Jobs that lost the most to inflation in Minnesota

Every occupation here is paid more in dollars than it was in 2019 and less in what those dollars buy. Prices rose about 26% over the period; these wages did not keep up. Limited to occupations employing at least 50,000 people.

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

1Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers$61,290
No formal educational credential
$45,570 – $91,520-27.1%-8.2% nominal
2Prepress Technicians and Workers$49,130
Postsecondary nondegree award
$40,430 – $65,570-24.5%-4.9% nominal
3Special Education Teachers, Middle School$63,630
Bachelor's degree
$49,100 – $93,820-23.5%-3.7% nominal
4Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other$49,410
Associate's degree
$40,060 – $80,950-22.8%-2.7% nominal
5Motor Vehicle Operators, All Other$34,670
No formal educational credential
$27,500 – $46,600-22.4%-2.2% nominal
6Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents$83,350
Bachelor's degree
$50,600 – $320,440-21.9%-1.7% nominal
7Chiropractors$79,510
Doctoral or professional degree
$46,250 – $172,610-20.9%-0.4% nominal
8Biological Technicians$48,130
Bachelor's degree
$40,940 – $73,280-20.8%-0.3% nominal
9General and Operations Managers$99,340
Bachelor's degree
$46,960 – $209,970-20.6%-0.1% nominal
10Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education$62,640
Bachelor's degree
$47,560 – $99,340-20.0%+0.8% nominal
11Business Teachers, Postsecondary$95,820
Doctoral or professional degree
$63,170 – $214,490-17.8%+3.5% nominal
12Detectives and Criminal Investigators$80,000
High school diploma or equivalent
$59,710 – $115,210-17.6%+3.8% nominal
13First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers$78,800
Postsecondary nondegree award
$49,150 – $131,450-17.5%+3.9% nominal
14Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and Daycare$62,020
Bachelor's degree
$43,990 – $88,030-16.6%+5.0% nominal
15Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists$89,950
Doctoral or professional degree
$65,140 – $141,070-16.2%+5.5% nominal
16Power Plant Operators$94,390
High school diploma or equivalent
$72,540 – $125,900-16.2%+5.5% nominal
17Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers$64,890
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,730 – $96,980-16.0%+5.7% nominal
18Waiters and Waitresses$25,470
No formal educational credential
$23,150 – $41,800-15.9%+5.9% nominal
19Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors$43,620
High school diploma or equivalent
$29,660 – $66,650-15.4%+6.6% nominal
20Engineers, All Other$108,850
Bachelor's degree
$73,790 – $167,120-14.3%+8.0% nominal
21Instructional Coordinators$80,550
Master's degree
$59,730 – $118,330-14.3%+8.0% nominal
22Meeting, Convention, and Event Planners$57,710
Bachelor's degree
$37,680 – $93,730-14.1%+8.2% nominal
23Education Administrators, Postsecondary$104,740
Master's degree
$78,140 – $176,270-14.1%+8.2% nominal
24Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians$71,520
Associate's degree
$48,970 – $106,650-12.7%+9.9% nominal
25Chief Executives$195,670
Bachelor's degree
$92,540 – $449,270-12.4%+10.3% nominal
26First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers$88,510
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,810 – $137,330-12.4%+10.3% nominal
27Electrical Engineers$109,510
Bachelor's degree
$78,750 – $167,030-12.3%+10.5% nominal
28Painters, Construction and Maintenance$57,270
No formal educational credential
$36,460 – $87,970-12.3%+10.4% nominal
29Tax Preparers$59,200
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,520 – $95,520-12.3%+10.4% nominal
30Sales Engineers$100,570
Bachelor's degree
$68,630 – $147,230-12.3%+10.5% nominal
31Architects, Except Landscape and Naval$99,940
Bachelor's degree
$59,500 – $138,690-12.3%+10.4% nominal
32Operations Research Analysts$95,550
Bachelor's degree
$60,350 – $133,170-12.1%+10.7% nominal
33Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary$77,760
Master's degree
$48,840 – $123,150-12.1%+10.7% nominal
34Credit Analysts$82,630
Bachelor's degree
$60,530 – $131,610-12.0%+10.8% nominal
35Natural Sciences Managers$136,450
Bachelor's degree
$78,050 – $289,790-11.7%+11.1% nominal
36Civil Engineers$101,480
Bachelor's degree
$65,840 – $159,230-11.6%+11.3% nominal
37Education Teachers, Postsecondary$78,950
Doctoral or professional degree
$48,410 – $125,400-11.6%+11.4% nominal
38Computer Occupations, All Other$91,750
Bachelor's degree
$65,260 – $165,210-11.4%+11.6% nominal
39Medical Equipment Preparers$50,070
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,900 – $61,580-11.4%+11.5% nominal
40Insurance Underwriters$80,700
Bachelor's degree
$60,350 – $138,710-11.4%+11.6% nominal
41Nurse Practitioners$133,260
Master's degree
$98,950 – $170,140-11.1%+12.0% nominal
42Information and Record Clerks, All Other$52,260
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,290 – $68,830-10.6%+12.6% nominal
43Audio and Video Technicians$53,800
Postsecondary nondegree award
$34,960 – $79,320-10.5%+12.8% nominal
44Firefighters$38,110
Postsecondary nondegree award
$27,510 – $70,380-10.3%+13.0% nominal
45Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse$38,080
No formal educational credential
$29,760 – $50,380-10.3%+13.0% nominal
46Electronics Engineers, Except Computer$112,390
Bachelor's degree
$80,020 – $179,940-10.3%+12.9% nominal
47Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers$127,730
Bachelor's degree
$88,530 – $176,330-10.3%+12.9% nominal
48Social and Community Service Managers$84,220
Bachelor's degree
$61,130 – $136,140-10.2%+13.1% nominal
49Logisticians$82,320
Bachelor's degree
$54,730 – $130,440-9.9%+13.4% nominal
50First-Line Supervisors of Housekeeping and Janitorial Workers$53,510
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,130 – $79,820-9.9%+13.4% 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	Drywall and Ceiling Tile InstallersNo formal educational credential	$61,290	$45,570 – $91,520	-27.1%-8.2% nominal
2	Prepress Technicians and WorkersPostsecondary nondegree award	$49,130	$40,430 – $65,570	-24.5%-4.9% nominal
3	Special Education Teachers, Middle SchoolBachelor's degree	$63,630	$49,100 – $93,820	-23.5%-3.7% nominal
4	Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All OtherAssociate's degree	$49,410	$40,060 – $80,950	-22.8%-2.7% nominal
5	Motor Vehicle Operators, All OtherNo formal educational credential	$34,670	$27,500 – $46,600	-22.4%-2.2% nominal
6	Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales AgentsBachelor's degree	$83,350	$50,600 – $320,440	-21.9%-1.7% nominal
7	ChiropractorsDoctoral or professional degree	$79,510	$46,250 – $172,610	-20.9%-0.4% nominal
8	Biological TechniciansBachelor's degree	$48,130	$40,940 – $73,280	-20.8%-0.3% nominal
9	General and Operations ManagersBachelor's degree	$99,340	$46,960 – $209,970	-20.6%-0.1% nominal
10	Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical EducationBachelor's degree	$62,640	$47,560 – $99,340	-20.0%+0.8% nominal
11	Business Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$95,820	$63,170 – $214,490	-17.8%+3.5% nominal
12	Detectives and Criminal InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$80,000	$59,710 – $115,210	-17.6%+3.8% nominal
13	First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention WorkersPostsecondary nondegree award	$78,800	$49,150 – $131,450	-17.5%+3.9% nominal
14	Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and DaycareBachelor's degree	$62,020	$43,990 – $88,030	-16.6%+5.0% nominal
15	Medical Scientists, Except EpidemiologistsDoctoral or professional degree	$89,950	$65,140 – $141,070	-16.2%+5.5% nominal
16	Power Plant OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$94,390	$72,540 – $125,900	-16.2%+5.5% nominal
17	Property, Real Estate, and Community Association ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,890	$48,730 – $96,980	-16.0%+5.7% nominal
18	Waiters and WaitressesNo formal educational credential	$25,470	$23,150 – $41,800	-15.9%+5.9% nominal
19	Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness InstructorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$43,620	$29,660 – $66,650	-15.4%+6.6% nominal
20	Engineers, All OtherBachelor's degree	$108,850	$73,790 – $167,120	-14.3%+8.0% nominal
21	Instructional CoordinatorsMaster's degree	$80,550	$59,730 – $118,330	-14.3%+8.0% nominal
22	Meeting, Convention, and Event PlannersBachelor's degree	$57,710	$37,680 – $93,730	-14.1%+8.2% nominal
23	Education Administrators, PostsecondaryMaster's degree	$104,740	$78,140 – $176,270	-14.1%+8.2% nominal
24	Cardiovascular Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$71,520	$48,970 – $106,650	-12.7%+9.9% nominal
25	Chief ExecutivesBachelor's degree	$195,670	$92,540 – $449,270	-12.4%+10.3% nominal
26	First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$88,510	$49,810 – $137,330	-12.4%+10.3% nominal
27	Electrical EngineersBachelor's degree	$109,510	$78,750 – $167,030	-12.3%+10.5% nominal
28	Painters, Construction and MaintenanceNo formal educational credential	$57,270	$36,460 – $87,970	-12.3%+10.4% nominal
29	Tax PreparersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,200	$36,520 – $95,520	-12.3%+10.4% nominal
30	Sales EngineersBachelor's degree	$100,570	$68,630 – $147,230	-12.3%+10.5% nominal
31	Architects, Except Landscape and NavalBachelor's degree	$99,940	$59,500 – $138,690	-12.3%+10.4% nominal
32	Operations Research AnalystsBachelor's degree	$95,550	$60,350 – $133,170	-12.1%+10.7% nominal
33	Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, PostsecondaryMaster's degree	$77,760	$48,840 – $123,150	-12.1%+10.7% nominal
34	Credit AnalystsBachelor's degree	$82,630	$60,530 – $131,610	-12.0%+10.8% nominal
35	Natural Sciences ManagersBachelor's degree	$136,450	$78,050 – $289,790	-11.7%+11.1% nominal
36	Civil EngineersBachelor's degree	$101,480	$65,840 – $159,230	-11.6%+11.3% nominal
37	Education Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$78,950	$48,410 – $125,400	-11.6%+11.4% nominal
38	Computer Occupations, All OtherBachelor's degree	$91,750	$65,260 – $165,210	-11.4%+11.6% nominal
39	Medical Equipment PreparersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$50,070	$40,900 – $61,580	-11.4%+11.5% nominal
40	Insurance UnderwritersBachelor's degree	$80,700	$60,350 – $138,710	-11.4%+11.6% nominal
41	Nurse PractitionersMaster's degree	$133,260	$98,950 – $170,140	-11.1%+12.0% nominal
42	Information and Record Clerks, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$52,260	$36,290 – $68,830	-10.6%+12.6% nominal
43	Audio and Video TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$53,800	$34,960 – $79,320	-10.5%+12.8% nominal
44	FirefightersPostsecondary nondegree award	$38,110	$27,510 – $70,380	-10.3%+13.0% nominal
45	Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and GreenhouseNo formal educational credential	$38,080	$29,760 – $50,380	-10.3%+13.0% nominal
46	Electronics Engineers, Except ComputerBachelor's degree	$112,390	$80,020 – $179,940	-10.3%+12.9% nominal
47	Bioengineers and Biomedical EngineersBachelor's degree	$127,730	$88,530 – $176,330	-10.3%+12.9% nominal
48	Social and Community Service ManagersBachelor's degree	$84,220	$61,130 – $136,140	-10.2%+13.1% nominal
49	LogisticiansBachelor's degree	$82,320	$54,730 – $130,440	-9.9%+13.4% nominal
50	First-Line Supervisors of Housekeeping and Janitorial WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$53,510	$38,130 – $79,820	-9.9%+13.4% 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 lost the most to inflation in Minnesota

More for Minnesota

Metro areas in Minnesota

By field in Minnesota

Without a degree

Jobs that lost the most to inflation in each state