Medical-device manufacturing, major food and agribusiness employers, and a well-resourced state OSHA program (MNOSHA) put Minnesota safety-manager pay at an estimated median of $94,000 a year.
Minnesota safety and EHS managers earn an estimated median of $94,000 a year, with most roles paying between $73,320 and $126,900. The estimate scales the BLS national median for occupational health & safety specialists — $83,910 (SOC 19-5011, OES May 2024) — to Minnesota’s wage level; actual pay still depends on industry, employer size, certifications and experience. Medical-device manufacturing is a major driver — several large device makers are headquartered in the Twin Cities — alongside a substantial food-processing and agribusiness sector and a healthcare industry anchored by the Mayo Clinic in Rochester. Northern Minnesota’s Iron Range adds a distinct high-hazard mining and ore-processing safety niche not found in most neighboring states. Cost of living runs roughly at or slightly above the national median overall, with the Twin Cities metro higher than the state’s more rural areas.
Minnesota operates its own OSHA-approved State Plan, MNOSHA, covering both private-sector and state/local government employers and able to set requirements stricter than federal OSHA’s. Safety managers in Minnesota work directly with the state program rather than federal OSHA.
EHS hiring concentrates around Minneapolis, St. Paul and Rochester. The Twin Cities draw from medical-device manufacturing, food processing and corporate headquarters operations; Rochester’s demand centers heavily on healthcare, given the scale of the Mayo Clinic campus.
Get a personalised range by role, experience, industry and certification.
Open the free Salary Estimator →
See also: national salary guide · certification roadmap · all states
What do safety managers earn in Minnesota?
Minnesota safety and EHS managers earn an estimated median of about $94,000 a year, with most roles between $73,320 and $126,900 depending on industry, employer size, certifications and experience, scaling BLS national OES data to Minnesota's wage level.
Does Minnesota run its own OSHA program?
Yes. Minnesota OSHA (MNOSHA) is a full-scope State Plan covering both private-sector and state/local government employers, with authority to adopt standards stricter than federal OSHA.
What industries drive safety-manager demand in Minnesota?
Medical-device manufacturing is a major employer, alongside a significant food-processing and agribusiness sector. Healthcare is another large driver around Rochester, home to the Mayo Clinic, and northern Minnesota's Iron Range supports iron-ore mining and processing.
Is Minnesota's cost of living a factor?
It's roughly in line with, to slightly above, the national median overall, with the Twin Cities metro running higher than rural parts of the state.
Salary figures are estimates derived from BLS national OES data scaled to state wage levels — not a guarantee or an offer. Verify current local data with BLS and employers. ← All states · Home