How to Become a Construction Trades Worker in Minnesota (2026)

Minnesota employs about 28,530 construction trades workers earning a median $60,260 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Most construction trades workers train through a trade school program or a registered apprenticeship before entering the field in Minnesota.

Key Facts

  • Median wage (Minnesota): $60,260/yr (Source: BLS OEWS, 2025)
  • Employed in Minnesota: 28,530 workers (Source: BLS OEWS, 2025)
  • Location quotient: 1.37x U.S. average (Source: BLS OEWS, 2025)
  • Projected growth: 7.3% (2024-2034) (Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024)

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Compare Construction Trades Worker Schools in Minnesota

BOC Score, tuition, graduation rate, and median graduate earnings from federal IPEDS and U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard data. Earnings are reported across all programs at the school (all majors), not a single trade. Distance is measured from the page's primary location.
#SchoolBOC Score (0–100)TuitionMedian grad earnings (all majors)Graduation rateOnlineDistance
166.6Contact school for pricing$49,70554%Yes*83 mi
261.2Contact school for pricing$57,49348%Yes*102 mi
361.0$5,785 - $19,723$57,66540%Yes*117 mi
460.4$6,249 - $19,543$50,35751%Yes*78 mi
558.9$5,940 - $16,032$59,90643%Yes*17 mi
652.6Contact school for pricing$54,40127%Yes*31 mi
750.7Contact school for pricing$55,25827%Yes*105 mi
850.2Contact school for pricing$52,49838%Yes*40 mi
949.7Contact school for pricing$60,48319%Yes*17 mi
1048.2Contact school for pricing$52,87036%Yes*32 mi

Schools closest to the page's primary location are gathered first, then ranked by BOC Score; distance from the page's primary location is shown for reference. The BOC Score is an independent measure of school outcomes (graduation, earnings, net price, retention) expressed as a 0–100 percentile within each school's peer group; higher is better and advertising never affects it. *Online availability refers to coursework; hands-on trade training is completed in person. Read the full methodology.

Minnesota employs approximately 28,530 construction trades workers according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $60,260 1. The state’s concentration of construction trades worker jobs is 1.37x the national average, indicating strong demand. Nationally, construction trades worker employment is projected to grow 7.3% from 2024 to 2034, with about 129,400 openings per year 2. This page covers how to become a Construction Trades Worker in Minnesota, including requirements, training programs, and salary data.

At a Glance

  • Training paths: trade school, community college, or apprenticeship
  • Typical timeline: 1 to 5 years depending on the path
  • Median wage (Minnesota): $60,260 per year 1

Quick Answers About How to Become a Construction Trades Worker in Minnesota

How to become a Construction Trades Worker in Minnesota? Complete a training program or apprenticeship, gain work experience, and meet any state or employer requirements for construction trades workers in Minnesota.

How long does it take? Most paths into the construction trades worker field take 1 to 5 years, depending on whether you complete a trade school program, a registered apprenticeship, or a combination of both.

What do construction trades workers earn in Minnesota? The median annual wage for construction trades workers in Minnesota is $60,260 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $42,950 and experienced professionals can earn $96,150 or more 1.

How to Become a Construction Trades Worker in Minnesota

  1. Finish high school or earn a GED. Most Minnesota training programs and registered apprenticeships require a high school diploma or GED to enroll.
  2. Complete a training program or apprenticeship. Enroll in an approved trade school program or a registered apprenticeship in Minnesota that combines classroom instruction with supervised hands-on hours.
  3. Gain supervised work experience. Build documented on-the-job hours under a qualified supervisor; confirm the exact total currently required with the licensing board.
  4. Meet state and employer requirements. Confirm any registration, certification, or employer requirements that apply to construction trades workers in Minnesota before you start working.

Steps and hour totals vary by credential level; confirm current requirements with the state board before you apply.

Construction Trades Worker Apprenticeship Information in Minnesota

Apprenticeships combine paid on-the-job training with classroom instruction and typically last 3 to 5 years. Minnesota’s apprenticeship program is administered by the Apprenticeship Minnesota 3.

Contact Information:

  • Office: Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry, Apprenticeship Unit
  • Address: 443 Lafayette Road, St. Paul, MN 55155-4303
  • Phone: (651) 284-5090
  • Email: [email protected]

Construction Trades Worker Wages by Metro Area in Minnesota

Construction Laborers Wages by Metro Area in Minnesota

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics ( OES data), construction laborers wages in Minnesota vary by metro area.

Metro AreaEmploymentMedian Annual WageAvg. Annual WageEntry Level
(10th pctile)
Experienced
(90th pctile)
Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington17,330$61,970$67,800$43,860$96,670
Fargo1,760$49,340$55,680$44,020$77,350
St. Cloud1,470$57,820$62,000$44,490$91,110
Duluth1,390$61,340$64,290$43,620$89,430
Rochester990$59,390$64,990$37,690$93,970
Sioux Falls700$46,850$45,410$36,470$57,680
La Crosse-Onalaska610$58,900$57,440$38,900$75,880
Grand Forks510$49,070$52,940$41,120$66,140
Mankato340$59,350$60,030$43,930$78,580

Wages reflect survey data and vary based on experience, credentials, employer, and local market conditions. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May .

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the job outlook for construction trades workers in Minnesota? Minnesota currently employs approximately 28,530 construction trades workers 1. Nationally, construction trades worker employment is projected to grow 7.3% from 2024 to 2034 2.

What training programs are available in Minnesota? Options include trade schools, community colleges, and apprenticeship programs. Use the school finder above to search for programs in Minnesota. You can also contact the Apprenticeship Minnesota for apprenticeship opportunities.

How much do construction trades workers earn in Minnesota compared to the national average? The median annual wage for construction trades workers in Minnesota is $60,260, which is $13,530 above the national median of $46,730 according to BLS data 1.

In Minnesota

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Citations

About this guide: Researched and written by the TradeCareerPath Editorial Team. Our editorial team researches and sources every trade school and career guide using federal labor and education data, including BLS OEWS and Employment Projections, DOL apprenticeship records, IPEDS, College Scorecard, and state licensing boards. We follow the editorial standards documented at /editorial-policy/.

References


  1. Bureau of Labor Statistics - Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics: https://www.bls.gov/oes/ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎

  2. Bureau of Labor Statistics - Employment Projections: https://www.bls.gov/emp/ ↩︎ ↩︎

  3. Apprenticeship Minnesota: https://secure.doli.state.mn.us/apprenticeshipsponsor/ ↩︎

Data sources

Figures on this page are sourced from the federal and state datasets below. Methodology: how we rank and source data.

DataProviderVintage
Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)U.S. Bureau of Labor StatisticsMay 2025
Employment ProjectionsU.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics2024-2034
Integrated Postsecondary Education Data SystemNational Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)2024
College Scorecard (school-level outcomes)U.S. Department of Educationlatest release
College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings)U.S. Department of Educationlatest release (updated 2026-06-12)
Occupational licensing requirementsCareerOneStop (U.S. Department of Labor)latest release (updated 2026-02-22)
Registered apprenticeship programsCareerOneStop / Apprenticeship.gov (U.S. Department of Labor)latest release (updated 2025-10-25)
O*NET occupation profiles (skills, tasks, tools, job zones)U.S. Department of Labor (O*NET / Employment & Training Admin.)O*NET 29.1 (updated 2026-06-13)