview questions ask how you have handled a situation in past jobs. One engaging way to answer is by telling a story about your experience; it shows the hiring manager your communication skills. That's just one of the articles in Monster's library of interview tips. We can also help you anticipate the most common questions someone in your profession may be asked.
How Much Do Kansas City Jobs Pay?
The cost of living in Kansas City is 8% lower than the national average, with the median household income at a little over $54,000. You can get a better idea of the estimated pay for your job by visiting Monster's Salary Tools. You'll also see how that pay measures up to the national average and what skills can make you more valuable to an employer.
Want to Learn More About Kansas City Companies?
Knowing something about a company before you interview with them can increase your confidence and help you determine if the job is a good fit. We can help with that! Monster's Company Profiles will give you some background info such as:
- the number of employees
- where branch offices are located
- what benefits they offer
Kansas City Jobs Are a Click Away
You've come to the right place to look for jobs in Kansas City. Scroll through the postings and take a look. While you're here, complete a Monster Profile. It's a great way to help recruiters and employers find you. And we'll send you job alerts and other job-hunting tips.