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Average Salary in Minnesota
This page shows what jobs actually pay in Minnesota, occupation by occupation, from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey for May 2024. BLS publishes wage estimates for 701 occupations in Minnesota. For context, the U.S. all-occupation mean annual wage in May 2024 was $67,920, the median wage was $23.80 an hour, and total U.S. employment covered by the survey was 154,187,380 jobs. Use the tables below to see Minnesota's highest-paying occupations, its largest occupations, and which Minnesota jobs pay more — or less — than the same job nationally.
Highest-paying occupations in Minnesota
The highest-paying occupation BLS publishes for Minnesota is radiologists, with a mean annual wage of $239,200+ — 658.9% higher than the U.S. all-occupation mean of $67,920 — and a median wage of $239,200+ across 450 jobs. Compared with the same occupation nationally (mean $239,200+), Minnesota pays 43.2% higher for this work. Next on the list are anesthesiologists at a mean of $239,200+ and dermatologists at $239,200+. These top-paying fields are small: together the top three employ 1,620 people in Minnesota, so they describe the top of the Minnesota wage ladder rather than the typical worker's experience.
| Occupation | Employment | Median hourly | Median annual | Mean annual |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Radiologists | 450 | $115.00+ | $239,200+ | $239,200+ |
| Anesthesiologists | 970 | $115.00+ | $239,200+ | $239,200+ |
| Dermatologists | 200 | $115.00+ | $239,200+ | $239,200+ |
| Surgeons, All Other | 970 | $115.00+ | $239,200+ | $239,200+ |
| Emergency Medicine Physicians | 1,010 | $115.00+ | $239,200+ | $239,200+ |
| General Internal Medicine Physicians | 1,870 | $115.00+ | $239,200+ | $239,200+ |
| Physicians, All Other | 4,380 | $115.00+ | $239,200+ | $239,200+ |
| Psychiatrists | 610 | $115.00+ | $239,200+ | $239,200+ |
| Neurologists | 260 | $115.00+ | $239,200+ | $239,200+ |
| Obstetricians and Gynecologists | 460 | $115.00+ | $239,200+ | $239,200+ |
| Family Medicine Physicians | 2,290 | $115.00+ | $239,200+ | $239,200+ |
| Nurse Anesthetists | 2,570 | $115.00+ | $239,200+ | $239,200+ |
| Chief Executives | 6,690 | $93.35 | $194,160 | $239,200+ |
| Cardiologists | 470 | $115.00+ | $239,200+ | $239,200+ |
| Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric | 180 | $115.00+ | $239,200+ | $239,200+ |
Largest occupations in Minnesota
The occupation with the most jobs in Minnesota is home health and personal care aides, employing an estimated 120,390 people at a median annual wage of $36,200 and a mean of $37,000. Nationally the same occupation pays a median of $34,900, so Minnesota's typical pay for this work runs 3.7% higher. The next-largest occupations are general and operations managers (73,900 jobs, median $96,130) and retail salespersons (69,640 jobs, median $35,310). Because these occupations are so large, their wages move the overall picture of Minnesota pay far more than the small, highly paid fields above.
| Occupation | Employment | Median annual | Mean annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Home Health and Personal Care Aides | 120,390 | $36,200 | $37,000 |
| General and Operations Managers | 73,900 | $96,130 | $115,300 |
| Retail Salespersons | 69,640 | $35,310 | $38,090 |
| Registered Nurses | 64,740 | $100,870 | $99,460 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | 59,220 | $31,950 | $32,720 |
| Customer Service Representatives | 59,170 | $47,470 | $50,020 |
| Cashiers | 57,290 | $32,570 | $32,560 |
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | 56,030 | $45,440 | $45,760 |
| Office Clerks, General | 55,710 | $47,030 | $48,790 |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | 46,920 | $45,640 | $46,540 |
| Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners | 44,260 | $38,320 | $40,050 |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | 41,430 | $37,700 | $40,380 |
| Software Developers | 39,580 | $124,540 | $121,600 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | 38,540 | $24,470 | $27,970 |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | 38,530 | $61,090 | $62,110 |
Where Minnesota pays a premium — and where it lags
Comparing each occupation's Minnesota median with its own national median shows where Minnesota's labor market is strong. Among occupations with at least 1,000 Minnesota jobs, the largest premium is for roofers: a median of $77,730 in Minnesota versus $50,970 nationally, 52.5% higher. The largest discount is for surveyors, at $46,610 in Minnesota versus $72,740 nationally, 35.9% lower. In total, 259 of the 361 occupations with 1,000 or more Minnesota jobs pay a median above their national median. Separately, 311 of the 701 occupations published for Minnesota have a median annual wage above the U.S. all-occupation mean of $67,920, which underlines how much of Minnesota's job base sits in lower-wage service work even in a state with high-paying headline jobs.
| Occupation | Minnesota median | U.S. median | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roofers | $77,730 | $50,970 | +52.5% |
| Brickmasons and Blockmasons | $89,170 | $60,800 | +46.7% |
| First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers | $83,110 | $58,610 | +41.8% |
| Dental Assistants | $64,630 | $47,300 | +36.6% |
| Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators | $78,580 | $58,710 | +33.8% |
| Producers and Directors | $61,300 | $83,480 | -26.6% |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $24,470 | $33,760 | -27.5% |
| Editors | $53,900 | $75,260 | -28.4% |
| Firefighters | $41,990 | $59,530 | -29.5% |
| Surveyors | $46,610 | $72,740 | -35.9% |
Minnesota salary FAQ
What is the highest-paying job in Minnesota?
By average pay, radiologists is the highest-paying occupation BLS publishes for Minnesota, with a mean annual wage of $239,200+ and a median of $239,200+ in May 2024.
What is the average salary in Minnesota?
For context, the U.S. all-occupation mean annual wage was $67,920 in May 2024. In Minnesota, the largest occupation, home health and personal care aides, paid a median of $36,200 across 120,390 jobs, and the tables on this page show mean and median pay for all 701 published occupations.
How many jobs does the largest occupation in Minnesota have?
Home Health and Personal Care Aides is the largest occupation published for Minnesota, with an estimated 120,390 jobs in May 2024 and a mean annual wage of $37,000.
Which occupations pay more in Minnesota than in the U.S. overall?
Among occupations with at least 1,000 Minnesota jobs, roofers shows the largest premium: a median of $77,730 in Minnesota versus $50,970 nationally, 52.5% higher.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2024 — bls.gov/oes. Figures checked October 2026.