The St. Cloud region attracts a highly skilled and educated workforce from over 280,000 people from the entire St. Cloud MSA and beyond. Our central location in the state, large number of businesses and a significant number of higher education offerings lead to sustaining and expanding a highly skilled pool of employees.
Skilled Workforce
67% have attended or graduated from college
35,000 college and technical training students
32,866 come into St. Cloud from the region to work
67.9% of people live and work in the St. Cloud MSA
Nearly 75% of our residents (34,241) commute less than 24 minutes
The health care and social assistance industry pays an average annual wage of $51,844 for the City, which is 12.9% more than the Minnesota average.
Top industries for employment and average wage:
Industry
% of Total Employment
Average Wage
Healthcare/Social Assistance
18%
$26.14
Manufacturing
15%
$15.73
Retail
13%
$11.79
Education
8%
$20.63
Hospitality/Food Services
8%
$9.09
Low Cost of Living
Based on some of the common costs for a family of three (two adults with a child), St. Cloud is significantly lower than Minneapolis. When coupled with the large number of employment opportunities, St. Cloud is ideal place to live, work, and play.
City
Housing
Taxes
Food
Childcare
Healthcare
Transportation
Total 2015 Cost
St. Cloud
$741
$277
$743
$214
$391
$947
$42,900
Minneapolis
$1,022
$549
$794
$630
$411
$994
$55,845
*Based on 2015 Minnesota DEED Labor Mark Information for Hennepin County (Minneapolis) and an average of Stearns and Benton County (St. Cloud).