NAICS 44-45

Retail Trade in Kansas: 2026 Market Risk Report

Entry risk 40.4 (Moderate), ranked #14 of 51 states. 9,003 establishments, 142,132 jobs.

Entry Risk Assessment

Entry Risk Score 40.4
Low 0-30
Moderate 30-42
Elevated 42-55
High 55+
Moderate

ⓘ Lower is better. Relative to national retail trade average.

The retail trade sector in Kansas is tracking close to the U.S. baseline, with no extreme signals in volatility, saturation, or wage pressure. Entry conditions are within the national median range.

5-Year Firm Retention
56.9%
Percentile within industry
Rank #23 of 51 states
Growth Momentum
22.5
Scale of 0-100
Rank #46 of 51 states
Establishment Density
30.4
vs. national average
Rank #14 of 51 states
Market Volatility
0.7
Lower is more stable
Wage Pressure Index
26.7
Labor cost pressure

9,003 Establishments in Kansas

9,003
Establishments
+0.3% YoY
142,132
Total Employment
-0.4% YoY
$35,862
Average Annual Wage
+2.2% YoY

Kansas vs National Retail Trade Average

How Kansas's retail trade market compares to the national average across all 51 states.

Metric KS National Difference
Entry Risk Score 40.4 44.6 -4.3
5-Year Retention 56.9% 51.0% +5.9
Growth Momentum 22.5 42.9 -20.4
Market Volatility 0.7 24.4 -23.7
Establishment Density 30.4 49.0 -18.6
Wage Pressure 26.7 30.5 -3.8

Green = favorable vs national average. Red = less favorable. Metrics are relative within retail trade only.

Kansas Ranks #14 of 51 for Retail Trade

Kansas ranks #14 out of 51 states for retail trade market entry conditions.

Retail Trade Entry Risk by State

Rank State Risk Score Classification
#1 Wisconsin 33.3 moderate
#2 Nebraska 35.9 moderate
#3 Nevada 37.0 moderate
#4 Massachusetts 37.1 moderate
#5 Alaska 37.2 moderate
#14 Kansas You 40.4 moderate
Entry Risk by State Alaska — 37.2 · #5 Alabama — 46.4 · #36 Arkansas — 51.8 · #44 Arizona — 44.9 · #32 California — 44.0 · #28 Colorado — 42.9 · #23 Connecticut — 44.7 · #31 District of Columbia — 58.0 · #50 Delaware — 41.8 · #19 Florida — 51.0 · #43 Georgia — 47.5 · #38 Hawaii — 56.1 · #48 Iowa — 40.8 · #16 Idaho — 40.1 · #12 Illinois — 48.1 · #39 Indiana — 39.8 · #10 Kansas — 40.4 · #14 Kentucky — 46.4 · #36 Louisiana — 52.3 · #46 Massachusetts — 37.1 · #4 Maryland — 43.6 · #26 Maine — 44.1 · #29 Michigan — 40.5 · #15 Minnesota — 39.6 · #9 Missouri — 50.6 · #42 Mississippi — 59.2 · #51 Montana — 45.8 · #34 North Carolina — 43.4 · #25 North Dakota — 49.9 · #41 Nebraska — 35.9 · #2 New Hampshire — 48.7 · #40 New Jersey — 43.7 · #27 New Mexico — 39.9 · #11 Nevada — 37.0 · #3 New York — 57.2 · #49 Ohio — 39.2 · #8 Oklahoma — 46.3 · #35 Oregon — 42.9 · #24 Pennsylvania — 38.1 · #6 Rhode Island — 42.3 · #21 South Carolina — 44.3 · #30 South Dakota — 38.9 · #7 Tennessee — 42.8 · #22 Texas — 41.6 · #17 Utah — 40.3 · #13 Virginia — 41.6 · #17 Vermont — 52.1 · #45 Washington — 42.0 · #20 Wisconsin — 33.3 · #1 West Virginia — 52.8 · #47 Wyoming — 44.9 · #33
Low Moderate Elevated High

Tap a state to view details

About Entry Risk Score: A weighted composite of firm retention, growth momentum, market volatility, establishment density, and wage pressure. Lower scores indicate more favorable conditions. Read full methodology →

Data Sources

Data period: 2024. Last updated: February 2026. Next refresh expected: Q2 2026 (BLS QCEW update).

Compare to Another State

How does Kansas stack up against other states for retail trade?

Select a state above to see the comparison

Retail Trade in Neighboring States

How Kansas's retail trade market compares to bordering states.

Nebraska 35.9 #2/51 Colorado 42.9 #23/51 Oklahoma 46.3 #35/51 Missouri 50.6 #42/51

Other Industries in Kansas

Construction → Healthcare and Social Assistance → Accommodation and Food Services → Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services → Finance and Insurance → Real Estate and Rental and Leasing → Administrative and Support Services → Information → Other Services →