How’s the local CNC job market looking around Wichita and Topeka?

[Arusu_Edrick]

Just wondering how everyone’s seeing the CNC job market around Wichita and Topeka lately. I’ve noticed a few shops hiring again after a quiet stretch earlier in the year, but it’s hard to tell if it’s steady growth or just temporary. Are wages keeping up with the workload? Some listings look decent, but others still seem stuck at pre-2020 pay rates even though material and tooling costs have doubled. Curious what others in the area are seeing like is demand really picking back up, or are most shops still keeping crews small and tight?

 

[Gimm3gimlet]

Just wondering how everyone’s seeing the CNC job market around Wichita and Topeka lately. I’ve noticed a few shops hiring again after a quiet stretch earlier in the year, but it’s hard to tell if it’s steady growth or just temporary. Are wages keeping up with the workload? Some listings look decent, but others still seem stuck at pre-2020 pay rates even though material and tooling costs have doubled. Curious what others in the area are seeing like is demand really picking back up, or are most shops still keeping crews small and tight?

Topeka here, and I think it's less aerospace bounce and more general manufacturing. We've been steady, but not frantic. The big change is who is hiring.
The smaller, family owned shops are keeping crews tight, but the larger industrial plants are the ones posting for $25+/hr Machinist/Programmers. The key word I'm seeing is Programmer, that skillset is getting a premium, while simple Operator roles are where the wages seem stagnant.

 

[9rape_soda]

@Arusu_Edrick from what I know, Wichita generally has more aerospace bounce, but look beyond that. Large general manufacturing (like agricultural or transport equipment) in the Topeka area is where the steady demand and better wages are located. I think it's best not to waste time on small shops unless they offer training

 

[Captain_Goofy]

It’s looking better than last year, but I wouldn’t call it a boom yet. A lot of shops are trying to fill gaps left by retirements or burnout rather than expanding. The good news is, anyone with solid programming or setup skills seems to have options again. The pay gap, though… still stuck in the past.