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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October is Manufacturing Month, a fitting time to spotlight the people, products, and paychecks in Southeast Minnesota.
9/15/2026 2:11:25 PM
Amanda Blaschko
October is Manufacturing Month, a fitting time to spotlight the people, products and paychecks produced by the industry in Southeast Minnesota. In 2025, Manufacturing supported 35,930 jobs in the region, accounting for 14.4% of total employment, making it the second largest employing industry in Southeast Minnesota.
Food Manufacturing is the firm foundation, with nearly 30% of the region's manufacturing jobs. Machinery Manufacturing and Computer & Electronic Product Manufacturing round out the top three subsectors, and together these subsectors account for 54% of all manufacturing jobs in the region.
In the midst of regional job growth, manufacturing employment held steady over the year, dipping by just 40 jobs, or 0.1%, a sign of stability even as individual subsectors told different stories. Chemical Manufacturing and Miscellaneous Manufacturing each grew 8.2% from 2024 to 2025, adding 128 and 112 jobs respectively, while Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing and Nonmetallic Mineral Product Manufacturing pulled back, shedding 138 and 117 jobs (Table 1).
| Industry | Number of Jobs | Number of Firms | Total Payroll | Avg. Annual Wage | 2024-2025 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Numeric Change | Percent Change | |||||
| Total, All Industries | 249,084 | 13,678 | $17,255,911,855 | $69,264 | +1,869 | +0.8% |
| Manufacturing | 35,930 | 652 | $2,904,413,566 | $80,808 | -40 | -0.1% |
| Food Manufacturing | 10,744 | 100 | $818,364,268 | $76,128 | +62 | +0.6% |
| Machinery Manufacturing | 4,431 | 66 | $337,730,796 | $76,232 | -9 | -0.2% |
| Computer & Electronic Product Mfg. | 4,223 | 29 | $557,598,319 | $132,028 | +76 | +1.8% |
| Fabricated Metal Product Mfg. | 3,723 | 115 | $269,766,925 | $72,436 | -138 | -3.6% |
| Nonmetallic Mineral Product Mfg. | 1,920 | 44 | $149,350,871 | $77,740 | -117 | -5.7% |
| Chemical Manufacturing | 1,683 | 27 | $160,946,718 | $95,576 | +128 | +8.2% |
| Miscellaneous Manufacturing | 1,474 | 59 | $85,691,804 | $58,136 | +112 | +8.2% |
| Plastics & Rubber Products Mfg. | 1,468 | 22 | $93,580,016 | $63,700 | +43 | +3.0% |
| Furniture & Related Product Mfg. | 1,418 | 42 | $97,300,399 | $68,588 | +20 | +1.4% |
| Printing & Related Support Activities | 1,058 | 43 | $60,532,134 | $57,200 | -7 | -0.7% |
| Primary Metal Manufacturing | 645 | 11 | $50,448,437 | $78,260 | +33 | +5.4% |
| Textile Product Mills | 540 | 10 | $38,994,816 | $72,280 | -31 | -5.4% |
| Paper Manufacturing | 527 | 6 | $37,575,224 | $71,292 | -27 | -4.9% |
| Wood Product Manufacturing | 428 | 28 | $24,659,077 | $57,720 | -106 | -19.9% |
| Transportation Equipment Mfg. | 375 | 13 | $28,625,400 | $76,388 | -34 | -8.3% |
| Electrical Equip., Appliance, & Component Mfg. | 188 | 7 | $15,215,267 | $80,964 | +1 | +0.5% |
| Beverage & Tobacco Product Mfg. | 178 | 22 | $3,118,806 | $17,472 | -14 | -7.3% |
Source: Quarterly Census of Employment & Wages
Behind these jobs numbers are good paying careers. Production occupations across Southeast Minnesota carry a median hourly wage of $23.33. Roles range widely in pay, from First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers that were earning a median of $37.04 an hour to skilled trades like Welders, Cutters, Solderers and Brazers ($29.61) and Machinists ($28.64), which offer strong pay for hands-on technical work. Even entry level roles, such as Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders ($20.14) or Food Batchmakers ($20.81), offer a starting point with room to grow into higher paying, more specialized roles like Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators ($23.37) or Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers and Weighers ($27.79).
Manufacturing continues to play a significant role in Southeast Minnesota's economy, offering stable employment and competitive wages across a wide range of skill levels. As the region celebrates Manufacturing Month this October, these numbers are a reminder of the industry's role not just in producing goods, but in supporting careers and communities throughout Southeast Minnesota.
For more information about the importance of Manufacturing in Southeast Minnesota, contact Amanda Blaschko at Amanda.Blaschko@state.mn.us.
October is Manufacturing Month in Minnesota. You can find many Manufacturing Month resources, including information about career exploration and hiring events taking place throughout the month around the state at CareerForce's Manufacturing Industry page.
