Riley County, Kansas Employment Guide

Thinking about making Riley County your new home?

This region combines the intellectual energy of a major university town with the stability of strong institutional employers and a growing economy. With leading organizations in education, defense, manufacturing, healthcare, and agribusiness, newcomers can find stable jobs, clear career pathways, and community support. Whether you want to start earning immediately or train into a higher-paying field, Riley County gives you opportunity and quality of life.

Open Roles in Ottawa County, KS (powered by local job boards / employer postings)

Employers by Industry

Manufacturing & Skilled Trades

Other regional manufacturers & industrial operations — Roles in welding, machining, maintenance, process improvement, logistics. See Open Roles →

Defense, Logistics, & Military Support

Fort Riley civilian roles & contractors — Positions in logistics, operations support, supply chain, facilities, civilian personnel. See Open Roles →

Healthcare & Wellness Services

Regional hospitals, clinics & wellness centers — Careers in nursing, allied health techs, administrative services, support staff. See Open Roles →

Veterans’ support & military‐health affiliated services — Growing demand aligned with the military presence and community. See Open Roles →

Agriculture, Agribusiness & Bio-Industry

Local farms, cooperatives & agribusiness firms — Roles in operations, logistics, supply chain, processing, agronomy. See Open Roles →

Education & Research

Kansas State University — The region’s cornerstone employer, offering thousands of jobs in teaching, research, campus operations, IT, and administration. See Open Roles →

USD 383 Manhattan Public Schools & local school districts — K-12 teaching, paraprofessional, and administrative roles, great for those seeking accessible entry. See Open Roles →

Job Training Programs to Help You Qualify

Riley County makes it possible to step into new career fields through training and certifications:

KansasWorks / Manhattan Workforce Center — Training vouchers, apprenticeships, job search assistance in high-demand sectors. See Programs →

Kansas State University & partner institutes — Continuing education, tech training, research support, workforce development tied to university-industry linkage. See Programs →

Local community colleges & technical training — Programs for manufacturing trades, allied health, logistics; apprenticeship or certificate paths. See Programs →