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.

Many people are unsure of what they want to do for a job, but almost everyone knows that they want and need to earn money. Interestingly, those two key aspects of life are directly linked - the job you choose will determine the amount of money you are able to make in your lifetime! If you are interested in living and working in Southwest Minnesota, this website is designed to inform you about 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.

If you know the wage level that you want to reach in order to enjoy the lifestyle you want to live, you can explore the careers that meet those needs. You might also want to look at the many growing industries in Southwest Minnesota that offer good long-term career prospects, including health care, renewable energy and agriculture, manufacturing, and professional and technical services, as they will also provide great opportunities for economic security.

While the 100 occupations on this list 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 Median Annual Wage
Occupations in Demand Earning $60,000 or More
Family & General Practitioners	$166,400	120		5.4%	61	First professional degree
Dentists	$141,135	65		5.4%	46	First professional degree
Pharmacists	$109,839	90		19.4%	91	First professional degree
Sales & Marketing Managers	$106,201	240		1.5%	96	Bachelor's deg. + work exper.
Computer & Info. Systems Managers	$89,583	110		6.5%	45	Bachelor's deg. + work exper.
Network Systems & Data Comm. Analysts	$89,190	60		24.7%	66	Assoc./Bachelor's degree
Financial Managers	$87,667	260		4.6%	88	Bachelor's deg. + work exper.
Education Administrators	$76,022	150		1.3%	156	Bachelor's deg. + work exper.
Industrial Production Managers	$74,698	140		2.3%	127	Bachelor's deg. + work exper.
Medical & Health Services Managers	$72,500	150		16.1%	99	Bachelor's or higher degree
Computer Systems Analysts	$70,390	110		20.1%	83	Bachelor's or higher degree
Electrical Engineers	$69,332	50		7.3%	38	Bachelor's degree
Physical Therapists	$67,674	90		28.7%	58	Master's degree
Chemists	$66,530	30		7.7%	13	Bachelor's degree
General & Operations Managers	$65,508	750		-4.1%	534	Bachelor's deg. + work exper.
Mechanical Engineers	$64,853	140		0.9%	51	Bachelor's degree
Administrative Services Managers	$63,702	80		6.0%	65	Bachelor's degree + work exp.
Postsecondary Vocational Education Teachers, including Nursing	$62,826	10		16.8%	130	Bachelor's deg. + work exp.
Environmental Scientists & Specialists	$62,797	30		14.3%	25	Bachelor's degree
Industrial Engineers	$62,336	170		14.3%	102	Bachelor's degree
Dental Hygienists	$62,176	80		28.4%	102	Associate degree
Computer Software Engineers	$61,157	360		24.1%	151	Bachelor's degree
Occupations in Demand Earning Between $45,000 and $60,000
Registered Nurses	$59,488	1,690		27.5%	1,116	Assoc./Bachelor's degree
Management & Market Research Analysts	$58,625	140		7.2%	209	Bachelor's degree
Network & Computer Systems Admins.	$58,189	190		7.0%	110	Bachelor's degree
Occupational Therapists	$57,097	60		26.8%	40	Master's degree
Electrical Powerline Installers & Repair	$55,902	50		17.1%	97	Long-term on-the-job training
Loan Officers	$55,622	200		13.0%	152	Bachelor's degree
Securities, Commodities & Financial Services Sales Representatives	$54,687	130		15.1%	89	Bachelor's degree
Computer-Controlled Machine Tool Operators, Metal & Plastic	$54,500	120		0.7%	36	Long-term on-the-job training
Boiler Operators & Stationary Engineers	$51,741	50		6.8%	35	Long-term on-the-job training
Clinical & Counseling Psychologists	$50,780	100		8.5%	48	Master's degree
First-line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installation, & Repair Workers	$49,980	240		0.7%	205	Related work experience
Accountants & Auditors	$49,898	490		7.9%	373	Bachelor's degree
Purchasing Agents & Buyers (incl. Farm Products & Wholesale Trade)	$49,281	140		-5.0%	85	Bachelor's deg. + work exper.
Construction Managers	$49,068	290		6.0%	172	Related work experience
Medical & Clinic Laboratory Technologists	$48,758	90		13.2%	36	Bachelor's degree
Claims Adjusters, Exam. & Investigators	$47,482	70		3.2%	45	Long-term on-the-job training
Elementary & High School Teachers	$46,407	1,240		-6.8%	1,132	Bachelor's degree
Radiologic Technologists & Technicians	$46,021	120		23.3%	81	Associate degree
Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers	$45,206	320		5.7%	469	Long-term on-the-job training
Occupations in Demand Earning Between $30,000 and $45,000
Educational & Vocational Counselors	$43,599	80		15.1%	104	Master's degree
Agricultural & Food Science Technicians	$43,068	40		8.6%	31	Associate degree
Cost Estimators	$42,768	110		9.4%	95	Bachelor's deg. + work exper.
Substance Abuse & Behavioral Disorder Counselors & Social Workers	$42,257	50		30.9%	62	Master's degree
First-line Supervisors of Transportation & Material Moving Workers	$42,076	160		3.3%	100	Related work experience
HR, Employment, & Training Specialists	$41,681	140		11.7%	26	Bachelor's degree
Appraisers & Assessors of Real Estate	$41,149	50		2.1%	42	Postsecondary voc. award
Sales Representatives (Mfg. & Services)	$40,743	640		2.0%	369	Moderate on-the-job training
First-line Supervisors of Production & Operating Workers (Line Managers)	$39,995	540		0.7%	258	Related work experience
Farm Equipment, Truck Mechanics & Diesel Engine Specialists	$39,859	150		14.2%	112	Postsecondary voc. award
Office Managers	$39,764	640		0.4%	312	Related work experience
Correctional Officers & Jailers	$39,264	400		9.2%	150	Moderate on-the-job training
Medical & Clinic Laboratory Technicians	$38,777	90		20.7%	64	Associate degree
Insurance Sales Agents	$37,579	240		14.5%	220	Bachelor's degree
Industrial Machinery Mechanics & Fluid Power Technicians	$37,573	320		14.4%	259	Long-term on-the-job training
Executive Secretaries & Admin. Assts.	$36,832	640		9.1%	308	Moderate on-the-job training
Eligibility Interviewers, Gov't Programs	$36,395	80		-3.0%	41	Moderate on-the-job training
Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs)	$36,393	710		5.9%	668	Postsecondary voc. award
Wind Energy Technicians & Mechanics	$35,360	125		100.0%	125	Associate degree
Cabinetmakers & Bench Carpenters	$34,978	170		-0.5%	130	Long-term on-the-job training
Trash & Recyclable Material Collectors	$34,779	40		19.7%	97	Short-term on-the-job training
Truck Drivers, Heavy & Tractor-Trailer	$34,563	1,520		0.3%	763	Moderate on-the-job training
Medical Recs. & Health Info. Technicians	$34,049	100		14.5%	123	Associate degree
First-line Supervisors of Personal Care & Service Workers	$33,700	110		23.0%	171	Related work experience
Automotive Service Techs & Mechanics	$32,718	290		-1.5%	244	Postsecondary voc. award
Ethanol & Chemical Plant Technicians	$30,470	120		32.3%	109	Postsecondary voc. award
Food Batchmakers	$30,157	30		10.6%	109	Short-term on-the-job training
Occupations in Demand Earning Between $15,000 and $30,000
Agricultural Equipment Operators	$29,228	30		29.3%	108	Moderate on-the-job training
Painting & Coating Machine Operators	$29,215	80		-13.8%	37	Moderate on-the-job training
Construction Laborers	$28,482	300		5.7%	132	Moderate on-the-job training
First-line Supervisors of Retail Workers	$28,443	530		2.3%	476	Related work experience
Welders, Cutters, Solderers & Brazers	$35,506	280		-2.6%	249	Postsecondary voc. award
Machinists	$43,493	220		1.3%	90	Long-term on-the-job training
Personal & Home Care Aides	$27,848	420		40.1%	1,929	Short-term on-the-job training
Bill & Account Collectors	$27,809	80		2.5%	28	Short-term on-the-job training
Bookkeeping, Acctg., & Auditing Clerks	$27,746	870		5.4%	744	Moderate on-the-job training
Customer Service Representatives	$27,710	670		13.6%	879	Moderate on-the-job training
Shipping, Receiving, & Traffic Clerks	$27,587	360		0.1%	209	Short-term on-the-job training
Slaughterers & Meat Packers	$27,199	550		0.8%	761	Moderate on-the-job training
Medical Assistants	$27,026	150		32.0%	183	Moderate on-the-job training
Emergency Medical Techs & Paramedics	$26,823	120		9.4%	122	Postsecondary voc. award
Medical Secretaries	$26,697	220		16.4%	99	Postsecondary voc. award
Pharmacy Technicians	$26,473	100		29.3%	204	Moderate on-the-job training
Cooks, Institution & Cafeteria	$25,651	240		3.9%	239	Long-term on-the-job training
Social & Human Service Assistants	$25,642	810		34.6%	659	Moderate on-the-job training
First-line Supervisors of Food Preparation Workers (Fast Food & Restaurant)	$25,532	420		1.6%	100	Related work experience
Nursing Aides, Orderlies & Attendants	$23,805	1,170		7.0%	558	Short-term on-the-job training
Meat, Poultry & Fish Cutters & Trimmers	$23,730	240		2.4%	115	Short-term on-the-job training
General Office Clerks	$23,690	1,560		7.6%	1,402	Short-term on-the-job training
Farmworkers & Laborers (Crop & Animal)	$23,375	950		4.2%	976	Moderate on-the-job training
Tellers	$23,007	250		8.5%	561	Short-term on-the-job training
Janitors, Maids, Housekeeping Cleaners	$22,106	1,360		7.2%	900	Short-term on-the-job training
Precision Assemblers & Fabricators (incl. Electrical & Electronic Equip.)	$29,349	640		-24.7%	187	Short-term on-the-job training
Hairstylists & Cosmetologists	$20,966	100		3.2%	123	Postsecondary voc. award
Home Health Aides	$19,740	1,070		37.5%	793	Short-term on-the-job training
Route Salespersons, Drivers	$18,433	200		-13.3%	153	Short-term on-the-job training
Retail Salespersons	$17,222	1,500		8.4%	1,939	Short-term on-the-job training
Cashiers & Counter & Rental Clerks	$16,352	2,190		-3.2%	2,544	Short-term on-the-job training
Packers & Packagers, Hand	$15,406	450		-10.4%	164	Short-term on-the-job training
Source: Minnesota Dept. of Employment & Economic Development 2009 Median Annual Salary Data from the 2009 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 2006-2016Minnesota Employment Projections Program for Southwest Minnesota