High paying entry level jobs in Minnesota

These occupations in Minnesota ask for no prior experience in a related job and no on-the-job training period: you are expected to be productive on arrival. That is precisely why most of them want a specific qualification instead — the credential does the work the experience would have. Read the line under each title for what that qualification is; several here are doctorates. If you need something you can start without one, use the no-experience list.

Cost of living: prices in Minnesota run 1.4% below the national average (2024), so a Minnesota salary is worth about 1.01× its face value in national terms. That scales every wage here by the same factor — it changes what the numbers mean, not their order. To see where a job pays a real premium, use jobs that pay more in Minnesota.

Wages: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Cost of living: BEA regional price parities, 2024

Find high paying jobs in Minnesota

OccupationMedian, Minnesota · Employed

1Nurse Anesthetists$266,190
Master's degree
$221,970 – $292,2002,130
2Dentists, General$219,200
Doctoral or professional degree
$132,930 – $226,9402,370
3Pharmacists$159,740
Doctoral or professional degree
$98,150 – $174,6606,310
4Lawyers$155,140
Doctoral or professional degree
$79,820 – $341,17012,380
5Physician Assistants$141,190
Master's degree
$112,390 – $183,3203,660
6Nurse Practitioners$133,260
Master's degree
$98,950 – $170,1407,780
7Veterinarians$133,110
Doctoral or professional degree
$83,280 – $217,5802,140
8Software Developers$130,050
Bachelor's degree
$79,900 – $169,81035,890
9Data Scientists$128,800
Bachelor's degree
$65,730 – $179,6404,020
10Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers$127,730
Bachelor's degree
$88,530 – $176,3301,230
11Environmental Engineers$115,750
Bachelor's degree
$95,330 – $143,3301,080
12Electronics Engineers, Except Computer$112,390
Bachelor's degree
$80,020 – $179,9401,200
13Electrical Engineers$109,510
Bachelor's degree
$78,750 – $167,0303,150
14Engineers, All Other$108,850
Bachelor's degree
$73,790 – $167,1201,290
15Computer Programmers$107,250
Bachelor's degree
$52,740 – $125,3002,070
16Computer Systems Analysts$106,350
Bachelor's degree
$78,700 – $148,23011,330
17Financial Risk Specialists$105,420
Bachelor's degree
$72,930 – $161,8801,190
18Dental Hygienists$103,970
Associate's degree
$82,110 – $120,2704,110
19Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Other$103,330
Bachelor's degree
$65,330 – $130,3301,000
20Financial and Investment Analysts$102,990
Bachelor's degree
$65,290 – $161,5807,450
21Diagnostic Medical Sonographers$102,850
Associate's degree
$84,020 – $120,2201,710
22Industrial Engineers$102,660
Bachelor's degree
$77,010 – $158,74017,580
23Physical Therapists$102,010
Doctoral or professional degree
$83,570 – $121,3405,180
24Network and Computer Systems Administrators$101,870
Bachelor's degree
$69,360 – $152,7604,550
25Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers$101,700
Bachelor's degree
$66,090 – $137,3102,630
26Registered Nurses$101,510
Bachelor's degree
$79,960 – $132,43070,110
27Civil Engineers$101,480
Bachelor's degree
$65,840 – $159,2304,710
28Web Developers$101,020
Bachelor's degree
$53,620 – $158,6301,200
29Database Administrators$100,700
Bachelor's degree
$61,120 – $151,5901,020
30Chemists$99,280
Bachelor's degree
$60,010 – $158,5401,680
31Mechanical Engineers$99,140
Bachelor's degree
$75,870 – $151,5805,890
32Respiratory Therapists$98,710
Associate's degree
$79,060 – $110,0501,250
33Project Management Specialists$97,860
Bachelor's degree
$65,040 – $141,49018,850
34Occupational Health and Safety Specialists$96,990
Bachelor's degree
$67,990 – $129,8102,460
35Business Teachers, Postsecondary$95,820
Doctoral or professional degree
$63,170 – $214,490980
36Operations Research Analysts$95,550
Bachelor's degree
$60,350 – $133,1701,240
37Occupational Therapists$93,050
Master's degree
$71,770 – $108,7903,670
38Computer Occupations, All Other$91,750
Bachelor's degree
$65,260 – $165,2104,180
39Health Information Technologists and Medical Registrars$90,760
Associate's degree
$66,520 – $115,4801,040
40Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists$89,950
Doctoral or professional degree
$65,140 – $141,0706,760
41Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health$88,000
Bachelor's degree
$35,510 – $133,5702,260
42Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists$87,510
Bachelor's degree
$50,400 – $143,18021,280
43Postsecondary Teachers, All Other$84,280
Doctoral or professional degree
$51,990 – $106,7702,620
44Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$83,400
Associate's degree
$67,080 – $106,1004,910
45Web and Digital Interface Designers$82,650
Bachelor's degree
$47,190 – $133,7101,520
46Credit Analysts$82,630
Bachelor's degree
$60,530 – $131,6101,110
47Logisticians$82,320
Bachelor's degree
$54,730 – $130,4403,450
48Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians$81,980
Postsecondary nondegree award
$52,100 – $133,0202,390
49Accountants and Auditors$81,600
Bachelor's degree
$58,280 – $138,96030,530
50Surgical Technologists$80,210
Postsecondary nondegree award
$62,820 – $98,4701,770

Bars run from the 10th to the 90th percentile; the middle half is shaded darker, and the tick is the median.

#	Occupation	MedianMinnesota	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Employed
1	Nurse AnesthetistsMaster's degree	$266,190	$221,970 – $292,200	2,130
2	Dentists, GeneralDoctoral or professional degree	$219,200	$132,930 – $226,940	2,370
3	PharmacistsDoctoral or professional degree	$159,740	$98,150 – $174,660	6,310
4	LawyersDoctoral or professional degree	$155,140	$79,820 – $341,170	12,380
5	Physician AssistantsMaster's degree	$141,190	$112,390 – $183,320	3,660
6	Nurse PractitionersMaster's degree	$133,260	$98,950 – $170,140	7,780
7	VeterinariansDoctoral or professional degree	$133,110	$83,280 – $217,580	2,140
8	Software DevelopersBachelor's degree	$130,050	$79,900 – $169,810	35,890
9	Data ScientistsBachelor's degree	$128,800	$65,730 – $179,640	4,020
10	Bioengineers and Biomedical EngineersBachelor's degree	$127,730	$88,530 – $176,330	1,230
11	Environmental EngineersBachelor's degree	$115,750	$95,330 – $143,330	1,080
12	Electronics Engineers, Except ComputerBachelor's degree	$112,390	$80,020 – $179,940	1,200
13	Electrical EngineersBachelor's degree	$109,510	$78,750 – $167,030	3,150
14	Engineers, All OtherBachelor's degree	$108,850	$73,790 – $167,120	1,290
15	Computer ProgrammersBachelor's degree	$107,250	$52,740 – $125,300	2,070
16	Computer Systems AnalystsBachelor's degree	$106,350	$78,700 – $148,230	11,330
17	Financial Risk SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$105,420	$72,930 – $161,880	1,190
18	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$103,970	$82,110 – $120,270	4,110
19	Social Scientists and Related Workers, All OtherBachelor's degree	$103,330	$65,330 – $130,330	1,000
20	Financial and Investment AnalystsBachelor's degree	$102,990	$65,290 – $161,580	7,450
21	Diagnostic Medical SonographersAssociate's degree	$102,850	$84,020 – $120,220	1,710
22	Industrial EngineersBachelor's degree	$102,660	$77,010 – $158,740	17,580
23	Physical TherapistsDoctoral or professional degree	$102,010	$83,570 – $121,340	5,180
24	Network and Computer Systems AdministratorsBachelor's degree	$101,870	$69,360 – $152,760	4,550
25	Software Quality Assurance Analysts and TestersBachelor's degree	$101,700	$66,090 – $137,310	2,630
26	Registered NursesBachelor's degree	$101,510	$79,960 – $132,430	70,110
27	Civil EngineersBachelor's degree	$101,480	$65,840 – $159,230	4,710
28	Web DevelopersBachelor's degree	$101,020	$53,620 – $158,630	1,200
29	Database AdministratorsBachelor's degree	$100,700	$61,120 – $151,590	1,020
30	ChemistsBachelor's degree	$99,280	$60,010 – $158,540	1,680
31	Mechanical EngineersBachelor's degree	$99,140	$75,870 – $151,580	5,890
32	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$98,710	$79,060 – $110,050	1,250
33	Project Management SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$97,860	$65,040 – $141,490	18,850
34	Occupational Health and Safety SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$96,990	$67,990 – $129,810	2,460
35	Business Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$95,820	$63,170 – $214,490	980
36	Operations Research AnalystsBachelor's degree	$95,550	$60,350 – $133,170	1,240
37	Occupational TherapistsMaster's degree	$93,050	$71,770 – $108,790	3,670
38	Computer Occupations, All OtherBachelor's degree	$91,750	$65,260 – $165,210	4,180
39	Health Information Technologists and Medical RegistrarsAssociate's degree	$90,760	$66,520 – $115,480	1,040
40	Medical Scientists, Except EpidemiologistsDoctoral or professional degree	$89,950	$65,140 – $141,070	6,760
41	Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including HealthBachelor's degree	$88,000	$35,510 – $133,570	2,260
42	Market Research Analysts and Marketing SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$87,510	$50,400 – $143,180	21,280
43	Postsecondary Teachers, All OtherDoctoral or professional degree	$84,280	$51,990 – $106,770	2,620
44	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$83,400	$67,080 – $106,100	4,910
45	Web and Digital Interface DesignersBachelor's degree	$82,650	$47,190 – $133,710	1,520
46	Credit AnalystsBachelor's degree	$82,630	$60,530 – $131,610	1,110
47	LogisticiansBachelor's degree	$82,320	$54,730 – $130,440	3,450
48	Aircraft Mechanics and Service TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$81,980	$52,100 – $133,020	2,390
49	Accountants and AuditorsBachelor's degree	$81,600	$58,280 – $138,960	30,530
50	Surgical TechnologistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$80,210	$62,820 – $98,470	1,770

Ranked among the occupations common enough to employ roughly one in every three thousand workers in Minnesota. The rarer ones are real jobs — but a 1,190-person occupation at the top of a list answers a different question than the one most readers are asking.

More for Minnesota

Metro areas in Minnesota

Pay varies more between metros than between states — the spread inside one state is often wider than the gap between two.

By field in Minnesota

Without a degree

The same fields, narrowed to what you can enter without one. Fields missing here have too few such occupations in Minnesota to rank honestly.

High paying entry level jobs in Minnesota

More for Minnesota

Metro areas in Minnesota

By field in Minnesota

Without a degree

High paying entry level jobs in each state