Career exploration is all about gathering information. What are you interested in doing? Are any of those jobs available? How much do those occupations pay? Do you have the education or training needed for those jobs? This website was designed by the Southwest Minnesota WorkForce Council to help you answer these career exploration questions. But there is another important thing to consider: Where do you want to live? Job availability depends on where you live.

If you are interested in living and working in Southwest Minnesota, this website is designed to show you job availability and wages in this region of the state. The 100 Hot Jobs on this list have been selected because they are currently in high demand in Southwest Minnesota and are projected to stay that way into the future. Many of these jobs also offer high pay compared to other occupations in the region. The information contained in this site will help you make better career choices as you develop your skills and plan your education.

While the 100 occupations shown 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 Southwest Minnesota 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 Southwest Minnesota, Sorted by Current Demand (alphabetical order)
Five-Star Occupations in Demand
Home Health Aides	$22,922	2,170		58.7%	3,221	Short-term on-the-job training
Personal & Home Care Aides	$22,318	520		48.4%	1,835	Short-term on-the-job training
Computer-Controlled (CNC) Machine Tool Operators & Machinists	$39,582	300		32.5%	225	Long-term on-the-job training
Truck Drivers, Heavy & Tractor-Trailer	$34,008	2,130		25.1%	1,936	Moderate on-the-job training
Industrial Machinery Mechanics & Fluid Power Technicians	$41,038	370		24.5%	423	Long-term on-the-job training
Family & General Practitioners	$159,037	80		23.9%	124	First professional degree
Welders, Cutters, Solderers & Brazers	$36,462	450		19.0%	495	Postsecondary voc. award
Radiologic (X-ray) Technologists & Diagnostic Med. Sonographers	$52,603	100		17.2%	78	Associate degree
Social & Human Service Assistants	$24,502	420		17.1%	706	Moderate on-the-job training
Registered Nurses	$62,587	1,330		15.7%	922	Assoc./Bachelor's degree
General Office Clerks	$26,582	1,340		14.2%	1,568	Short-term on-the-job training
Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs)	$36,982	760		13.1%	752	Postsecondary voc. award
Emergency Medical Techs & Paramedics	$29,224	340		12.8%	270	Postsecondary voc. award
Accountants & Auditors	$52,666	440		11.8%	382	Bachelor's degree
Network & Computer Sys. Administrators	$59,717	110		10.7%	83	Bachelor's degree
Retail Salespersons	$22,610	1,430		10.2%	2,315	Short-term on-the-job training
Purchasing Agents & Buyers (incl. Farm Products & Wholesale Trade)	$57,866	160		10.1%	183	Long-term on-the-job training
Route Salespersons, Drivers	$28,226	200		10.0%	250	Short-term on-the-job training
Fast Food Prep & Serving Workers	$18,699	1,220		9.6%	1,431	Short-term on-the-job training
Human Resources, Employment & Training Specialists	$42,245	50		9.4%	78	Bachelor's degree
Janitors & Cleaners	$22,194	930		9.3%	857	Short-term on-the-job training
Bookkeeping, Accounting, & Audit Clerks	$29,723	1,160		9.2%	626	Moderate on-the-job training
Loan Officers	$54,662	220		8.8%	226	Bachelor's degree
Farm Equipment, Truck Mechanics & Diesel Engine Specialists	$43,368	260		8.7%	351	Postsecondary voc. award
Nursing Aides, Orderlies & Attendants	$23,899	1,620		7.8%	726	Postsecondary voc. award
Maids & Housekeeping Cleaners	$20,530	580		7.4%	437	Short-term on-the-job training
Electrical, Industrial & Mechanical Engineers	$68,557	120		6.7%	234	Bachelor's degree
Automotive Service Techs & Mechanics	$31,554	190		5.4%	307	Postsecondary voc. award
Cashiers & Counter & Rental Clerks	$18,096	2,120		4.0%	2,450	Short-term on-the-job training
Shipping, Receiving, & Traffic Clerks	$29,120	350		2.9%	213	Short-term on-the-job training
Child, Family & School Social Workers	$45,926	150		2.5%	106	Bachelor's degree
Cooks, Restaurant & Fast Food	$21,029	560		1.9%	455	Short-term on-the-job training
Bank Tellers	$24,128	490		-1.4%	458	Short-term on-the-job training
Four-Star Occupations in Demand
Wind Energy Technicians & Mechanics	$52,000	130		100.0%	130	Associate degree
Veterinarians	$83,158	50		36.9%	69	First professional degree
Physical Therapists & Occupational Therapists	$71,989	120		36.8%	204	Master's degree
Occupational & Physical Therapy Assts.	$38,584	70		33.2%	185	Associate degree
Cost Estimators	$50,606	110		29.4%	111	Bachelor's deg. + work exp.
Team Assemblers & Fabricators	$35,069	260		27.9%	332	Short-term on-the-job training
Ethanol & Chemical Plant Technicians	$41,912	90		27.4%	64	Postsecondary voc. award
Trash & Recyclable Material Collectors	$30,826	100		26.1%	118	Short-term on-the-job training
Physician Assistants	$91,562	50		24.0%	32	Master's degree
Mental Health & Rehabilitation Counselors	$37,710	230		23.6%	156	Master's degree
Pharmacy Technicians	$29,224	170		23.6%	163	Moderate on-the-job training
Dental Assistants & Dental Hygienists	$40,539	440		19.7%	277	Postsecondary award or Associate degree
Securities, Commodities & Financial Services Sales Representatives	$61,589	90		16.8%	155	Bachelor's degree
Dentists	$160,784	70		16.7%	39	First professional degree
Medical Recs. & Health Info. Technicians	$34,091	110		15.4%	101	Associate degree
Landscapers & Groundskeepers	$22,714	220		14.8%	325	Short-term on-the-job training
Security Guards	$22,048	260		13.5%	83	Short-term on-the-job training
Medical & Clinic Laboratory Technicians	$43,618	120		13.3%	79	Associate degree
Dietary Aides & Assistants	$18,907	230		11.9%	219	Short-term on-the-job training
Customer Service Representatives	$27,414	760		10.7%	762	Moderate on-the-job training
Cleaners of Vehicles & Equipment	$22,194	560		10.4%	281	Short-term on-the-job training
Forklift Drivers/Industrial Truck & Tractor Operators	$30,098	380		10.0%	336	Short-term on-the-job training
Broadband Installers & Technicians	$45,323	190		9.8%	58	Postsecondary award
First-line Supervisors of Retail Workers	$30,410	670		9.2%	701	Related work experience
Production, Planning & Expediting Clerks	$37,232	120		8.3%	108	Moderate on-the-job training
First-line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installation, & Repair Workers	$54,912	240		6.5%	227	Related work experience
Sales Representatives (Wholesale, Manufacturing & Services)	$53,498	730		6.3%	467	Related work experience
Computer Systems Analysts & Software Engineers	$62,275	60		5.6%	75	Bachelor's degree
Laundry & Dry-Cleaning Workers	$21,923	160		5.6%	74	Moderate on-the-job training
Exec. Secretaries & Administrative Assistants	$39,021	440		5.2%	516	Related work experience
Claims Adjusters & Examiners	$46,488	20		4.8%	50	Long-term on-the-job training
Professors & Postsecondary Vocational Education Teachers, incl. Nursing	$68,119	240		2.3%	271	Bachelor's deg. + work exp.
Wastewater Treatment Plant Operators	$45,490	210		1.7%	99	Long-term on-the-job training
Computer Support Specialists	$41,712	370		1.7%	84	Associate degree
Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers	$43,846	430		0.1%	217	Long-term on-the-job training
Elementary & High School Teachers; incl. Special Education	$50,221	1,980		-1.6%	1,355	Bachelor's degree
Three-Star Occupations in Demand
Heating & Cooling (HVAC) Installers & Mechanics	$36,754	30		44.0%	93	Postsecondary award
Child Care Workers	$19,406	190		28.8%	132	Short-term on-the-job training
Construction Equipment Operators	$36,088	580		28.0%	464	Moderate on-the-job training
Mental Health, Substance Abuse & Behav. Disorder Social Workers	$51,106	130		25.3%	41	Bachelor's degree
Management & Market Research Analysts	$68,432	170		21.1%	264	Bachelor's degree
Construction Supervisors & Construction Managers	$51,896	180		20.9%	269	Related work experience
Bill & Account Collectors	$33,259	140		20.1%	89	Short-term on-the-job training
Carpenters	$34,507	530		19.6%	681	Long-term on-the-job training
Agricultural Equipment Operators	$32,261	160		17.9%	208	Moderate on-the-job training
Pharmacists	$117,374	80		17.0%	130	First professional degree
Construction Laborers	$28,392	340		16.3%	239	Moderate on-the-job training
Medical & Health Services Managers	$72,322	150		15.5%	139	Bachelor's or higher degree
Quality Control Inspectors & Testers	$30,451	240		15.2%	214	Moderate on-the-job training
Farmworkers & Laborers (Crop & Animal)	$23,067	180		14.7%	195	Moderate on-the-job training
Cooks, Institution & Cafeteria	$23,421	400		13.2%	269	Moderate on-the-job training
Laborers & Freight/Stock Movers	$26,936	980		12.8%	989	Short-term on-the-job training
Receptionists & Information Clerks	$27,518	400		12.1%	541	Short-term on-the-job training
Hairstylists & Cosmetologists	$22,963	120		12.1%	296	Postsecondary voc. award
Sales & Marketing Managers	$93,891	300		10.6%	180	Bachelor's deg. + work exp.
First-line Supervisors of Production & Operating Workers (Line Managers)	$46,758	440		10.0%	286	Related work experience
Compliance Officers & Inspectors	$55,910	50		8.8%	19	Long-term on-the-job training
Boiler Operators & Stationary Engineers	$52,042	90		8.7%	39	Long-term on-the-job training
Office Managers & First-line Supervisors of Office Workers	$44,762	440		8.5%	389	Related work experience
Meat Cutters, Slaughterers & Meat Packers	$27,394	2,180		6.2%	1,250	Moderate on-the-job training
Agriculture & Food Science Technicians	$38,667	80		5.8%	41	Assoc./Bachelor's degree
Amusement & Recreation Attendants	$18,387	110		5.7%	232	Short-term on-the-job training
Bus Drivers, School & Transit	$25,979	580		4.6%	344	Moderate on-the-job training
Education Administrators	$80,185	110		0.6%	147	Bachelor's deg. + work exp.
Waiters & Waitresses; Bartenders	$19,490	1,030		0.0%	1,311	Short-term on-the-job training
Teacher Assistants	$25,013	1,430		-1.2%	603	Short-term on-the-job training
Food Service Managers	$35,381	90		-6.5%	68	Related work experience
Source: Minnesota Dept. of Employment & Economic Development 2012 Median Annual Salary Data from the 2012 Minnesota Salary Survey for Region 6W and Region 8 Current 2012 Demand Data from the Occupations in Demand Tool for Region 6W and Region 8 Projected Employment Data from the 2010-2020 Minnesota Employment Projections Program