Minneapolis Employment

Employment and Industries in the Minneapolis, Minnesota Area

Minneapolis, Minnesota, is the largest city in Minnesota, and one of the fifty largest cities in the United States. According to 2004 U.S. Census Bureau estimates, the Minneapolis St. Paul-Bloomington metropolitan area is the sixteenth largest metropolitan area in the United States. It is also the third largest metropolitan area in the mid-western United States. As one might expect, the Minneapolis metropolitan area has a robust business community and vibrant economy. The Minneapolis metropolitan area is home to thirty Fortune 1000 company headquarters, sixteen of which are in the Fortune 500.

Inc. magazine ranked Minneapolis thirty-sixth on its list of "Best Cities for Doing Business" in the United States in the large cities category in 2006. In all three years of Inc. rankings (2004-2006), Minneapolis has ranked in the top fifty cities in the United States. The criteria used by Inc. "emphasizes the robustness of a region's growth".

According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), Minneapolis ranks in the top 30 cities on the list of U.S. cities who receive the most yearly funding from the NIH..

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, major industries in and around Minneapolis include (ranked by size of workforce):

  • Trade, Transportation, and Utilities
  • Government
  • Professional and Business Services
  • Educational and Health Services
  • Manufacturing
  • Leisure and Hospitality
  • Financial Services

The capital of Minnesota, St. Paul, is part of the Minneapolis metropolitan area. As one would expect, state government is a major driving force of the area's economy.

According to the Minneapolis Regional Chamber of Commerce, there are over 1,300 technology-intensive companies in the Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan area, giving it one of the largest concentrations of high-technology businesses in the United States.

Residents of the Minneapolis-St. Paul Metropolitan area appreciate that the area has one of the most affordable among large metropolitan areas. According to the Minneapolis Regional Chamber of Commerce, Minneapolis-St.Paul has one of the lowest costs of living among the 25 largest cities in the United States.

The Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan area is served by the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP), which ranks 13th in the U.S. and the 18th in the world for passenger volume. Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport ranks fourteenth in the United States for for nonstop international air travel according to the U.S. Department of Transportation, Bureau of Transportation Statistics.

Some major companies in the Minneapolis metropolitan area include:

  • 3M
  • Bemis
  • Ceridian
  • Donaldson
  • Ecolab
  • General Mills
  • H.B. Fuller
  • Medtronic
  • Minnesota Life Ins.
  • Nash Finch
  • Patterson
  • PepsiAmericas
  • St. Jude Medical
  • St. Paul Travelers Cos.
  • Target
  • Thrivent Financial for Lutherans
  • Toro
  • U.S. Bancorp
  • Valspar
  • Xcel Energy

Some of the major business organizations in the Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan area include:

The Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal, the Business Section of the Star Tribune, and the Business Section of the Pioneer Press are excellent sources of information on business in the Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan area.

Jobs in Minneapolis

RankTitleTotal EmployeesLocal Mean Salary (Per Year)Local Mean Salary (Per hour)National Growth % 2014-2024
1All Occupations1971370$59,310$28.52100
2Office and Administrative Support Occupations254470$45,090$21.6813.75
3Sales and Related Occupations190810$49,090$23.69.5
4Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations163360$29,160$14.028.7
5Transportation and Material Moving Occupations141940$41,800$20.16.7
6Business and Financial Operations Occupations140990$78,520$37.755.35
7Management Occupations130260$129,430$62.236.35
8Production Occupations129290$43,260$20.85.6
9Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations113620$91,790$44.135.85
10Educational Instruction and Library Occupations107470$58,960$28.356
11Healthcare Support Occupations106180$32,820$15.782.85
12Computer and Mathematical Occupations85590$93,060$44.743
13Home Health and Personal Care Aides72100$28,620$13.760
14Construction and Extraction Occupations65890$65,400$31.444.6
15Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations60960$54,860$26.373.75
16Retail Salespersons58020$30,400$14.622.7
17Fast Food and Counter Workers54470$25,530$12.272.45
18Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations52760$34,850$16.763.6
19Personal Care and Service Occupations49700$32,750$15.754.65
20Customer Service Representatives46490$42,770$20.561.75
21Architecture and Engineering Occupations42960$87,290$41.971.7
22Registered Nurses41640$84,400$40.581.95
23Cashiers41470$26,460$12.722.2
24Community and Social Service Occupations36090$51,930$24.971.75
25Office Clerks, General35120$41,380$19.891.9
26Waiters and Waitresses32830$30,000$14.421.65
27General and Operations Managers31800$128,250$61.661.5
28Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand31700$37,100$17.841.8
29Protective Service Occupations31100$54,670$26.282.2
30Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners30250$33,440$16.081.5
31Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations29520$58,850$28.291.8
32Software Developers and Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers27080$105,730$50.830.65
33Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products24980$81,680$39.270.85
34Stockers and Order Fillers24360$33,480$16.11.25
35Project Management Specialists and Business Operations Specialists, All Other22110$77,060$37.050.7
36Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive20880$43,080$20.711.4
37Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators20810$35,600$17.120.8
38Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations20440$80,120$38.520.8
39Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks19800$47,090$22.641.05
40Cooks, Restaurant19360$31,880$15.320.9
41Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers19020$53,020$25.491.2
42Accountants and Auditors18700$75,660$36.380.9
43Computer Systems Analysts18450$97,590$46.920.4
44Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel17470$68,680$33.020.7
45Legal Occupations16610$102,140$49.10.8
46First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers15780$66,050$31.760.95
47Nursing Assistants15360$37,060$17.820.95
48Maintenance and Repair Workers, General14340$47,890$23.020.9
49Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists12990$78,780$37.870.45
50Financial Managers12820$144,060$69.260.4
51Management Analysts12500$91,760$44.120.55
52Carpenters12360$59,050$28.390.6
53First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers12240$40,320$19.380.6
54Receptionists and Information Clerks12040$32,680$15.710.7
55First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers11830$47,160$22.670.95
56Passenger Vehicle Drivers, Except Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity11710$36,050$17.330.3
57Light Truck Drivers10700$43,590$20.960.6
58Human Resources Specialists10430$69,870$33.590.4
59Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers10350$36,970$17.780.75
60Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks10100$39,170$18.830.4
61Bartenders10060$26,880$12.920.4
62Computer User Support Specialists9980$57,730$27.750.4
63Lawyers9700$128,640$61.850.5
64Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants9330$43,320$20.830.4
65Computer and Information Systems Managers9180$152,370$73.250.3
66Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants8780$61,900$29.760.35
67Security Guards8710$36,190$17.40.7
68Sales Managers8630$142,040$68.290.3
69Childcare Workers8570$27,470$13.210.7
70Financial and Investment Analysts, Financial Risk Specialists, and Financial Specialists, All Other8490$91,370$43.930.2
71Buyers and Purchasing Agents8220$71,760$34.50.25
72Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses8200$50,890$24.460.5
73Social and Human Service Assistants8160$37,550$18.050.3
74Industrial Engineers7890$95,780$46.050.2
75Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners7790$30,230$14.530.9
76Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents7720$115,810$55.680.3
77Construction Laborers7710$57,100$27.450.9
78Machinists7700$52,760$25.370.2
79Driver/Sales Workers7650$29,950$14.40.3
80Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers7560$45,900$22.070.35
81First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers7410$69,270$33.30.4
82Marketing Managers7370$148,620$71.450.2
83Personal Service Managers, All Other; Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except Gambling; and Managers, All Other7350$133,810$64.330.7
84Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists7040$34,520$16.590.4
85Medical Assistants6740$42,240$20.310.45
86Packers and Packagers, Hand6650$29,250$14.060.4
87Self-Enrichment Teachers6570$43,520$20.920.2
88Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters6560$80,690$38.80.3
89Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics6470$48,010$23.080.5
90Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers6390$38,840$18.670.2
91Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education6290$40,190$19.320.3
92Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers6190$77,590$37.30.4
93Electricians6080$74,090$35.620.45
94Insurance Claims and Policy Processing Clerks5970$47,310$22.750.2
95Insurance Sales Agents5930$77,620$37.320.3
96Loan Officers5920$84,740$40.740.2
97Mechanical Engineers5920$89,660$43.110.2
98Recreation Workers5900$30,140$14.490.3
99Food Preparation Workers5830$29,700$14.280.5
100Amusement and Recreation Attendants5760$26,060$12.530.2
Source: 2019 Occupational Employment Statistics and 2018-28 Employment Projections, Bureau of Labor Statistics, BLS.gov
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Additional Details

Minneapolis Colleges
Minneapolis colleges and trade schools.

Jobs More Common Near Minneapolis Than Most Other Cities

* Average job popularity for metro areas = 1.0

TitleMean Local SalaryLocal Jobs
All Occupations$59,3101,971,370
Office and Administrative Support Occupations$45,090254,470
Sales and Related Occupations$49,090190,810
Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations$29,160163,360
Transportation and Material Moving Occupations$41,800141,940
Business and Financial Operations Occupations$78,520140,990
Management Occupations$129,430130,260
Production Occupations$43,260129,290
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations$91,790113,620
Educational Instruction and Library Occupations$58,960107,470
Healthcare Support Occupations$32,820106,180
Computer and Mathematical Occupations$93,06085,590
Home Health and Personal Care Aides$28,62072,100
Construction and Extraction Occupations$65,40065,890
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations$54,86060,960
Retail Salespersons$30,40058,020
Fast Food and Counter Workers$25,53054,470
Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations$34,85052,760
Personal Care and Service Occupations$32,75049,700
Customer Service Representatives$42,77046,490
Architecture and Engineering Occupations$87,29042,960
Registered Nurses$84,40041,640
Cashiers$26,46041,470
Community and Social Service Occupations$51,93036,090
Office Clerks, General$41,38035,120
Waiters and Waitresses$30,00032,830
General and Operations Managers$128,25031,800
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand$37,10031,700
Protective Service Occupations$54,67031,100
Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners$33,44030,250
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations$58,85029,520
Software Developers and Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers$105,73027,080
Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$81,68024,980
Stockers and Order Fillers$33,48024,360
Project Management Specialists and Business Operations Specialists, All Other$77,06022,110
Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive$43,08020,880
Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators$35,60020,810
Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations$80,12020,440
Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks$47,09019,800
Cooks, Restaurant$31,88019,360
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers$53,02019,020
Accountants and Auditors$75,66018,700
Computer Systems Analysts$97,59018,450
Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel$68,68017,470
Legal Occupations$102,14016,610
First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers$66,05015,780
Nursing Assistants$37,06015,360
Maintenance and Repair Workers, General$47,89014,340
Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists$78,78012,990
Financial Managers$144,06012,820

Work Paying Relatively Well in the Minneapolis, Minnesota Metro Area (2008 data)

* Average Salary Index for metro areas = 1.0

TitleMean Local SalaryLocal Jobs
All Occupations$59,3101,971,370
Office and Administrative Support Occupations$45,090254,470
Sales and Related Occupations$49,090190,810
Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations$29,160163,360
Transportation and Material Moving Occupations$41,800141,940
Business and Financial Operations Occupations$78,520140,990
Management Occupations$129,430130,260
Production Occupations$43,260129,290
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations$91,790113,620
Educational Instruction and Library Occupations$58,960107,470
Healthcare Support Occupations$32,820106,180
Computer and Mathematical Occupations$93,06085,590
Home Health and Personal Care Aides$28,62072,100
Construction and Extraction Occupations$65,40065,890
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations$54,86060,960
Retail Salespersons$30,40058,020
Fast Food and Counter Workers$25,53054,470
Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations$34,85052,760
Personal Care and Service Occupations$32,75049,700
Customer Service Representatives$42,77046,490
Architecture and Engineering Occupations$87,29042,960
Registered Nurses$84,40041,640
Cashiers$26,46041,470
Community and Social Service Occupations$51,93036,090
Office Clerks, General$41,38035,120
Waiters and Waitresses$30,00032,830
General and Operations Managers$128,25031,800
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand$37,10031,700
Protective Service Occupations$54,67031,100
Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners$33,44030,250
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations$58,85029,520
Software Developers and Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers$105,73027,080
Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$81,68024,980
Stockers and Order Fillers$33,48024,360
Project Management Specialists and Business Operations Specialists, All Other$77,06022,110
Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive$43,08020,880
Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators$35,60020,810
Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations$80,12020,440
Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks$47,09019,800
Cooks, Restaurant$31,88019,360
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers$53,02019,020
Accountants and Auditors$75,66018,700
Computer Systems Analysts$97,59018,450
Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel$68,68017,470
Legal Occupations$102,14016,610
First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers$66,05015,780
Nursing Assistants$37,06015,360
Maintenance and Repair Workers, General$47,89014,340
Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists$78,78012,990
Financial Managers$144,06012,820

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