Among the eight metropolitan areas located entirely or partially in Minnesota, seven had annual wages that were significantly above the national average for nursing assistants and three had above average wages for nurse practitioners. Four areas had below average wages for registered nurses and four areas had below average wages for licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Assistant Commissioner for Regional Operations Charlene Peiffer noted that Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington was the only metropolitan area to have an average wage significantly above the U.S. average for all four of the selected nursing occupations. Nationwide, the average (mean) wage for registered nurses was $73,550; for nursing assistants, $28,540; for licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses, $45,710; and for nurse practitioners, $107,480. (See table A. For comprehensive definitions of metropolitan areas in Minnesota, please see Technical Note.)

Table A. Average (mean) annual wages for selected nursing occupations in the United States, Minnesota, and metropolitan areas in Minnesota, May 2017

Area	Registered nurses	Nursing assistants	Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses	Nurse practitioners
United States	$73,550	$28,540	$45,710	$107,480
Minnesota	77,540*	32,560*	45,430	116,150*
Duluth	63,200*	32,870*	42,720*	116,410*
Fargo	63,240*	31,510*	43,850*	95,440*
Grand Forks	(1)	32,480*	43,470*	(1)
La Crosse-Onalaska	70,550*	31,060*	43,850*	(1)
Mankato-North Mankato	68,010*	27,330*	45,230	103,890
Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington	81,510*	34,250*	47,370*	112,700*
Rochester	77,920*	33,110*	47,570	124,690*
St. Cloud	77,030*	33,660*	43,730	112,880
Footnotes: (1) Data not available.
Note: An asterisk indicates that the mean annual wage for this area is significantly different from the national average of all areas at the 90-percent confidence level.

The Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington area had a combined employment of 67,810 for the four selected nursing occupations. The Rochester metropolitan area had a combined employment of 11,270 for the selected occupations. Employment for the four nursing occupations was less than 7,400 in each of the remaining metropolitan areas for which data were available in Minnesota. (See table B.)

Table B. Employment of selected nursing occupations in the United States, Minnesota, and metropolitan areas in Minnesota, May 2017

Area	Registered nurses	Nursing assistants	Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses	Nurse practitioners
United States	2,906,840	1,453,670	702,700	166,280
Minnesota	64,540	31,580	16,840	3,900
Duluth	4,380	1,960	780	210
Fargo	3,630	2,010	860	130
Grand Forks	(1)	1,050	530	(1)
La Crosse-Onalaska	2,660	1,140	190	(1)
Mankato-North Mankato	(1)	770	330	30
Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington	39,290	17,410	9,160	1,950
Rochester	7,640	1,620	870	1,140
St. Cloud	2,740	1,240	830	100
Footnotes: (1) Data not available.

Wages for registered nurses in metropolitan areas in Minnesota

Registered nurses in Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington ($81,510), Rochester ($77,920), and St. Cloud ($77,030) earned annual average wages that were significantly above the $73,550 national average for this occupation. Four metropolitan areas had wages significantly below the national average: La Crosse-Onalaska ($70,550), Mankato-North Mankato ($68,010), Fargo ($63,240), and Duluth ($63,200).  

Wages for nursing assistants in metropolitan areas in Minnesota

Seven metropolitan areas had annual average wages for nursing assistants that were significantly higher than the $28,540 national average, with Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington ($34,250) and St. Cloud ($33,660) among the higher-paying areas. Nursing assistants in Mankato-North Mankato ($27,330) earned wages that were lower than the U.S. average.

Wages for licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses in metropolitan areas in Minnesota

The Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington metropolitan area had a mean annual wage of $47,370 for licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses, significantly higher than the U.S. average of $45,710. Four metropolitan areas had wages significantly below the national average for licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses: Fargo and La Crosse-Onalaska (each at $43,850), Grand Forks ($43,470), and Duluth ($42,720). Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses in the three remaining areas earned wages that were not measurably different from the national average for this occupation.

Wages for nurse practitioners in metropolitan areas in Minnesota

Three metropolitan areas had annual average wages significantly above the $107,480 national average for nurse practitioners: Rochester ($124,690), Duluth ($116,410), and Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington ($112,700). Fargo ($95,440) had an annual average wage for nurse practitioners that was significantly below the national average. Nurse practitioners in the remaining areas for which data were available earned wages that were not measurably different from the U.S. average.

These statistics are from the Occupational Employment Statistics (OES) survey, a federal-state cooperative program between BLS and State Workforce Agencies, in this case, the Minnesota Department of Employment & Economic Development, Job Service North Dakota, and the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development.

Technical Note

The Occupational Employment Statistics (OES) survey is a semiannual survey measuring occupational employment and wage rates for wage and salary workers in nonfarm establishments in the United States. The OES data available from BLS include cross-industry occupational employment and wage estimates for the nation; over 650 areas, including states and the District of Columbia, metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs), metropolitan divisions, nonmetropolitan areas, and territories; national industry-specific estimates at the NAICS sector, 3-, 4-, and selected 5- and 6-digit industry levels; and national estimates by ownership across all industries and for schools and hospitals. OES data are available at www.bls.gov/oes/tables.htm.

OES estimates are constructed from a sample of about 1.2 million establishments. Each year, two semiannual panels of approximately 200,000 sampled establishments are contacted, one panel in May and the other in November. Responses are obtained by mail, Internet or other electronic means, email, telephone, or personal visit. The May 2017 estimates are based on responses from six semiannual panels collected over a 3-year period: May 2017, November 2016, May 2016, November 2015, May 2014, and November 2014. The overall national response rate for the six panels, based on the 50 states and the District of Columbia, is 72 percent based on establishments and 68 percent based on weighted sampled employment. The unweighted employment of sampled establishments across all six semiannual panels represents approximately 58 percent of total national employment. For more information about OES concepts and methodology, go to www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_tec.htm.

The May 2017 OES estimates are based on the 2010 Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) system and the 2017 North American Industry Classification System (NAICS). Information about the 2010 SOC is available on the BLS website at www.bls.gov/soc and information about the 2017 NAICS is available at www.bls.gov/bls/naics.htm.

Metropolitan area definitions

The substate area data published in this release reflect the standards and definitions established by the U.S. Office of Management and Budget.

• Duluth, Minn.-Wis. Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) includes Carlton and St. Louis Counties in Minnesota and Douglas County in Wisconsin.
• Fargo, N.D.-Minn. MSA includes Cass County in North Dakota and Clay County in Minnesota.
• Grand Forks, N.D.-Minn. MSA includes Grand Forks County in North Dakota and Polk County in Minnesota.
• La Crosse-Onalaska, Wis.-Minn. MSA includes Houston County in Minnesota and La Crosse County in Wisconsin.
• Mankato-North Mankato, Minn. MSA includes Blue Earth and Nicollet Counties in Minnesota.
• Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, Minn.-Wis. MSA includes Anoka, Carver, Chisago, Dakota, Hennepin, Isanti, Le Sueur, Mille Lacs, Ramsey, Scott, Sherburne, Sibley, Washington, and Wright Counties in Minnesota and Pierce and St. Croix Counties in Wisconsin.
• Rochester, Minn. MSA includes Dodge, Fillmore, Olmsted, and Wabasha Counties in Minnesota.
• St. Cloud, Minn. MSA includes Benton and Stearns Counties in Minnesota.

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