nonmetropolitan area · 2700003

Southwest Minnesota nonmetropolitan area

Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025Southwest Minnesota nonmetropolitan area

Figures describe the Southwest Minnesota nonmetropolitan area, a BLS-defined region outside metropolitan areas — not a single city or town.

Median annual wage, all occupations$47,880
Total employment117,590

Across all occupations, the median wage in the Southwest Minnesota nonmetropolitan area was $47,880 per year ($23.02 per hour) as of the May 2025 OEWS estimates, across 117,590 jobs. 331 detailed occupations are published for this area.

Most concentrated occupations

Occupations far more common here than in the U.S. overall (location quotient ≥ 1.5, published estimates only) — a truthful picture of what makes this area’s job mix distinctive.

Location quotient: local share of employment ÷ national share
OccupationLocation quotientEmploymentMedian annual
Slaughterers and Meat Packers21.151,120$43,760
Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers9.071,000$43,400
Highway Maintenance Workers4.24500$60,410
Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers3.12980$60,370
Food Servers, Nonrestaurant3.06680$35,760
Bus Drivers, School2.71830$47,780
Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators2.492,650$44,290
Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary2.462,650$37,460

All published occupations

Every detailed occupation BLS publishes for this area in May 2025 331 in total. Sort by pay, employment, or concentration.

Published occupations in the Southwest Minnesota nonmetropolitan area
Occupation
Home Health and Personal Care Aides$37,070$17.825,6901.75
Cashiers$30,810$14.813,8101.63
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers$56,730$27.273,4402.21
General and Operations Managers$82,460$39.652,7501.04
Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary$37,460Not published2,6502.46
Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators$44,290$21.302,6502.49
Retail Salespersons$34,960$16.812,6400.90
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand$46,240$22.232,4301.09
Registered Nurses$89,100$42.842,4000.94
Fast Food and Counter Workers$29,650$14.262,3700.81
Office Clerks, General$44,960$21.612,2501.21
Nursing Assistants$45,780$22.012,2202.02
Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners$38,300$18.411,8601.11
Stockers and Order Fillers$37,090$17.831,7600.82
Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education$60,620Not published1,6101.54
Construction Laborers$56,120$26.981,5801.91
Maintenance and Repair Workers, General$56,120$26.981,4201.22
Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks$50,560$24.311,3001.26
Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive$48,090$23.121,3001.01
Customer Service Representatives$44,550$21.421,2300.63
Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$73,110$35.151,2001.28
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education$62,020Not published1,1701.45
Waiters and Waitresses$23,460$11.281,1600.67
Slaughterers and Meat Packers$43,760$21.041,12021.15
First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers$46,130$22.181,0901.29
Bartenders$25,700$12.361,0601.85
Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers$43,400$20.871,0009.07
Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers$60,370$29.039803.12
Accountants and Auditors$76,840$36.949300.85
Cooks, Restaurant$36,120$17.378700.82
First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers$78,060$37.538701.72
First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers$39,490$18.998500.92
Food Preparation Workers$32,650$15.708401.24
Bus Drivers, School$47,780$22.978302.71
Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$62,710$30.157901.62
Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers$38,190$18.366900.95
Food Servers, Nonrestaurant$35,760$17.196803.06
First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers$67,710$32.556800.62
Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners$35,830$17.236701.03
Electricians$64,060$30.806701.17
Light Truck Drivers$45,340$21.806500.87
Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics$47,890$23.026301.17
Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers$47,850$23.005901.31
Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders$43,680$21.005902.07
First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers$79,350$38.155800.95
Carpenters$50,450$24.255701.13
Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants$46,490$22.355500.76
Recreation Workers$36,230$17.425402.15
Tellers$37,170$17.875102.03
Medical and Health Services Managers$105,310$50.635001.10
Highway Maintenance Workers$60,410$29.045004.24
Industrial Engineers$99,420$47.804901.77
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$76,080$36.584900.97
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria$39,870$19.174901.47
Parts Salespersons$46,600$22.404902.39
First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers$83,450$40.124901.05
Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists$62,400$30.004902.22
Food Batchmakers$36,800$17.694903.72
Social and Human Service Assistants$47,870$23.024501.35
Farm Equipment Mechanics and Service Technicians$59,440$28.5845015.63
Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators$63,310$30.444401.22
Postal Service Mail Carriers$55,680$26.774301.71
Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks$47,760$22.964200.68
Human Resources Specialists$73,630$35.404100.59
First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors$66,390$31.924100.87
Financial Managers$125,920$60.543900.62
Emergency Medical Technicians$44,240$21.273902.83
Medical Assistants$50,010$24.043900.62
Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$62,070$29.843803.19
Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education$62,420Not published3700.78
Food Processing Workers, All Other$39,650$19.063707.63
Loan Officers$78,090$37.543601.72
Computer User Support Specialists$63,640$30.603600.66
Industrial Machinery Mechanics$62,580$30.093601.08
Driver/Sales Workers$36,780$17.683501.12
Buyers and Purchasing Agents$70,790$34.043400.91
Childcare Workers$30,590$14.713400.86
Court, Municipal, and License Clerks$56,990$27.403302.43
Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$59,220$28.473300.93
Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists$68,860$33.113200.47
Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors$50,560$24.313200.87
Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel$62,050$29.833200.34
Machinists$57,980$27.873201.48
Business Operations Specialists, All Other$67,960$32.673100.38
Receptionists and Information Clerks$37,810$18.183100.44
Social Workers, All Other$75,440$36.273006.34
Software Developers$101,150$48.632900.23
Firefighters$26,090$12.542901.09
Insurance Sales Agents$76,120$36.592900.80
Child, Family, and School Social Workers$63,780$30.672800.94
Industrial Production Managers$122,260$58.782701.44
Project Management Specialists$80,840$38.872700.34
Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education$48,460$23.302700.75
Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School$61,170Not published2701.36
Pharmacy Technicians$45,440$21.842700.77
Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents$59,220$28.472700.73
Dental Assistants$59,650$28.682600.90
Amusement and Recreation Attendants$29,970$14.412600.85
Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks$59,780$28.742600.88
Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators$57,130$27.472602.01
Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators$54,210$26.062600.45
Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment$36,510$17.552600.90
Sales Managers$140,870$67.722500.52
Cooks, Fast Food$31,030$14.922500.52
Billing and Posting Clerks$48,670$23.402500.83
Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers$44,200$21.252501.34
Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators$63,080$30.332502.61
Correctional Officers and Jailers$58,020$27.902400.84
Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers$33,970$16.332401.57
Special Education Teachers, Secondary School$65,430Not published2201.78
Security Guards$37,560$18.062200.22
Mechanical Engineers$95,990$46.152100.95
Pharmacists$146,540$70.452100.85
Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$79,200$38.082101.21
Dishwashers$29,710$14.292100.59
Library Assistants, Clerical$31,350$15.072103.30
Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary$100,520Not published2000.81
Social and Community Service Managers$80,800$38.852001.29
Counter and Rental Clerks$43,340$20.842000.65
Insurance Claims and Policy Processing Clerks$51,990$25.002001.26
Agricultural Equipment Operators$47,760$22.962009.09
Shuttle Drivers and Chauffeurs$39,420$18.952001.06
Self-Enrichment Teachers$42,550$20.461900.74
Nurse Practitioners$131,500$63.221900.77
Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders$49,740$23.911908.05
Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$46,170$22.201902.02
Printing Press Operators$43,950$21.131901.73
Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$54,160$26.041904.12
Chief Executives$156,860$75.421801.15
Training and Development Specialists$67,150$32.281800.52
Lawyers$97,250$46.751800.31
Substitute Teachers, Short-Term$43,030$20.691800.46
Physical Therapists$95,680$46.001800.88
Speech-Language Pathologists$83,430$40.111801.26
First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives$93,390$44.901801.50
Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers$61,410$29.521801.14
Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers$60,600$29.141800.58
Cabinetmakers and Bench Carpenters$38,960$18.731803.05
Construction Managers$109,260$52.531700.58
Cost Estimators$79,060$38.011701.00
Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians$69,560$33.441700.69
Residential Advisors$47,170$22.681702.63
Hotel, Motel, and Resort Desk Clerks$30,530$14.681700.86
Postal Service Clerks$59,970$28.831702.98
Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$49,470$23.791701.28
Marriage and Family Therapists$72,860$35.031603.22
Rehabilitation Counselors$51,390$24.711602.25
Veterinary Technologists and Technicians$47,470$22.821601.64
Automotive Body and Related Repairers$50,010$24.041601.41
Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers$102,250$49.161601.61
Management Analysts$92,920$44.671500.22
Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists$52,600$25.291502.17
Community and Social Service Specialists, All Other$44,930$21.601501.83
Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education$61,690Not published1501.81
Public Relations Specialists$59,070$28.401500.70
Dental Hygienists$98,550$47.381500.91
Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop$27,040$13.001500.46
Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders$49,930$24.011509.45
Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$56,850$27.331502.11
Compliance Officers$69,740$33.531400.45
Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians$64,620$31.071402.37
Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors$64,460$30.991400.54
Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation$49,310$23.711407.04
Wind Turbine Service Technicians$77,770$37.3914018.51
Administrative Services Managers$125,010$60.101300.64
Computer and Information Systems Managers$129,220$62.131300.25
Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers$26,620$12.801300.33
Gambling Service Workers, All Other$31,230$15.0113011.99
New Accounts Clerks$47,050$22.621304.49
Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance$58,710$28.231300.86
Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants$71,340$34.301300.39
Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse$38,080$18.311300.66
Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines$63,490$30.521300.96
Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers$103,100$49.571200.72
Personal Financial Advisors$85,550$41.131200.57
Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language Instructors$62,750$30.171204.29
Graphic Designers$52,220$25.111200.77
Medical Records Specialists$57,190$27.491200.80
Loan Interviewers and Clerks$47,720$22.941200.99
Butchers and Meat Cutters$38,020$18.281201.18
Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$56,960$27.381201.02
Facilities Managers$94,430$45.401100.91
Conservation Scientists$45,750$21.991105.79
Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers$77,410$37.211101.14
Librarians and Media Collections Specialists$58,410$28.081101.06
Occupational Therapists$83,300$40.051100.94
Healthcare Support Workers, All Other$39,470$18.981101.28
Eligibility Interviewers, Government Programs$61,540$29.591100.92
Marketing Managers$155,990$74.991000.35
Logisticians$85,980$41.341000.51
Civil Engineers$98,310$47.271000.37
Paralegals and Legal Assistants$62,300$29.951000.34
Detectives and Criminal Investigators$83,680$40.231001.13
First-Line Supervisors of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping Workers$63,920$30.731001.02
Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks$58,410$28.081000.90
Human Resources Assistants, Except Payroll and Timekeeping$53,310$25.631001.45
Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$58,250$28.011002.05
Sewing Machine Operators$38,850$18.681001.22
Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators$74,440$35.791004.60
Production Workers, All Other$55,230$26.551000.54
Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors$57,580$27.681000.88
Human Resources Managers$120,910$58.13900.52
Network and Computer Systems Administrators$94,520$45.44900.38
Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians$78,690$37.83901.81
Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health$66,390$31.92901.26
Occupational Health and Safety Specialists$90,410$43.47900.88
Veterinarians$122,300$58.80901.35
Paramedics$64,020$30.78901.18
First-Line Supervisors of Housekeeping and Janitorial Workers$50,380$24.22900.67
Animal Caretakers$30,920$14.86900.43
Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists$33,280$16.00900.38
Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors$38,140$18.34900.36
Farmworkers, Farm, Ranch, and Aquacultural Animals$46,580$22.39903.76
Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers$71,990$34.61900.82
Property Appraisers and Assessors$72,580$34.90801.87
Credit Analysts$75,450$36.28801.54
Soil and Plant Scientists$71,240$34.25807.13
Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary School$60,410Not published800.98
Special Education Teachers, Preschool$57,900Not published803.52
Dentists, All Other Specialists$104,060$50.038020.64
Physician Assistants$150,910$72.55800.61
Physicians, All Other$376,260$180.89800.29
Psychiatric Technicians$39,800$19.14800.70
Opticians, Dispensing$44,500$21.39801.40
Office and Administrative Support Workers, All Other$32,940$15.84800.57
Helpers--Production Workers$45,930$22.08800.65
Packers and Packagers, Hand$40,090$19.27800.18
Architectural and Engineering Managers$152,220$73.18700.43
Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers$58,910$28.32700.29
Insurance Underwriters$61,610$29.62700.93
Computer Systems Analysts$101,060$48.59700.17
Electrical Engineers$98,430$47.32700.45
Agricultural Technicians$54,550$26.23706.52
Healthcare Social Workers$68,080$32.73700.49
Educational Instruction and Library Workers, All Other$49,620$23.85700.80
Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers$37,390$17.98700.56
Coaches and Scouts$58,910Not published700.40
Family Medicine Physicians$229,500$110.34700.86
Surgical Technologists$67,080$32.25700.84
Physical Therapist Assistants$59,740$28.72700.80
Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products$108,990$52.40700.34
Interviewers, Except Eligibility and Loan$46,820$22.51700.67
Construction and Building Inspectors$73,650$35.41700.61
Helpers--Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers$46,390$22.30700.98
Bakers$36,380$17.49700.38
Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$55,060$26.47701.47
Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders$49,170$23.64700.65
Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Programmers$60,810$29.24703.27
Meeting, Convention, and Event Planners$54,400$26.16600.57
Architectural and Civil Drafters$63,200$30.38600.81
Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other$47,240$22.71601.01
Special Education Teachers, Middle School$58,920Not published600.85
Teachers and Instructors, All Other$47,470Not published600.64
Instructional Coordinators$75,510$36.30600.34
Diagnostic Medical Sonographers$95,340$45.84600.86
Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers$28,430$13.67600.53
First-Line Supervisors of Entertainment and Recreation Workers, Except Gambling Services$53,750$25.84600.75
Advertising Sales Agents$55,490$26.68600.82
Bill and Account Collectors$52,410$25.20600.48
Painters, Construction and Maintenance$48,900$23.51600.36
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers, All Other$60,660$29.16600.45
Postmasters and Mail Superintendents$93,250$44.83504.50
Fundraisers$68,640$33.00500.54
Financial and Investment Analysts$97,620$46.94500.20
Surveyors$60,950$29.30501.25
Mechanical Drafters$63,550$30.55501.73
Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians$94,100$45.24500.75
Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists$79,000$37.98503.58
Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists$88,840$42.71500.38
Urban and Regional Planners$59,860$28.78501.41
Directors, Religious Activities and Education$46,880$22.54503.03
Floral Designers$35,380$17.01501.74
Editors$46,660$22.43500.75
First-Line Supervisors of Correctional Officers$78,350$37.67501.24
First-Line Supervisors of Personal Service Workers$45,010$21.64500.56
Morticians, Undertakers, and Funeral Arrangers$41,670$20.03502.44
First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers$65,160$31.33500.32
Real Estate Sales Agents$46,400$22.31500.32
File Clerks$44,580$21.44500.92
Public Safety Telecommunicators$71,130$34.20500.68
Outdoor Power Equipment and Other Small Engine Mechanics$54,100$26.01501.94
Tire Repairers and Changers$44,000$21.15500.57
Maintenance Workers, Machinery$46,100$22.16501.19
Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$55,330$26.60501.07
Automotive and Watercraft Service Attendants$37,130$17.85500.68
Funeral Home Managers$74,100$35.63404.09
Managers, All Other$113,650$54.64400.09
Computer Network Support Specialists$74,200$35.67400.40
Engineers, All Other$90,300$43.41400.36
Community Health Workers$44,060$21.18400.78
Tutors$45,960$22.09400.31
Broadcast Announcers and Radio Disc Jockeys$38,240$18.38402.80
Chiropractors$73,050$35.12401.40
Dentists, General$197,670$95.04400.38
Dietitians and Nutritionists$78,850$37.91400.60
Optometrists$138,580$66.62401.22
Pharmacy Aides$33,240$15.98401.49
Phlebotomists$43,620$20.97400.36
Demonstrators and Product Promoters$33,840$16.27400.83
Sales and Related Workers, All Other$35,320$16.98400.54
Procurement Clerks$53,060$25.51400.92
Legal Secretaries and Administrative Assistants$58,300$28.03400.35
Sheet Metal Workers$55,010$26.45400.48
Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical Door$69,930$33.62401.10
Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers$59,910$28.81400.59
Medical Equipment Repairers$64,530$31.02400.73
Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters$50,230$24.15401.02
Tool and Die Makers$74,820$35.97400.90
Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$53,560$25.75401.80
Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$45,770$22.00400.52
Commercial Pilots$78,120Not published401.08
Motor Vehicle Operators, All Other$30,360$14.60401.11
Purchasing Managers$114,970$55.27300.47
Education Administrators, All Other$79,160$38.06300.77
Tax Preparers$60,320$29.00300.58
Food Science Technicians$63,020$30.30303.04
Forest and Conservation Technicians$58,070$27.92301.30
Clergy$45,590$21.92300.77
News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists$36,140$17.38301.02
Interpreters and Translators$61,720$29.67300.81
Ophthalmic Medical Technicians$49,250$23.68300.57
Health Information Technologists and Medical Registrars$94,850$45.60301.11
First-Line Supervisors of Gambling Services Workers$45,960$22.10301.76
Information and Record Clerks, All Other$44,350$21.32300.32
First-Line Supervisors of Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Workers$74,340$35.74301.55
Motorcycle Mechanics$52,160$25.08303.23
Machine Feeders and Offbearers$48,180$23.16301.06
Biological Technicians$46,910$22.55Not publishedNot published
Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity$45,200$21.73Not publishedNot published
Library Technicians$38,830$18.67Not publishedNot published
Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators$66,160$31.81Not publishedNot published

About this data. Estimates are from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program, May 2025 release, retrieved from bls.gov/oes/tables.htm on July 24, 2026. OEWS estimates describe metropolitan/nonmetropolitan areas and states — not city limits — and are not designed for year-over-year comparisons. See BLS methodology, our plain-English methodology, and sources. CitySalaryData is independent and not affiliated with BLS.