Manufacturing employment in Minnesota's regions
October 6, 2025
Manufacturing is the backbone of Minnesota’s economy – it accounts for 12% of the state’s gross domestic product and 11% of the state’s total employment – and it has ripple effects throughout the entire economy. The National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) reports that for every $1 spent in manufacturing, there is a total impact of $2.64 to the overall U.S. economy. In addition, NAM calculates that for every one worker in manufacturing, 4.8 workers are added in the overall U.S. economy and for every $1 earned in direct labor income in the manufacturing sector, $3.92 in labor income earned is added to the overall U.S. economy, through the purchasing power of people working in the manufacturing sector spending at stores, restaurants and in other ways.
Manufacturing workers took home $26.7 billion in wages from Minnesota manufacturing jobs last year, the second-largest total payroll among all industries in the state. In Minnesota, workers in the manufacturing industry earn an average annual wage of just under $83,280, which is $9,000 (12%) higher than the state’s overall average wage in 2024. This is a family sustaining wage for most families in Minnesota.