Southeast Minnesota is a health care and agricultural powerhouse. The region is home to the renowned Mayo Clinic and some of the world's most recognized food companies and brands.
Advanced manufacturing is especially strong here, with machinery, chemicals, and electronics among the top products.
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Quarterly Workforce Indicators (QWI) dataset
7/23/2025 10:52:56 AM
Amanda Blaschko
The Quarterly Workforce Indicators (QWI) dataset tracks wages and employment by linking job records from Quarterly Census of Employment & Wages with worker demographics from the Census Bureau. It gives you a detailed picture of who's working where and earning what, broken down by characteristics like age, sex, race, industry and location. This blog examines changes in wages by industry, age and sex, and race and ethnicity in Southeast Minnesota.
Monthly wages have changed significantly in the past 20 years in Southeast Minnesota. Since 2003, average monthly wages have increased by $2,512, an 87.3% increase, reaching $5,388 by 2023. In comparison, Minnesota's wages across all industries increased to $6,046 a month, or an 81.8% increase, meaning Southeast Minnesota has seen faster wage growth than the state overall, though absolute wage levels remain lower.
By 2023, Wholesale Trade led with monthly wages of $7,526, followed by Professional, Scientific & Technical Services at $7,158 and Finance & Insurance at $6,757. At the bottom, Accommodation & Food Services averaged just $1,888 per month, while Arts, Entertainment & Recreation paid $2,375, creating a wage gap of nearly $5,650 between the highest- and lowest-paid sectors.
The growth patterns reveal a widening divide between industries. Administrative & Support Services saw wages surge 144%, while Professional & Technical Services (116.7%) and Other Services (112.9%) also posted triple-digit growth. In contrast, Arts & Entertainment had the smallest wage increases at just 53.3%, followed by Educational Services at 62.4% and Manufacturing at 69.9%. This pattern demonstrates how different economic factors influence wage growth across sectors.
| Table 1. Monthly Wages by Industry in Southeast MN, 2003-2023 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Industry | 2003 | 2023 | Numeric Difference | Percent Difference |
| Total, All Industries | $2,876 | $5,388 | +$2,512 | +87.3% |
| Admin. & Support & Waste Management Svcs. | $2,068 | $5,046 | +$2,978 | +144.0% |
| Professional, Scientific, & Technical Services | $3,303 | $7,158 | +$3,855 | +116.7% |
| Other Services | $1,487 | $3,166 | +$1,679 | +112.9% |
| Wholesale Trade | $3,535 | $7,526 | +$3,991 | +112.9% |
| Public Administration | $2,723 | $5,532 | +$2,809 | +103.2% |
| Health Care & Social Assistance | $3,259 | $6,541 | +$3,282 | +100.7% |
| Real Estate & Rental & Leasing | $1,976 | $3,843 | +$1,867 | +94.5% |
| Accommodation & Food Services | $976 | $1,888 | +$912 | +93.4% |
| Transportation & Warehousing | $2,376 | $4,540 | +$2,164 | +91.1% |
| Finance & Insurance | $3,546 | $6,757 | +$3,211 | +90.6% |
| Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing & Hunting | $2,042 | $3,747 | +$1,705 | +83.5% |
| Construction | $3,306 | $5,838 | +$2,532 | +76.6% |
| Information | $3,509 | $6,116 | +$2,607 | +74.3% |
| Retail Trade | $1,728 | $2,988 | +$1,260 | +72.9% |
| Manufacturing | $3,821 | $6,492 | +$2,671 | +69.9% |
| Educational Services | $2,828 | $4,594 | +$1,766 | +62.4% |
| Arts, Entertainment, & Recreation | $1,549 | $2,375 | +$826 | +53.3% |
| Source: Quarterly Workforce Indicators | ||||
Average monthly earnings are higher for men than for women across every age group, but women are catching up rapidly. By 2023, the typical male worker had average earnings of $6,234 monthly, while women earned $4,593 on average each month, a gap of $1,641. Yet women's wages grew much faster over the past 20 years, jumping 108% compared to 72.8% growth for men.
The pay gap starts small but grows with age. Teen workers show relatively minor differences, with 14- to 18-year-old males earning an average of $961 each month versus $788 for females. But the distance widens significantly during career-building years, reaching a gap of $2,178 among workers aged 45-54, where men average $7,899 monthly and women earn $5,721. The gap continues to widen further, peaking at $2,723 among workers aged 55-64. This can be due to many different factors, including industry of employment, hours worked, and occupational variances.
Women are gaining ground quickly across most age groups, though the youngest workers show a different pattern. Among 14- to 18-year-olds, average male wages grew 96.5% while female wages increased 83.7%. The 19-21 age group saw similar results, with men's wages rising 97.3% compared to 83.4% for women. However, starting with the 22- to 24-year-old age group, women begin outpacing men's wage growth, with the trend accelerating through older age categories.
Older women saw the biggest jumps overall, with those 65 years and older experiencing 206% wage growth compared to 163.4% for older men. Even women in their peak earning years (45-54) saw wages rise 113.1% versus just 69.3% for men. While the pay gap persists, women's faster wage growth in most age groups suggests it may continue narrowing in the coming years.
| Table 2. Average Monthly Wages by Sex & Age in Southeast Minnesota, 2003-2023 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Age | 2023 Wages | 2003-2023 Percent Change | ||
| Male | Female | Male Growth | Female Growth | |
| All Ages | $6,234 | $4,593 | +72.8% | +108.0% |
| 14-18 years | $961 | $788 | +96.5% | +83.7% |
| 19-21 years | $2,511 | $1,687 | +97.3% | +83.4% |
| 22-24 years | $3,734 | $3,113 | +85.4% | +94.8% |
| 25-34 years | $5,237 | $4,357 | +67.6% | +94.3% |
| 35-44 years | $6,958 | $5,440 | +64.2% | +111.3% |
| 45-54 years | $7,899 | $5,721 | +69.3% | +113.1% |
| 55-64 years | $7,762 | $5,039 | +78.1% | +125.0% |
| 65 years & over | $4,928 | $3,188 | +163.4% | +206.0% |
| Source: Quarterly Workforce Indicators | ||||
Much like the state as a whole, Southeast Minnesota's QWI data shows significant wage differences across racial and ethnic groups. In 2023, Asian workers earned the highest average monthly wages at $6,867, followed by White workers at $5,388. At the lower end, American Indian or Alaska Native workers averaged $4,085 monthly, while Black workers earned an average of $4,322 each month.
Some groups made faster progress than others. Asian workers saw the strongest wage growth at 112.7%, adding $3,639 to their average monthly earnings since 2003. Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander workers had the second-highest growth rate at 108.4%, followed by Black workers at 98.6%. Workers identifying as Two or More Race Groups had the slowest wage growth at 83.5%.
| Table 3. Monthly Wages by Race & Ethnicity in SE MN, 2003-2023 | 2003-2023 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Race | 2003 | 2023 | Numeric Change | Percent Change |
| White Alone | $2,884 | $5,388 | +$2,504 | +86.8% |
| Black or African American Alone | $2,176 | $4,322 | +$2,146 | +98.6% |
| American Indian or Alaska Native Alone | $2,133 | $4,085 | +$1,952 | +91.5% |
| Asian Alone | $3,228 | $6,867 | +$3,639 | +112.7% |
| Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander Alone | $2,182 | $4,548 | +$2,366 | +108.4% |
| Two or More Race Groups | $2,459 | $4,512 | +$2,053 | +83.5% |
| Hispanic or Latino | $2,294 | $4,444 | +$2,150 | +93.7% |
| Source: Quarterly Workforce Indicators | ||||
Despite this growth, large wage gaps remain. Asian workers earn about $2,782 more per month on average than American Indian or Alaska Native workers, and $1,479 more than White workers. Hispanic or Latino workers earned $4,444 monthly in 2023, with wages growing 93.7% over the 20-year period. While all groups experienced meaningful wage increases, existing disparities have largely remained, with some groups pulling further ahead despite faster growth rates among historically lower-paid workers.
Overall, Southeast Minnesota has seen strong wage growth over the past 20 years, with variations across categories. While all workers are earning more on average, gaps between industries, genders and racial groups still persist. Though these challenges remain, the region's overall wage growth shows positive momentum for workers across all groups.
For more information about wage trends in Southeast Minnesota, contact Amanda Blaschko at amanda.blaschko@state.mn.us.
