Whether you are "old school" or "new school", you can find a program here. Local colleges and universities are working together with businesses to train people for jobs in our area. Eight colleges and universities are located in this area with a broad range of specialties like international studies, nanoscience technology, pharmacy technology, plumbing technology, or business office systems among many others.

Think of it this way, the more you invest in yourself and your career, the more employers will invest in you through wages, job security, benefits, continuing education, and increased responsibilities. According to median wage data from the Minnesota Job Vacancy Survey, if you finish a one- or two-year post-secondary education program, you will earn twice as much as someone with only a high school diploma or less. That difference can be more than $500,000 over the length of your entire career!

The information on this page is organized to show you how much time you should invest in your college career to land the job you want.

While the 100 occupations featured below are great choices because of their current and future demand in the region, should you limit your occupational choices to this list? No! Choosing a career is a very personal decision and you should still take into consideration all aspects of a career when you’re making a choice, such as educational requirements, annual wages, and your personality style and work values. In fact, the state of Minnesota tracks more than 770 different occupations, many of which are available in West CentralMinnesota even though they did not make this list of hot jobs. For additional information on how to plan your career and conduct an effective job search, please contact your local Minnesota WorkForce Center.

(Occupational titles are links to ISEEK career information pages that will open in a new window,
where you can study the career description, work activities, and plan your education)

Occupations in Demand in West Central Minnesota, Sorted by Educational Requirements
Occupations Requiring a Bachelor's or Higher Degree
Physicians and Surgeons	$146,000	90	Medium	20	69	First professional degree
Dentists	$146,000	80	High	50	84	First professional degree
Pharmacists	$104,561	130	High	80	190	First professional degree
Physician Assistants	$74,079	60	Medium	20	98	First professional degree
Child, Family, & School Social Workers	$44,461	220	Medium	110	209	Master's degree
Rehabilitation Counselors	$41,459	80	High	60	112	Master's degree
Education Administrators	$82,431	160	Low	110	117	Bachelor's or higher degree
Financial Managers	$74,338	190	Medium	70	136	Bachelor's or higher degree
Industrial Production Managers	$71,605	130	High	60	114	Bachelor's or higher degree
Medical & Health Services Managers	$67,922	170	High	80	183	Bachelor's or higher degree
Clinical, Couns., & School Psychologists	$67,008	60	Low	ND	ND	Bachelor's or higher degree
General & Operations Managers	$65,779	920	Low	470	883	Bachelor's or higher degree
Physical Therapists	$64,062	80	Medium	20	70	Bachelor's or higher degree
Civil Engineers	$60,455	60	High	50	129	Bachelor's or higher degree
Occupational Therapists	$55,825	40	Low	ND	ND	Bachelor's or higher degree
Mechanical Engineers	$55,056	120	High	100	174	Bachelor's or higher degree
Medical & Clinical Lab Technologists	$50,998	60	Medium	40	76	Bachelor's or higher degree
Social & Community Service Managers	$49,781	70	Low	40	100	Bachelor's or higher degree
Training & Development Specialists	$48,018	50	Low	20	59	Bachelor's or higher degree
Property, Real Estate, & Community Association Managers	$34,086	50	Low	50	90	Bachelor's or higher degree
Engineering Managers	$86,817	70	Medium	40	89	Bachelor's degree & work exp
Sales Managers	$73,119	140	High	60	124	Bachelor's degree & work exp
Securities, Commodities, & Financial Services Sales Agents	$67,186	90	Medium	40	106	Bachelor's degree & related work experience
Management Analysts	$58,072	70	Low	80	135	Bachelor's degree & work exp
Purchasing Agents & Buyers (incl. Farm Products & Wholesale Trade)	$44,189	110	High	70	107	Bachelor's degree & related work experience
Electrical Engineers	$67,160	80	High	30	73	Bachelor's degree
Computer Systems Analysts	$63,579	100	High	20	57	Bachelor's degree
Industrial Engineers	$57,615	70	High	70	149	Bachelor's degree
Computer Programmers	$56,455	70	Medium	50	100	Bachelor's degree
Computer Software Engineers	$56,426	110	Medium	20	122	Bachelor's degree
Network Systems & Data Analysts	$53,833	60	High	20	80	Bachelor's degree
Network & Computer Systems Admins.	$51,735	150	High	30	113	Bachelor's degree
Special Education Teachers	$50,363	170	High	150	236	Bachelor's degree
Accountants & Auditors	$49,278	530	Medium	290	492	Bachelor's degree
HR, Training & Labor Relation Specialists	$48,095	120	High	50	139	Bachelor's degree
Business Operations Specialists	$39,953	1,320	High	580	1,569	Bachelor's degree
Insurance Sales Agents	$34,189	60	Medium	190	310	Bachelor's degree
Occupations Requiring an Associate Degree or Postsecondary Vocational Award
Registered Nurses	$50,742	600	High	750	1,908	Assoc./Bachelor's degree
Dental Hygienists	$61,024	110	High	30	204	Associate degree
Cost Estimators	$48,233	110	High	70	130	Associate degree
Radiologic Technologists & Technicians	$46,755	140	High	60	165	Associate degree
Industrial Engineering Technicians	$42,081	60	Medium	50	91	Associate degree
Mechanical Drafters	$41,656	80	Medium	40	54	Associate degree
Industrial Machinery Mechanics	$40,053	250	Low	120	191	Associate degree
Tool & Die Makers	$38,295	80	Low	60	95	Associate degree
Computer Support Specialists	$34,689	170	Medium	50	114	Associate degree
Machinists	$32,530	290	Medium	200	320	Associate degree
Dental Assistants	$32,429	250	Low	100	293	Associate degree
General Maintenance & Repair Workers	$32,042	460	Medium	270	481	Associate degree
Medical Recs. & Health Info. Technicians	$30,239	130	High	40	142	Associate degree
Computer-Controlled Machine Tool Operators, Metal & Plastic	$27,690	120	Medium	50	96	Associate degree
Medical Assistants	$26,924	120	High	60	217	Associate degree
Fitness Trainers & Aerobics Instructors	$22,481	40	Low	40	87	Associate degree
Welders, Cutters, Solderers & Brazers	$30,950	440	Medium	350	436	Assoc./postsec. voc. award
Pharmacy Technicians	$29,438	150	High	60	174	Assoc./postsec. voc. award
Recreation Workers	$18,794	200	Low	120	211	Assoc./postsec. voc. award
Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs)	$32,803	1,160	High	610	1,033	Postsecondary voc. award
Preschool Teachers	$29,594	210	Low	60	117	Postsecondary voc. award
Emergency Medical Techs & Paramedics	$26,077	100	Medium	60	164	Postsecondary voc. award
Occupations Requiring Long-Term On-The-Job Training or Related Work Experience and/or Postsecondary Education
First-line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installation, & Repair Workers	$53,057	370	High	220	347	Long-term on-the-job training or related work experience
First-line Supervisors of Transportation & Material Moving Workers	$34,748	270	Medium	130	202	Long-term on-the-job training or related work experience
First-line Supervisors of Housekeeping & Janitorial Workers	$33,459	100	High	120	210	Long-term on-the-job training or related work experience
First-line Supervisors of Personal Care & Service Workers	$31,428	130	High	130	248	Long-term on-the-job training or related work experience
First-line Supervisors of Food Preparation & Serving Workers	$24,581	730	Medium	420	754	Long-term on-the-job training or related work experience
Electricians	$41,274	180	Medium	210	361	Long-term on-the-job training
Plumbers, Pipefitters & Steamfitters	$32,878	150	High	110	206	Long-term on-the-job training
Electromechanical Equip. Assemblers	$32,129	60	Medium	30	30	Long-term on-the-job training
Occupations Requiring Moderate-Term On-The-Job Training or Related Work Experience and/or Postsecondary Education
Surveying & Mapping Technicians	$42,834	60	Medium	60	101	Moderate on-the-job training
Exec. Secretaries & Admin. Assistants	$34,938	580	Medium	320	572	Moderate on-the-job training
Construction Laborers	$30,026	440	Medium	150	290	Moderate on-the-job training
Truck Drivers, Heavy & Tractor-Trailer	$28,606	1,510	Medium	690	1,220	Moderate on-the-job training
Customer Service Representatives	$27,215	670	Medium	240	572	Moderate on-the-job training
Cutting, Punching, & Press Machine Setters & Operators	$25,416	300	Medium	140	140	Moderate on-the-job training
Dispatchers, Exc. Police, Fire & Ambul.	$25,205	80	Medium	50	64	Moderate on-the-job training
Team Assemblers	$24,587	830	Medium	950	1,094	Moderate on-the-job training
Molding, Coremaking, & Casting Machine Setters and Operators	$24,066	110	Low	ND	ND	Moderate on-the-job training
Grinding, Lapping, Polishing & Buffing Machine Tool Setters & Operators	$21,549	60	Medium	60	94	Moderate on-the-job training
Truck Drivers, Light or Delivery Services	$20,832	470	Medium	130	337	Moderate on-the-job training
Occupations Requiring Short-Term On-The-Job Training or Related Work Experience
Production, Planning & Expediting Clerks	$33,897	90	Medium	60	87	Short-term on-the-job training
Protective Service Workers	$33,747	140	High	360	406	Short-term on-the-job training
Payroll & Timekeeping Clerks	$33,322	130	High	100	171	Short-term on-the-job training
Industrial Truck & Tractor Operators	$30,877	220	Medium	160	188	Short-term on-the-job training
Human Resources Assistants	$30,147	120	High	70	136	Short-term on-the-job training
Bill & Account Collectors	$26,931	110	Medium	50	104	Short-term on-the-job training
Shipping, Receiving, & Traffic Clerks	$26,102	330	Medium	190	319	Short-term on-the-job training
Nursing Aides, Orderlies & Attendants	$23,720	1,840	Medium	570	1,269	Short-term on-the-job training
Bus Drivers, School	$23,625	780	Medium	280	335	Short-term on-the-job training
Janitors & Cleaners	$22,541	1,430	Medium	790	1,269	Short-term on-the-job training
Laborers and Freight & Stock Movers	$21,880	1,050	Medium	810	894	Short-term on-the-job training
Home Health Aides	$20,656	670	Medium	350	1,868	Short-term on-the-job training
Personal & Home Care Aides	$20,414	440	Medium	300	1,132	Short-term on-the-job training
Retail Salespersons	$19,860	2,540	Medium	2,630	4,096	Short-term on-the-job training
Taxi Drivers & Chauffeurs	$19,469	110	Medium	40	178	Short-term on-the-job training
Maids & Housekeeping Cleaners	$18,205	710	Medium	680	1,192	Short-term on-the-job training
Stock Clerks & Order Fillers	$18,172	960	Low	1,000	1,000	Short-term on-the-job training
Driver/Sales Workers	$17,544	300	Medium	120	130	Short-term on-the-job training
Cleaners of Vehicles & Equipment	$16,909	240	Low	290	337	Short-term on-the-job training
Child Care Workers	$16,790	140	Low	870	1,038	Short-term on-the-job training
Cashiers and Counter & Rental Clerks	$16,663	3,330	Medium	3,890	4,311	Short-term on-the-job training
Packers & Packagers, Hand	$15,998	400	Medium	210	455	Short-term on-the-job training
Source: Minnesota Dept. of Employment & Economic Development 2007 Median Annual Salary Data from the 2nd Qtr. 2007 Minnesota Salary Survey Current Demand Data from the 2nd Qtr. 2007 Minnesota Job Vacancy Survey Projected Employment Data from the 2004-2014 Minnesota Employment Projections Program

Feedback: Nathan.Dorr@state.mn.us