In short
Kansas City, Missouri residents can train for the trades at Metropolitan Community College, through union apprenticeships for electricians and plumbers, or at private trade schools for programs like welding, HVAC, CDL, and medical assisting. Missouri's A+ Scholarship and Fast Track grant can cover community college tuition for many people. Most programs take 4 weeks to 2 years. Fill out the form to hear from schools near you.
Jobs hiring in Kansas City
Kansas City is building a lot right now, and it's a hub for trucking and warehouses because of where it sits on the map. That means steady work for people with the right training. Here's what the common trades pay in the Kansas City area and how long it takes to get in:
| Job | Training time | Typical pay in KC | How you get in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrician | 9–12 months of school, or 4–5 year paid apprenticeship | About $60,000–$70,000 | IBEW Local 124 apprenticeship, or trade school then a job |
| HVAC technician | 6–12 months | About $55,000–$62,000 | Trade school or MCC, then EPA 608 card |
| Welder | 7–9 months | About $48,000–$55,000 | Trade school or MCC; certifications from the school |
| Plumber | 1 year school, or 5-year paid apprenticeship | About $60,000–$70,000 | Plumbers Local 8 apprenticeship, or trade school |
| CDL truck driver | 3–7 weeks | About $52,000–$60,000 | CDL school; many carriers pay for it if you drive for them |
| Medical assistant | 9–12 months | About $40,000–$45,000 | Trade school or MCC; hospitals here hire constantly |
| Diesel mechanic | 1–2 years | About $55,000–$65,000 | Trade school or MCC; dealers and fleets hire from programs |
Pay is a typical range for experienced workers in the Kansas City metro, based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics area data (May 2024), rounded. Starting pay is lower. Union apprentices start around half of journeyman pay and get raises every six months to a year.
Want the short list for Kansas City?
Pick a trade on the form and only schools that teach it near you will reach out.
Where to train
Metropolitan Community College (MCC)
The public community college for the Missouri side. The Business & Technology campus teaches HVAC, welding, electrical, auto and diesel, and more. Cheapest tuition in town, and it's where Missouri A+ and Fast Track money can be used.
Union apprenticeships
Electricians (IBEW Local 124), plumbers and pipefitters (Local 8), and carpenters all run apprenticeship programs in Kansas City. You work full time for a contractor, get paid, and go to class a few hours a week. No tuition. Takes 4–5 years to full journeyman pay, but you're earning the whole time.
Private trade schools
Faster, more focused programs: CDL in a month, welding or HVAC in under a year, medical or dental assisting in about nine months. Cost more than MCC but often have rolling start dates and job placement help. Ask for accreditation and placement numbers before you sign.
What Missouri will help pay
Missouri money for training
- A+ Scholarship
- Covers community college tuition and fees for Missouri high school grads who met the A+ rules in high school (attendance, grades, tutoring hours). Ask your high school or MCC if you qualified.
- Fast Track grant
- For adults 25 and up (or younger with no degree) with income under the limit, training for a job Missouri lists as high-demand. Covers tuition and fees after other aid. Many trade programs count.
- Pell Grant
- Federal. Up to about $7,400 a year, based on income. Fill out the FAFSA at studentaid.gov. Free.
- WIOA
- Free training through the Full Employment Council (Kansas City's job center) if you qualify. Ask about it before you enroll anywhere.
- GI Bill
- Covers MCC, most trade schools, CDL school, and apprenticeships for veterans.
Sources: Missouri Department of Higher Education and Workforce Development (A+, Fast Track); Federal Student Aid; Full Employment Council. Rules and amounts change; confirm with the school's financial aid office.
Put those together and a lot of Kansas City adults attend MCC for close to nothing out of pocket. Private schools can't take A+ or Fast Track, but they do take Pell, GI Bill, and WIOA.
Missouri or Kansas? It matters
Schools on either side will take students from both. The money rules follow where you live, not where the school is. Federal aid (Pell, GI Bill) works anywhere.
Questions from Kansas City
Can I go to trade school at night and keep my job?
Yes. MCC and most private schools in Kansas City run evening classes for the main trades. CDL schools often run weekend programs. Tell the school your hours and ask what fits.
How do I get into a union apprenticeship?
Each local has an application period, usually once or twice a year. You'll need a high school diploma or GED, a driver's license, and to pass a basic math and reading test. Some require an algebra class. The schools we connect you with can tell you the next application dates.
I don't have a GED. Where do I start?
MCC and the Full Employment Council both offer free GED classes. Some trade schools let you start a program and finish your GED at the same time. Pick "Some high school" on the form and we'll include them.
Which trade is hiring the most right now in KC?
Electricians and HVAC techs, by a wide margin. Both have more job openings than trained people in the metro. CDL drivers are a close third because of the warehouses along I-70 and I-35.