Jobs that pay the biggest premium in Minnesota

Each occupation's median wage in Minnesota compared against the national median for the same occupation. Unlike a cost-of-living adjustment — which scales every job in a state by the same constant and so cannot change their order — this genuinely re-ranks, and it shows where Minnesota pays a real premium. Limited to occupations with at least 1,000 workers in the state.

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 · vs. national

1Brickmasons and Blockmasons$95,220
High school diploma or equivalent
$65,420 – $100,980+53.3%
2Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$94,410
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,720 – $121,050+48.0%
3General Internal Medicine Physicians$373,700
Doctoral or professional degree
$197,440 – $481,170+45.7%
4Physicians, All Other$367,320
Doctoral or professional degree
$75,280 – $468,570+38.1%
5Dental Assistants$65,270
Postsecondary nondegree award
$46,960 – $76,110+35.8%
6Reservation and Transportation Ticket Agents and Travel Clerks$60,090
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,940 – $86,860+35.4%
7Surveying and Mapping Technicians$73,190
High school diploma or equivalent
$51,560 – $95,050+34.9%
8Roofers$74,490
No formal educational credential
$46,020 – $99,170+34.4%
9Health Information Technologists and Medical Registrars$90,760
Associate's degree
$66,520 – $115,480+33.4%
10Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators$79,130
High school diploma or equivalent
$55,960 – $101,930+32.2%
11Dentists, General$219,200
Doctoral or professional degree
$132,930 – $226,940+28.2%
12Construction Laborers$60,260
No formal educational credential
$42,950 – $96,150+27.9%
13Tax Examiners and Collectors, and Revenue Agents$79,000
Bachelor's degree
$54,160 – $116,690+26.7%
14Insurance Sales Agents$78,640
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,350 – $161,030+26.3%
15Paramedics$76,300
Postsecondary nondegree award
$60,320 – $93,910+25.9%
16Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors$62,570
No formal educational credential
$47,260 – $71,450+25.9%
17Highway Maintenance Workers$63,150
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,660 – $72,650+25.6%
18Public Safety Telecommunicators$66,550
High school diploma or equivalent
$54,400 – $84,960+25.5%
19Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers$76,350
Postsecondary nondegree award
$48,220 – $100,030+25.1%
20Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$58,260
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,010 – $65,160+25.1%
21Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language Instructors$76,800
Bachelor's degree
$50,430 – $100,280+24.8%
22Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers$75,020
Master's degree
$50,950 – $98,520+24.5%
23Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators$74,670
High school diploma or equivalent
$52,130 – $87,250+24.4%
24Surgical Technologists$80,210
Postsecondary nondegree award
$62,820 – $98,470+24.1%
25Loan Officers$95,170
Bachelor's degree
$57,670 – $163,350+24.1%
26Electricians$78,160
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,480 – $118,820+23.7%
27Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists$81,580
Bachelor's degree
$56,650 – $104,150+23.1%
28Property Appraisers and Assessors$83,400
Bachelor's degree
$53,970 – $158,750+22.7%
29Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers, All Other$60,250
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,190 – $84,930+22.4%
30Health Education Specialists$78,400
Bachelor's degree
$45,730 – $106,780+22.4%
31First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers$97,610
High school diploma or equivalent
$59,360 – $128,380+22.1%
32Parts Salespersons$47,030
No formal educational credential
$30,850 – $63,480+21.7%
33Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines$79,370
High school diploma or equivalent
$54,450 – $98,690+21.2%
34Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians$78,690
Associate's degree
$61,860 – $95,640+21.2%
35Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$59,270
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,610 – $77,290+21.0%
36Veterinary Technologists and Technicians$57,270
Associate's degree
$42,640 – $65,120+20.9%
37Substitute Teachers, Short-Term$50,390
Bachelor's degree
$37,750 – $75,890+20.9%
38Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education$75,500
Bachelor's degree
$45,280 – $98,680+20.5%
39Career/Technical Education Teachers, Postsecondary$76,920
Bachelor's degree
$47,330 – $123,770+20.5%
40Administrative Services Managers$137,290
Bachelor's degree
$93,710 – $259,780+20.3%
41Medical Records Specialists$61,530
Postsecondary nondegree award
$48,120 – $83,020+20.3%
42Paralegals and Legal Assistants$75,570
Associate's degree
$47,730 – $102,920+20.2%
43Respiratory Therapists$98,710
Associate's degree
$79,060 – $110,050+20.0%
44Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary$127,000
Master's degree
$78,570 – $166,270+20.0%
45Medical Equipment Repairers$73,940
Associate's degree
$42,610 – $103,240+19.9%
46Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education$76,350
Bachelor's degree
$48,870 – $100,880+19.4%
47Maintenance and Repair Workers, General$59,200
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,630 – $79,040+19.4%
48Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers$46,610
No formal educational credential
$30,510 – $61,290+19.1%
49Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers$45,280
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,410 – $49,060+18.7%
50Construction and Building Inspectors$88,670
High school diploma or equivalent
$61,610 – $112,420+18.7%

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	vs. national
1	Brickmasons and BlockmasonsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$95,220	$65,420 – $100,980	+53.3%
2	Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$94,410	$48,720 – $121,050	+48.0%
3	General Internal Medicine PhysiciansDoctoral or professional degree	$373,700	$197,440 – $481,170	+45.7%
4	Physicians, All OtherDoctoral or professional degree	$367,320	$75,280 – $468,570	+38.1%
5	Dental AssistantsPostsecondary nondegree award	$65,270	$46,960 – $76,110	+35.8%
6	Reservation and Transportation Ticket Agents and Travel ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,090	$44,940 – $86,860	+35.4%
7	Surveying and Mapping TechniciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$73,190	$51,560 – $95,050	+34.9%
8	RoofersNo formal educational credential	$74,490	$46,020 – $99,170	+34.4%
9	Health Information Technologists and Medical RegistrarsAssociate's degree	$90,760	$66,520 – $115,480	+33.4%
10	Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$79,130	$55,960 – $101,930	+32.2%
11	Dentists, GeneralDoctoral or professional degree	$219,200	$132,930 – $226,940	+28.2%
12	Construction LaborersNo formal educational credential	$60,260	$42,950 – $96,150	+27.9%
13	Tax Examiners and Collectors, and Revenue AgentsBachelor's degree	$79,000	$54,160 – $116,690	+26.7%
14	Insurance Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$78,640	$49,350 – $161,030	+26.3%
15	ParamedicsPostsecondary nondegree award	$76,300	$60,320 – $93,910	+25.9%
16	Refuse and Recyclable Material CollectorsNo formal educational credential	$62,570	$47,260 – $71,450	+25.9%
17	Highway Maintenance WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,150	$45,660 – $72,650	+25.6%
18	Public Safety TelecommunicatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$66,550	$54,400 – $84,960	+25.5%
19	Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$76,350	$48,220 – $100,030	+25.1%
20	Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,260	$47,010 – $65,160	+25.1%
21	Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language InstructorsBachelor's degree	$76,800	$50,430 – $100,280	+24.8%
22	Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social WorkersMaster's degree	$75,020	$50,950 – $98,520	+24.5%
23	Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$74,670	$52,130 – $87,250	+24.4%
24	Surgical TechnologistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$80,210	$62,820 – $98,470	+24.1%
25	Loan OfficersBachelor's degree	$95,170	$57,670 – $163,350	+24.1%
26	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$78,160	$47,480 – $118,820	+23.7%
27	Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$81,580	$56,650 – $104,150	+23.1%
28	Property Appraisers and AssessorsBachelor's degree	$83,400	$53,970 – $158,750	+22.7%
29	Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,250	$43,190 – $84,930	+22.4%
30	Health Education SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$78,400	$45,730 – $106,780	+22.4%
31	First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$97,610	$59,360 – $128,380	+22.1%
32	Parts SalespersonsNo formal educational credential	$47,030	$30,850 – $63,480	+21.7%
33	Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except EnginesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$79,370	$54,450 – $98,690	+21.2%
34	Civil Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$78,690	$61,860 – $95,640	+21.2%
35	Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,270	$45,610 – $77,290	+21.0%
36	Veterinary Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$57,270	$42,640 – $65,120	+20.9%
37	Substitute Teachers, Short-TermBachelor's degree	$50,390	$37,750 – $75,890	+20.9%
38	Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special EducationBachelor's degree	$75,500	$45,280 – $98,680	+20.5%
39	Career/Technical Education Teachers, PostsecondaryBachelor's degree	$76,920	$47,330 – $123,770	+20.5%
40	Administrative Services ManagersBachelor's degree	$137,290	$93,710 – $259,780	+20.3%
41	Medical Records SpecialistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$61,530	$48,120 – $83,020	+20.3%
42	Paralegals and Legal AssistantsAssociate's degree	$75,570	$47,730 – $102,920	+20.2%
43	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$98,710	$79,060 – $110,050	+20.0%
44	Education Administrators, Kindergarten through SecondaryMaster's degree	$127,000	$78,570 – $166,270	+20.0%
45	Medical Equipment RepairersAssociate's degree	$73,940	$42,610 – $103,240	+19.9%
46	Elementary School Teachers, Except Special EducationBachelor's degree	$76,350	$48,870 – $100,880	+19.4%
47	Maintenance and Repair Workers, GeneralHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,200	$38,630 – $79,040	+19.4%
48	Landscaping and Groundskeeping WorkersNo formal educational credential	$46,610	$30,510 – $61,290	+19.1%
49	Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal CaretakersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$45,280	$36,410 – $49,060	+18.7%
50	Construction and Building InspectorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$88,670	$61,610 – $112,420	+18.7%

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 pay the biggest premium in Minnesota

More for Minnesota

Metro areas in Minnesota

By field in Minnesota

Without a degree

Jobs that pay the biggest premium in each state