Average Salaries in Minnesota
Explore salaries across 733 occupations in Minnesota. The average median wage across all tracked occupations is $79.9K, +21.5% vs the national average. See the highest-paying roles, where the jobs are, and how local wages compare to the rest of the country.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey, May 2025 estimates. Coverage: 733 occupations and 2,934,820 total jobs in Minnesota.
How the state compares
Minnesota is one of the higher-paying states in the country. Average wages here run meaningfully above the national level, though local cost of living often offsets some of that premium.
Minnesota has a mid-sized labor market, with strong representation in some occupations but thinner coverage in niche roles.
The highest-paid occupation tracked here is Radiologists. Drill into any occupation below to see its local pay distribution, employment, and how it compares to the national market.
Top-paying and largest occupations in Minnesota
Two different lenses on the local labor market: which occupations pay the most, and which employ the most workers. The highest-paid list tends to favor specialized professional and technical roles. The largest list reflects where the everyday jobs actually are.
Highest-paid occupations in Minnesota
| Occupation | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| Radiologists | $708.3K | 440 |
| Dermatologists | $625.8K | 260 |
| Surgeons, All Other | $568.2K | 910 |
| Orthopedic Surgeons, Except Pediatric | $537.8K | 320 |
| Anesthesiologists | $496.5K | 870 |
| Oral And Maxillofacial Surgeons | $475.3K | 40 |
| Emergency Medicine Physicians | $390.9K | 990 |
| Neurologists | $381.7K | 310 |
| General Internal Medicine Physicians | $373.7K | 2,270 |
| Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric | $372.2K | 180 |
Largest occupations in Minnesota
| Occupation | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Home Health And Personal Care Aides | 128,680 | $38.4K |
| Retail Salespersons | 74,840 | $36.4K |
| General And Operations Managers | 72,860 | $99.3K |
| Registered Nurses | 70,110 | $101.5K |
| Fast Food And Counter Workers | 58,970 | $31.4K |
| Cashiers | 58,190 | $34.6K |
| Office Clerks, General | 55,530 | $47.8K |
| Laborers And Freight, Stock, And Material Movers, Hand | 54,480 | $46.3K |
| Customer Service Representatives | 53,340 | $48.8K |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers And Fabricators | 44,810 | $46.9K |
What Minnesota specializes in
The location quotient measures how concentrated an occupation is here compared to the national average. A value above 1.00 means the occupation is more common in Minnesota than in the country as a whole, which signals what this state is known for.
Most concentrated occupations in Minnesota
| Occupation | Location quotient | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Underground Mining Machine Operators, All Other | 15.39 | $83.1K |
| Gambling Service Workers, All Other | 11.03 | $31.5K |
| Animal Breeders | 6.65 | $47.9K |
| Prepress Technicians And Workers | 6.36 | $49.1K |
| Forestry And Conservation Science Teachers, Postsecondary | 6.10 | $82.7K |
| Social Workers, All Other | 6.09 | $79.8K |
| Shoe Machine Operators And Tenders | 5.92 | $37.6K |
| Dentists, All Other Specialists | 5.85 | N/A |
| Entertainment Attendants And Related Workers, All Other | 5.63 | $32.2K |
| Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, And English As A Second Language Instructors | 4.06 | $76.8K |
Comparable states
| State | Average median | Highest-paid occupation |
|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $89.7K | Neurologists |
| Washington | $86.5K | Cardiologists |
| New York | $83.2K | Cardiologists |
| California | $83.2K | Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric |
| Massachusetts | $81.2K | Radiologists |
| New Jersey | $80.4K | Radiologists |
| Alaska | $79.6K | Emergency Medicine Physicians |
| Maryland | $79.5K | Radiologists |
Metros inside Minnesota
Salaries can vary a lot within a single state. Urban metro areas typically pay more than rural regions, and specific industries cluster in particular cities. Drill into any metro below for its own full salary breakdown.
Major metros in Minnesota
| Metro | Average median | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $80.6K | 1,932,200 |
| Duluth, MN-WI | $70.5K | 118,350 |
| Rochester, MN | $75.7K | 108,830 |
| St. Cloud, MN | $72.7K | 96,960 |
| Mankato, MN | $70.1K | 48,930 |
Common salary questions for Minnesota
What does "average median" mean? +
It is the average of all occupation-level medians in this area. It gives a rough sense of the overall wage level here compared to other states or metros, but it is not the same as a household income figure or a single blended salary.
What is a location quotient? +
A location quotient (LQ) compares how concentrated an occupation is in this area versus the national average. An LQ of 2.0 means the occupation is twice as concentrated here as it is nationally. High-LQ occupations are what this area specializes in.
How are comparable areas selected? +
Peer areas are other states with a similar overall wage level and employment size. They give you a quick sense of how this area ranks among places with a comparable labor market.