Jobs that actually got a raise in Minnesota

Consumer prices rose about 26% between May 2019 and May 2025, so a wage that grew less than that lost ground while appearing to rise. The column on the right is the inflation-adjusted change; the nominal figure beneath it is what a paycheck comparison would have shown. Limited to occupations employing at least 50,000 people, so the ranking is not dominated by tiny, noisy ones.

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 · Real change since 2019

1Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers$211,470
Bachelor's degree
$128,070 – $353,410+73.1%+118.0% nominal
2Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers$45,280
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,410 – $49,060+24.8%+57.2% nominal
3Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers$73,710
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,580 – $96,020+24.8%+57.2% nominal
4Helpers--Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers$44,950
High school diploma or equivalent
$32,760 – $59,690+24.3%+56.6% nominal
5Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers$75,150
Postsecondary nondegree award
$45,040 – $89,630+23.6%+55.7% nominal
6Veterinary Technologists and Technicians$57,270
Associate's degree
$42,640 – $65,120+21.2%+52.7% nominal
7Counter and Rental Clerks$44,850
No formal educational credential
$30,630 – $67,050+20.8%+52.1% nominal
8Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$58,150
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,250 – $74,310+20.6%+51.9% nominal
9Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors$62,570
No formal educational credential
$47,260 – $71,450+20.3%+51.5% nominal
10Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers$45,730
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,050 – $62,030+20.3%+51.5% nominal
11Medical Equipment Repairers$73,940
Associate's degree
$42,610 – $103,240+19.5%+50.5% nominal
12Helpers--Production Workers$44,720
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,040 – $57,270+18.5%+49.2% nominal
13Brickmasons and Blockmasons$95,220
High school diploma or equivalent
$65,420 – $100,980+17.3%+47.7% nominal
14Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation$49,030
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,110 – $59,470+16.2%+46.3% nominal
15Veterinarians$133,110
Doctoral or professional degree
$83,280 – $217,580+16.1%+46.2% nominal
16Packers and Packagers, Hand$40,310
No formal educational credential
$29,590 – $50,930+15.7%+45.7% nominal
17Mail Clerks and Mail Machine Operators, Except Postal Service$44,840
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,460 – $55,040+15.3%+45.2% nominal
18Animal Caretakers$36,430
High school diploma or equivalent
$29,440 – $48,050+14.4%+44.0% nominal
19Automotive Body and Related Repairers$60,970
High school diploma or equivalent
$41,500 – $92,900+14.3%+43.9% nominal
20Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products$103,000
Bachelor's degree
$55,690 – $195,430+13.8%+43.4% nominal
21Nurse Anesthetists$266,190
Master's degree
$221,970 – $292,200+12.9%+42.2% nominal
22Tellers$44,190
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,410 – $47,510+12.7%+41.9% nominal
23Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers$76,350
Postsecondary nondegree award
$48,220 – $100,030+12.7%+42.0% nominal
24Respiratory Therapists$98,710
Associate's degree
$79,060 – $110,050+12.5%+41.6% nominal
25Childcare Workers$35,520
High school diploma or equivalent
$28,560 – $44,880+12.5%+41.6% nominal
26Parts Salespersons$47,030
No formal educational credential
$30,850 – $63,480+11.5%+40.4% nominal
27Retail Salespersons$36,370
No formal educational credential
$28,710 – $48,080+11.3%+40.2% nominal
28Lawyers$155,140
Doctoral or professional degree
$79,820 – $341,170+11.0%+39.8% nominal
29Cashiers$34,620
No formal educational credential
$27,880 – $39,520+11.0%+39.8% nominal
30Automotive and Watercraft Service Attendants$37,470
No formal educational credential
$28,830 – $45,000+10.8%+39.5% nominal
31Order Clerks$48,400
Some college, no degree
$37,470 – $59,180+10.8%+39.5% nominal
32Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$59,270
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,610 – $77,290+10.5%+39.1% nominal
33Coaches and Scouts$48,050
Bachelor's degree
$29,480 – $87,910+10.2%+38.7% nominal
34Hotel, Motel, and Resort Desk Clerks$36,320
High school diploma or equivalent
$29,310 – $43,080+10.0%+38.5% nominal
35Ushers, Lobby Attendants, and Ticket Takers$33,480
No formal educational credential
$24,130 – $35,460+10.0%+38.6% nominal
36Dental Hygienists$103,970
Associate's degree
$82,110 – $120,270+10.0%+38.5% nominal
37Social and Human Service Assistants$49,940
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,490 – $64,560+9.5%+37.8% nominal
38Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$58,260
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,010 – $65,160+9.3%+37.7% nominal
39Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers$46,610
No formal educational credential
$30,510 – $61,290+9.3%+37.7% nominal
40Roofers$74,490
No formal educational credential
$46,020 – $99,170+9.0%+37.3% nominal
41Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$51,780
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,030 – $81,810+8.8%+37.0% nominal
42Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Other$103,330
Bachelor's degree
$65,330 – $130,330+8.7%+36.8% nominal
43Paralegals and Legal Assistants$75,570
Associate's degree
$47,730 – $102,920+8.7%+36.9% nominal
44Health Education Specialists$78,400
Bachelor's degree
$45,730 – $106,780+8.7%+36.9% nominal
45Home Health and Personal Care Aides$38,370
High school diploma or equivalent
$33,000 – $46,650+8.6%+36.7% nominal
46Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers$43,400
No formal educational credential
$36,080 – $46,770+8.6%+36.8% nominal
47Postsecondary Teachers, All Other$84,280
Doctoral or professional degree
$51,990 – $106,770+8.5%+36.6% nominal
48Dishwashers$34,060
No formal educational credential
$25,470 – $38,800+8.4%+36.5% nominal
49Tire Repairers and Changers$43,750
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,560 – $62,480+8.4%+36.5% nominal
50Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians$74,440
Bachelor's degree
$49,810 – $101,190+8.2%+36.3% nominal

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	Real change since 2019
1	Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight EngineersBachelor's degree	$211,470	$128,070 – $353,410	+73.1%+118.0% nominal
2	Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal CaretakersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$45,280	$36,410 – $49,060	+24.8%+57.2% nominal
3	Telecommunications Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$73,710	$49,580 – $96,020	+24.8%+57.2% nominal
4	Helpers--Installation, Maintenance, and Repair WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$44,950	$32,760 – $59,690	+24.3%+56.6% nominal
5	Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$75,150	$45,040 – $89,630	+23.6%+55.7% nominal
6	Veterinary Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$57,270	$42,640 – $65,120	+21.2%+52.7% nominal
7	Counter and Rental ClerksNo formal educational credential	$44,850	$30,630 – $67,050	+20.8%+52.1% nominal
8	Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,150	$40,250 – $74,310	+20.6%+51.9% nominal
9	Refuse and Recyclable Material CollectorsNo formal educational credential	$62,570	$47,260 – $71,450	+20.3%+51.5% nominal
10	Merchandise Displayers and Window TrimmersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$45,730	$36,050 – $62,030	+20.3%+51.5% nominal
11	Medical Equipment RepairersAssociate's degree	$73,940	$42,610 – $103,240	+19.5%+50.5% nominal
12	Helpers--Production WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$44,720	$36,040 – $57,270	+18.5%+49.2% nominal
13	Brickmasons and BlockmasonsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$95,220	$65,420 – $100,980	+17.3%+47.7% nominal
14	Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, VegetationHigh school diploma or equivalent	$49,030	$38,110 – $59,470	+16.2%+46.3% nominal
15	VeterinariansDoctoral or professional degree	$133,110	$83,280 – $217,580	+16.1%+46.2% nominal
16	Packers and Packagers, HandNo formal educational credential	$40,310	$29,590 – $50,930	+15.7%+45.7% nominal
17	Mail Clerks and Mail Machine Operators, Except Postal ServiceHigh school diploma or equivalent	$44,840	$35,460 – $55,040	+15.3%+45.2% nominal
18	Animal CaretakersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$36,430	$29,440 – $48,050	+14.4%+44.0% nominal
19	Automotive Body and Related RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,970	$41,500 – $92,900	+14.3%+43.9% nominal
20	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific ProductsBachelor's degree	$103,000	$55,690 – $195,430	+13.8%+43.4% nominal
21	Nurse AnesthetistsMaster's degree	$266,190	$221,970 – $292,200	+12.9%+42.2% nominal
22	TellersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$44,190	$35,410 – $47,510	+12.7%+41.9% nominal
23	Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$76,350	$48,220 – $100,030	+12.7%+42.0% nominal
24	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$98,710	$79,060 – $110,050	+12.5%+41.6% nominal
25	Childcare WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$35,520	$28,560 – $44,880	+12.5%+41.6% nominal
26	Parts SalespersonsNo formal educational credential	$47,030	$30,850 – $63,480	+11.5%+40.4% nominal
27	Retail SalespersonsNo formal educational credential	$36,370	$28,710 – $48,080	+11.3%+40.2% nominal
28	LawyersDoctoral or professional degree	$155,140	$79,820 – $341,170	+11.0%+39.8% nominal
29	CashiersNo formal educational credential	$34,620	$27,880 – $39,520	+11.0%+39.8% nominal
30	Automotive and Watercraft Service AttendantsNo formal educational credential	$37,470	$28,830 – $45,000	+10.8%+39.5% nominal
31	Order ClerksSome college, no degree	$48,400	$37,470 – $59,180	+10.8%+39.5% nominal
32	Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,270	$45,610 – $77,290	+10.5%+39.1% nominal
33	Coaches and ScoutsBachelor's degree	$48,050	$29,480 – $87,910	+10.2%+38.7% nominal
34	Hotel, Motel, and Resort Desk ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$36,320	$29,310 – $43,080	+10.0%+38.5% nominal
35	Ushers, Lobby Attendants, and Ticket TakersNo formal educational credential	$33,480	$24,130 – $35,460	+10.0%+38.6% nominal
36	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$103,970	$82,110 – $120,270	+10.0%+38.5% nominal
37	Social and Human Service AssistantsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$49,940	$38,490 – $64,560	+9.5%+37.8% nominal
38	Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,260	$47,010 – $65,160	+9.3%+37.7% nominal
39	Landscaping and Groundskeeping WorkersNo formal educational credential	$46,610	$30,510 – $61,290	+9.3%+37.7% nominal
40	RoofersNo formal educational credential	$74,490	$46,020 – $99,170	+9.0%+37.3% nominal
41	Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$51,780	$42,030 – $81,810	+8.8%+37.0% nominal
42	Social Scientists and Related Workers, All OtherBachelor's degree	$103,330	$65,330 – $130,330	+8.7%+36.8% nominal
43	Paralegals and Legal AssistantsAssociate's degree	$75,570	$47,730 – $102,920	+8.7%+36.9% nominal
44	Health Education SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$78,400	$45,730 – $106,780	+8.7%+36.9% nominal
45	Home Health and Personal Care AidesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$38,370	$33,000 – $46,650	+8.6%+36.7% nominal
46	Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and TrimmersNo formal educational credential	$43,400	$36,080 – $46,770	+8.6%+36.8% nominal
47	Postsecondary Teachers, All OtherDoctoral or professional degree	$84,280	$51,990 – $106,770	+8.5%+36.6% nominal
48	DishwashersNo formal educational credential	$34,060	$25,470 – $38,800	+8.4%+36.5% nominal
49	Tire Repairers and ChangersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$43,750	$36,560 – $62,480	+8.4%+36.5% nominal
50	Clinical Laboratory Technologists and TechniciansBachelor's degree	$74,440	$49,810 – $101,190	+8.2%+36.3% nominal

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.

Jobs that actually got a raise in Minnesota

More for Minnesota

Metro areas in Minnesota

By field in Minnesota

Without a degree

Jobs that actually got a raise in each state