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 piece of information to consider: Where do you want to live? Job availability depends on where you live.

Let's look at an example: say that you want to go to college or get training in another state, but some day you would like to move back to Southwest Minnesota to live and work. It is important to note that many of the jobs that are and will be available in the region require or prefer some sort of post-secondary education, from a vocational award or certificate to an associate degree or bachelor's degree. And although many other jobs will be available with no post-secondary requirements, your education is a very worthwhile investment. You'll see in the list of 100 Hot Jobs featured below that the highest-paying jobs tend to require some education or experience, while the lowest-paying jobs require little education and tend to have much higher turnover. Planning for your education and career will help you enjoy a better future.

(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 Education/Training Requirements (alphabetical order)
Occupations Requiring Advanced Degrees
Family & General Practitioners	$166,400	70		27.1%	61	First professional degree
Dentists	$164,382	90		14.6%	46	First professional degree
Pharmacists	$98,819	120		15.3%	91	First professional degree
Physician Assistants	$89,720	50		43.5%	20	Master's degree
Veterinarians	$83,371	50		33.8%	17	First professional degree
Computer Systems Analysts	$74,967	80		11.5%	83	Bachelor's or higher degree
Physical Therapists	$66,146	50		21.4%	58	Master's degree
Occupational Therapists	$61,296	50		19.0%	40	Master's degree
Medical & Health Services Managers	$59,674	130		16.6%	99	Bachelor's or higher degree
Clinical & Counseling Psychologists	$54,219	40		9.4%	48	Master's degree
Substance Abuse & Behav. Disorder Counselors & Social Workers	$42,536	40		16.8%	115	Master's degree
Occupations Requiring Bachelor's Degrees
Sales & Marketing Managers	$103,427	170		8.6%	96	Bachelor's deg. + work exp.
Computer & Info. Systems Managers	$89,583	110		6.5%	45	Bachelor's deg. + work exp.
Financial Managers	$85,552	200		6.5%	88	Bachelor's deg. + work exp.
Education Administrators	$79,591	100		3.3%	95	Bachelor's deg. + work exp.
Securities, Commodities & Financial Services Sales Representatives	$52,581	90		8.7%	89	Bachelor's degree
Computer Software Engineers	$69,248	190		22.8%	151	Bachelor's degree
Industrial Engineers	$69,007	130		11.9%	102	Bachelor's degree
Mechanical Eng. & Electrical Engineers	$62,977	120		-0.3%	51	Bachelor's degree
Professors & Postsecondary Vocational Education Teachers, incl. Nursing	$62,826	10		16.8%	130	Bachelor's deg. + work exp.
Environmental Scientists & Specialists	$62,797	30		14.3%	25	Bachelor's degree
Civil Engineers	$62,561	40		18.3%	50	Bachelor's degree
Loan Officers	$60,074	290		7.8%	152	Bachelor's degree
Registered Nurses	$59,940	1,150		23.8%	1,116	Assoc./Bachelor's degree
Management & Market Research Analysts	$58,625	120		21.3%	209	Bachelor's degree
Network & Computer Sys. Administrators	$56,289	140		12.0%	110	Bachelor's degree
Dietitians, Nutritionists & Health Educators	$53,603	40		8.1%	56	Bachelor's degree
Accountants & Auditors	$51,026	510		15.3%	373	Bachelor's degree
Elementary & High School Teachers	$50,945	1,020		9.6%	466	Bachelor's degree
Child, Family & School Social Workers	$46,008	220		5.3%	122	Bachelor's degree
Cost Estimators	$45,202	90		19.0%	95	Bachelor's deg. + work exp.
Human Resources, Employment, & Training Specialists	$40,238	60		17.2%	44	Bachelor's degree
Occupations Requiring Associate's Degrees or Postsecondary Training
Dental Hygienists	$71,606	70		31.2%	102	Associate degree
Wind Energy Technicians & Mechanics	$52,000	130		100.0%	130	Associate degree
Radiologic (X-ray) Technicians	$53,637	110		26.0%	81	Associate degree
Agriculture & Food Science Technicians	$43,068	40		8.6%	31	Associate degree
Paralegals & Legal Assistants	$40,920	70		15.8%	33	Associate degree
Farm Equipment, Truck Mechanics & Diesel Engine Specialists	$39,859	150		14.2%	112	Postsecondary voc. award
Medical & Clinic Laboratory Technicians	$38,777	90		20.7%	64	Associate degree
Ethanol & Chemical Plant Technicians	$38,677	60		14.5%	109	Postsecondary voc. award
Occupational & Physical Therapist Assts.	$38,324	50		19.7%	35	Associate degree
Welders, Cutters, Solderers & Brazers	$36,795	490		-7.9%	249	Postsecondary voc. award
Appraisers & Assessors of Real Estate / Title Examiners	$36,790	60		9.5%	42	Associate Degree
Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs)	$36,276	850		19.1%	668	Postsecondary voc. award
Medical Secretaries & Transcriptionists	$30,546	300		13.3%	152	Postsecondary voc. award
Automotive Service Techs & Mechanics	$28,891	310		-1.6%	244	Postsecondary voc. award
Medical Recs. & Health Info. Technicians	$28,318	120		21.6%	123	Associate degree
Nursing Aides, Orderlies & Attendants	$25,675	1,770		13.8%	558	Postsecondary voc. award
Hairstylists & Cosmetologists	$25,347	100		27.4%	123	Postsecondary voc. award
Emergency Medical Techs & Paramedics	$23,871	450		18.3%	122	Postsecondary voc. award
Occupations Requiring Related Work Experience
First-line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installation, & Repair Workers	$52,753	230		0.6%	205	Related work experience
Construction Managers	$49,068	290		6.0%	172	Related work experience
Sales Representatives (Wholesale, Manufacturing & Services)	$45,288	660		2.6%	369	Related work experience
First-line Supervisors of Production & Operating Workers (Line Managers)	$39,995	540		0.7%	258	Related work experience
Executive Secretaries & Admin. Assts.	$36,057	440		8.9%	308	Related work experience
Loan Interviewers & New Account Clerks	$31,750	130		4.0%	190	Related work experience
First-line Supervisors of Retail Workers	$28,402	680		4.5%	476	Related work experience
First-line Supervisors of Food Preparation Workers (Fast Food & Restaurant)	$25,703	540		5.2%	100	Related work experience
Occupations Requiring Long-Term On-the-Job Training (more than 12 months)
Purchasing Agents & Buyers (incl. Farm Products & Wholesale Trade)	$60,853	160		10.1%	85	Long-term on-the-job training
Electrical Powerline Installers & Repairers	$59,591	210		3.7%	97	Long-term on-the-job training
Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics	$55,132	150		9.1%	112	Long-term on-the-job training
Boiler Operators & Stationary Engineers	$54,726	60		8.7%	35	Long-term on-the-job training
Electricians	$49,046	160		5.9%	289	Long-term on-the-job training
Industrial Machinery Mechanics & Fluid Power Technicians	$41,056	330		8.0%	259	Long-term on-the-job training
Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers	$38,331	340		4.6%	469	Long-term on-the-job training
Cabinetmakers & Bench Carpenters	$34,987	130		11.3%	130	Long-term on-the-job training
Plumbers & Pipefitters	$34,882	70		11.9%	82	Long-term on-the-job training
Carpenters & Construction Laborers	$33,322	700		14.0%	390	Long-term on-the-job training
Occupations Requiring Moderate-Term On-the-Job Training (1-12 months)
Computer-Controlled (CNC) Machine Tool Operators, Metal & Plastic	$56,981	170		8.3%	36	Moderate on-the-job training
Dental Assistants	$41,695	120		30.7%	151	Moderate on-the-job training
Dispatchers (Trucking, Fire, Police, etc.)	$40,834	120		15.2%	42	Moderate on-the-job training
Mixing & Blending Machine Setters	$35,219	120		20.3%	40	Moderate on-the-job training
Truck Drivers, Heavy & Tractor-Trailer	$34,563	1,780		13.2%	763	Moderate on-the-job training
Correctional Officers & Jailers	$33,189	130		4.9%	150	Moderate on-the-job training
Bus Drivers, School & Transit	$32,743	550		5.5%	45	Moderate on-the-job training
Agricultural Equipment Operators	$29,228	30		29.3%	108	Moderate on-the-job training
Bookkeeping, Accounting, & Audit Clerks	$28,520	1,220		6.6%	744	Moderate on-the-job training
Slaughterers & Meat Packers	$27,525	330		2.8%	761	Moderate on-the-job training
Cooks, Institution & Cafeteria	$26,017	410		8.9%	239	Moderate on-the-job training
Pharmacy Technicians	$24,996	170		28.2%	204	Moderate on-the-job training
Farmworkers & Laborers (Crop & Animal)	$24,981	950		0.0%	184	Moderate on-the-job training
Medical Assistants	$24,546	170		29.6%	183	Moderate on-the-job training
Customer Service Representatives	$24,361	520		14.8%	879	Moderate on-the-job training
Social & Human Service Assistants	$24,104	480		18.7%	659	Moderate on-the-job training
Laundry & Dry-Cleaning Workers	$23,000	160		1.5%	84	Moderate on-the-job training
Occupations Requiring Short-Term On-the-Job Training (1 month or less)
Trash & Recyclable Material Collectors	$36,233	60		26.4%	97	Short-term on-the-job training
Bill & Account Collectors	$29,173	150		8.0%	28	Short-term on-the-job training
Shipping, Receiving, & Traffic Clerks	$28,789	310		-9.7%	209	Short-term on-the-job training
Personal & Home Care Aides	$21,973	420		40.1%	1,929	Short-term on-the-job training
Route Salespersons, Drivers	$27,763	350		1.9%	153	Short-term on-the-job training
Janitors, Maids/Housekeeping Cleaners	$26,408	1,100		2.4%	900	Short-term on-the-job training
Teacher Assistants	$24,760	1,430		3.8%	403	Short-term on-the-job training
Laborers & Freight/Stock Movers, Hand	$24,593	950		-2.1%	790	Short-term on-the-job training
Tellers	$24,182	340		9.2%	561	Short-term on-the-job training
General Office Clerks	$22,773	1,600		9.3%	1,402	Short-term on-the-job training
Home Health Aides	$22,607	1,560		42.0%	793	Short-term on-the-job training
Retail Salespersons	$17,506	1,330		7.1%	1,939	Short-term on-the-job training
Cashiers & Counter & Rental Clerks	$16,938	2,110		2.2%	2,187	Short-term on-the-job training
Fast Food Prep & Serving Workers	$16,830	1,670		14.9%	1,419	Short-term on-the-job training
Waiters & Waitresses	$15,435	1,020		6.0%	1,796	Short-term on-the-job training
Source: Minnesota Dept. of Employment & Economic Development 2010 Median Annual Salary Data from the 2010 Minnesota Salary Survey for Region 6W and Region 8 Current Demand Data from the Occupations in Demand Tool for Region 6W and Region 8 Projected Employment Data from the 2009-2019 Minnesota Employment Projections Program