In short
Lee's Summit residents can train for the trades at Metropolitan Community College's Longview campus right in town, through KC-area union apprenticeships for electricians and plumbers, or at private trade schools for fast programs like CDL, welding, 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 Lee's Summit
Lee's Summit is one of the fastest-growing suburbs in the KC metro. New construction, retail, and distribution centers mean strong demand for tradespeople. Here's what the common trades pay in the KC metro area and how long it takes to get in:
| Job | Training time | Typical pay in KC metro | How you get in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrician | 9–12 months of school, or 4–5 year paid apprenticeship | About $58,000–$68,000 | IBEW Local 124 apprenticeship, or trade school then a job |
| HVAC technician | 6–12 months | About $53,000–$60,000 | Trade school or MCC, then EPA 608 card |
| Welder | 7–9 months | About $46,000–$54,000 | Trade school or MCC; certifications from the school |
| Plumber | 1 year school, or 5-year paid apprenticeship | About $58,000–$68,000 | Plumbers Local 8 apprenticeship, or trade school |
| CDL truck driver | 3–7 weeks | About $50,000–$58,000 | CDL school; many carriers pay for it if you drive for them |
| Medical assistant | 9–12 months | About $38,000–$43,000 | Trade school or MCC; hospitals and clinics hire constantly |
| Diesel mechanic | 1–2 years | About $53,000–$63,000 | 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.
Ready for the list for Lee's Summit?
Pick a trade on the form and only schools that teach it near you will reach out.
Where to train
Metropolitan Community College (MCC) — Longview Campus
MCC's Longview campus is located right in Lee's Summit at 500 SW Longview Road. It offers a full range of transfer and technical programs. For hands-on trades like welding, HVAC, and automotive, you'll also have access to MCC's Business & Technology Campus in Kansas City. Cheapest tuition around, and Missouri A+ and Fast Track money works here.
Union apprenticeships (KC area)
Lee's Summit residents can join the same KC-area union apprenticeships as the rest of the Missouri side: IBEW Local 124 (electricians), Plumbers Local 8, and others. 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 Lee's Summit 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 Lee's Summit
Does the MCC Longview campus in Lee's Summit offer trade programs?
Yes, but the main hands-on trade facilities are at MCC's Business & Technology Campus in Kansas City. Longview offers general education and transfer programs, and you can start your degree at Longview then take the trade-specific classes at the BTC campus — about a 20-minute drive. Both are part of the same MCC system.
Lee's Summit is growing fast. Which trades are needed most?
Electricians and HVAC techs lead the list — new homes, apartments, and commercial buildings all need them. With the growth in the south metro, CDL drivers and diesel mechanics are in demand too for construction supply and distribution work.
Are there union apprenticeships near Lee's Summit?
The KC union halls are in Kansas City proper — IBEW Local 124 and Plumbers Local 8 — but they serve the entire Missouri side of the metro, including Lee's Summit. It's a short drive for classes and you'll be working at job sites all over the metro anyway.
I live on the Missouri side but want to work in Kansas. Does that matter for aid?
Missouri aid (A+ and Fast Track) works at Missouri schools only. If you attend a Kansas school, you'd use Kansas state aid. But your Missouri residency means you qualify for Missouri aid at MCC. Federal Pell and GI Bill work on either side of the line.