Government Jobs in Minnesota: Employers & Pay

3,643

local governments (2022)

counties

2,634

cities, towns and townships

592

special districts

Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 — state estimates; U.S. Census Bureau, 2022 Census of Governments — Government Organization. Data captured September 30, 2026.

Minnesota state government pay plan

Minnesota Management and Budget (MMB) publishes the classification and pay plan for Minnesota state employees: 1,633 job classes and 413 pay grades, effective July 2, 2026. Below are the classes that match GovJobsWiki jobs, with annual ranges converted from the plan's published rates.

Job	Classes in the MN plan	Annual range
Bank / Financial Examiner	Financial Inst Examiner, Financial Inst Examiner Senior 2 classes	$68,578 – $108,888
Civil Engineer (DOT / city / county)	Engineer Senior, Engineer Princ 2 classes	$81,245 – $133,536
Contract / Procurement Specialist	Buyer 1–3, Contract Specialist - Const 4 classes	$50,752 – $90,875
Correctional Officer (state prison)	Corr Officer 1–3, Trainee-Corrections Officer 4 classes	$61,589 – $95,472
Crime Scene Investigator / Forensic Technician	Trainee-Forensic Scientist 1, Forensic Scientist 1–3 4 classes	$59,800 – $121,368
Detective / Criminal Investigator	Special Agent, Special Agent Senior 2 classes	$92,477 – $134,326
Engineering Technician (DOT)	Engineering Aide, Engineering Aide Inter, Engineering Aide Senior 3 classes	$44,221 – $78,728
Environmental Scientist (government)	Environmental Analyst 1–3, Environmental Specialist 1–4 7 classes	$50,752 – $108,888
Epidemiologist	Epidemiologist, Epidemiologist Intermediate, +2 more 4 classes	$57,886 – $125,611
Fleet Mechanic (city/county)	Automotive Technician, Automotive Mechanic, Automotive Mechanic Lead 3 classes	$50,877 – $77,605
Government Attorney (agency counsel)	Attorney 1–4, Staff Attorney 1–3 7 classes	$73,424 – $138,965
Government Auditor	Auditor, Auditor Intermediate, +2 more 4 classes	$52,458 – $105,102
Grants Specialist / Manager	Grants Specialist, Grants Specialist Inter, Grants Specialist Sr 3 classes	$54,330 – $94,141
Health Inspector / Environmental Health Specialist	Public Health Sanitarian 1–3 3 classes	$54,330 – $101,088
Human Resources Specialist (government)	Human Resources Specialist 1–3, Human Resources Consultant 1–2 5 classes	$54,330 – $121,368
Hydrologist	Hydrologist 1–5 5 classes	$57,886 – $138,965
IRS Revenue Agent / Tax Examiner	Revenue Examiner 1, Revenue Tax Specialist, +3 more 5 classes	$48,485 – $108,888
IT Specialist (government)	Trainee-Information Technology, Information Technology Spec 1–5 6 classes	$48,651 – $143,749
Lifeguard (city / state beaches & pools)	Life Guard 1 class	$43,410 – $45,302
Office Clerk / Clerk Typist (government)	Clerk Typist 1, Office Specialist 2 classes	$39,374 – $51,043
Parole Officer	Corr Agent, Corr Agent Senior, Corr Agent Career 3 classes	$54,330 – $101,088
Policy / Management Analyst	Management Analyst 1–4 4 classes	$50,752 – $105,102
Probation Officer	Corr Agent, Corr Agent Senior, Corr Agent Career 3 classes	$54,330 – $101,088
Public Information Officer	Communications Specialist 1–4 4 classes	$55,931 – $112,840
Social Worker (government)	Social Worker, Social Worker Senior 2 classes	$50,752 – $78,853
Soil Conservationist / Conservation Scientist	Soil Scientist 1–2 2 classes	$54,330 – $94,141
State Trooper / Highway Patrol Officer	State Patrol Trooper 1 class	$79,165 – $108,285
Stationary Engineer (public facilities)	Stationary Engineer 1 class	$71,053 – $82,493
Traffic Signal Technician	Highway Signal Technician 1 class	$75,483 – $87,651
Urban / City Planner	Planner, Planner Intermediate 2 classes	$50,752 – $78,853
Veterans Service Officer	Veterans Claims Rep, Veterans Claims Rep Senior 2 classes	$54,330 – $87,693
Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor	Rehabilitation Couns Sr, Rehabilitation Couns Career, Rehabilitation Couns Lead 3 classes	$63,981 – $108,888

Classes are matched to jobs by title (GovJobsWiki editorial rule).

Source: Minnesota Management and Budget (MMB), State of Minnesota Salary Plan — Classifications and Salary Ranges (report LR0067). Data captured September 30, 2026.

Public employers in Minnesota

Fire departments · 101

Employer	City	Career firefighters	Website
Minneapolis Fire Department	Minneapolis	434	Official site
City of Saint Paul Fire Department	Saint Paul	433	Official site
Duluth Fire Department	Duluth	134	Official site
Rochester Fire Department	Rochester	103	Official site
Saint Cloud Fire Department	Saint Cloud	68	Official site
Minneapolis-St. Paul Int'l Airport/Metropolitan Airports Commission	Minneapolis	52	—
Burnsville Fire Department	Burnsville	50	Official site
Brooklyn Park Fire Department	Brooklyn Park	47	Official site
South Metro Fire Department	West St Paul	44	Official site
Eagan Fire Department	Eagan	43	Official site

All 101 fire departments in Minnesota →

Transit agencies · 34

Employer	City	Vehicles operated directly	Website
Metro Transit	Minneapolis	567	Official site
Duluth Transit Authority	Duluth	51	Official site
St. Cloud Metropolitan Transit Commission	Saint Cloud	48	Official site
Trailblazer Joint Powers Board	Glencoe	35	Official site
Rainbow Rider Transit Board	Lowry	34	Official site
Central Community Transit Joint Powers Board	Willmar	27	Official site
City of Mankato	Mankato	18	Official site
Bois Forte Band of Chippewa	Orr	11	Official site
Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe	Cass Lake	11	Official site
White Earth Band of Chippewa	Ogema	10	Official site

All 34 transit agencies in Minnesota →

School districts · 329

Employer	City	Teachers (FTE)	Website
Anoka-Hennepin School District	Anoka	2,540	Official site
Minneapolis Public School District	Minneapolis	2,508	Official site
Saint Paul Public Schools	Saint Paul	2,235	Official site
ROSEMOUNT-APPLE VALLEY-EAGAN	Rosemount	1,883	Official site
OSSEO PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT	Maple Grove	1,365	Official site
South Washington County Schools	Cottage Grove	1,161	Official site
WAYZATA PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT	Plymouth	745	Official site
ST. CLOUD PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT	Waite Park	739	Official site
Mounds View Public School District	Shoreview	736	Official site
MINNETONKA PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT	Minnetonka	722	Official site

All 329 school districts in Minnesota →

Police departments · 281

Municipal and county police departments in the FBI's law-enforcement agency list. Staff size is not yet collected for this kind of employer.

All 281 police departments in Minnesota →

Sheriff's offices · 87

County sheriff's offices in the FBI's law-enforcement agency list. Staff size is not yet collected for this kind of employer.

All 87 sheriff's offices in Minnesota →

Campus police departments · 3

College and university police departments in the FBI's law-enforcement agency list. Staff size is not yet collected for this kind of employer.

All 3 campus police departments in Minnesota →

Sources: U.S. Fire Administration (FEMA), National Fire Department Registry; Federal Transit Administration, National Transit Database 2024 — Reporter Agency Information; National Center for Education Statistics, Common Core of Data, 2024–25 local education agency universe (directory and staff); Federal Bureau of Investigation, Crime Data Explorer — law-enforcement agencies by state (API). Data captured September 30, 2026.

Pay for government jobs in Minnesota

Median wage in Minnesota for each job's occupation (all employers in the state), next to the national median in government. Largest occupations first.

Job	Workers in MN	Median in MN	National, government
City / County Manager SOC 11-1021	72,860	$99,340	$137,300
Correctional Nurse SOC 29-1141	70,110	$101,510	$100,490
Public Health Nurse SOC 29-1141	70,110	$101,510	$100,490
School Nurse SOC 29-1141	70,110	$101,510	$100,490
VA Nurse (Veterans Affairs) SOC 29-1141	70,110	$101,510	$100,490
Office Clerk / Clerk Typist (government) SOC 43-9061	55,530	$47,840	$46,170
IRS Customer Service Representative SOC 43-4051	53,340	$48,800	$45,860
Custodian (schools & public buildings) SOC 37-2011	42,300	$39,610	$39,640
Paraprofessional / Teacher Aide SOC 25-9045	38,540	$40,100	$36,990
Administrative Assistant (government) SOC 43-6014	31,330	$51,400	$48,290
School Secretary / Office Manager SOC 43-6014	31,330	$51,400	$48,290
Accountant (government) SOC 13-2011	30,530	$81,600	$81,390
Government Auditor SOC 13-2011	30,530	$81,600	$81,390
Elementary School Teacher SOC 25-2021	26,640	$76,350	$65,310
Public School Teacher (hub) SOC 25-2021	26,640	$76,350	$65,310
Policy / Management Analyst SOC 13-1111	20,700	$100,790	$96,570
Program Analyst (federal) SOC 13-1111	20,700	$100,790	$96,570
Parks / Grounds Maintenance Worker SOC 37-3011	17,610	$46,610	$40,080
Human Resources Specialist (government) SOC 13-1071	17,240	$78,760	$80,330
Child Support Officer SOC 13-1199	16,410	$77,820	$91,060
Death Investigator / Coroner SOC 13-1199	16,410	$77,820	$91,060
Foreign Service Officer (diplomat) SOC 13-1199	16,410	$77,820	$91,060
Grants Specialist / Manager SOC 13-1199	16,410	$77,820	$91,060
ESL / ELL Teacher SOC 25-2031	16,020	$76,460	$74,220
High School Teacher SOC 25-2031	16,020	$76,460	$74,220
School Bus Driver SOC 53-3051	13,110	$48,940	$46,500
Government Attorney (agency counsel) SOC 23-1011	12,380	$155,140	$134,680
Prosecutor / Assistant District Attorney SOC 23-1011	12,380	$155,140	$134,680
Public Defender SOC 23-1011	12,380	$155,140	$134,680
Contract / Procurement Specialist SOC 13-1020	10,960	$80,370	$89,920

Several jobs can share one occupation code.

Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 — state estimates; U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 — national estimates by ownership. Data captured September 30, 2026.

Government jobs in Minnesota