The Best Remote Jobs in Minnesota & The Companies Hiring for Them

If you like the great outdoors, Minnesota is a great place to live. With over 11,000 lakes to choose from, watersports are popular activities, and the state boasts one recreational boat per every six people, more than any other state. However, just about every outdoor activity is represented. And in this state, with less than 70 people per square mile, there is also plenty of space to do them.

Besides the natural attractions, Minnesota is famous for low crime rates, clean cities, and affordable housing. Furthermore, it is also a great place to find a job. While the state went through the same upheaval as the rest of the world at the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic, it is experiencing a robust recovery. As of October 2021, the unemployment rate dropped to 3.5%. This is back to the pre-pandemic levels and lower than the national average of 4.6%.

In addition to low unemployment, the tight labor market is resulting in above-average increases in wages over the past year of 3.7%. Unfortunately, the consumer price index indicates a 6.6% increase over the same period, with energy prices contributing disproportionately, jumping 33.3%. One way to offset the increased cost of living, especially in gas and automobile expenses, is to look for remote jobs in Minnesota.

Remote Jobs in Demand

The largest job gains in Minnesota are being experienced in several remote-friendly market sectors. These are professional and business services, educational and health services, and information. A large number of Minnesota’s job vacancies are found in these main market sectors. High vacancy jobs are some of the best remote jobs in Minnesota. Indeed, they will garner the best wage opportunities and are more likely to offer hybrid and remote employment options and other compensation benefits.

This is also a good market for part-time remote jobs in Minnesota, with 32% of second-quarter job vacancies being for part-time employment. Jobseekers looking for entry-level remote jobs in Minnesota are in luck as well. Most job vacancies require a high school diploma, and only 50% are looking for one or more years of experience.

Below are examples of some of the best remote jobs in Minnesota based on current demand.

Healthcare Remote Jobs in Minnesota

The healthcare and social assistance industry reported the most job openings overall, accounting for 20% of all vacancies. These included both healthcare support and practitioner occupations. Many healthcare positions require being on-site to care for patients. Nevertheless, there are a variety of administrative and telehealth positions available that allow for a remote lifestyle. Remote-friendly jobs in this high-demand field include:

Registered Nurses

In addition to delivering telehealth or home health patient care, remote registered nurse (RN) roles in Minnesota include case management, utilization review, and auditing positions. To be an RN, you need a bachelor’s or associate’s degree, or diploma from an accredited nursing program and be licensed. As of May 2020, the median wage for RNs was $75,330 annually.

Medical Assistants

Medical assistant remote jobs in Minnesota involve completing administrative tasks for an on-site or telehealth practice. Responsibilities can include patient intake and scheduling, records management, and insurance verifications. Growth in this occupation is projected to hit 18% between 2020 to 2030, more than double the average for all occupations. While most medical assistant jobs will request a postsecondary diploma or certificate, some will only require a high school diploma with previous experience. The median annual wage was $35,850 in May 2020.

Administrative Support Remote Jobs in Minnesota

Despite projections by the Bureau of Labor Statistics that administrative assistant jobs are on the decline, they are in demand in Minnesota. Administrative assistant jobs are charged with completing routine clerical and organizational tasks. Their duties involve responding to customer questions, scheduling meetings, preparing correspondence, and bookkeeping.

Administrative assistant positions are available in most industries. In fact, they prevail in healthcare, education, professional, scientific, and technical services. Two specializations are currently experiencing strong growth. One is medical administrative assistants that provide clerical support in a variety of healthcare settings. Another is the growing number of freelance virtual assistants and virtual assistant service agencies.

Business & Financial Operations Remote Jobs in Minnesota

Jobs in this category include accountants, business analysts, human resource specialists, and financial advisors, to name a few. Minnesota vacancies in these occupations tripled over the past year, and nationally, employment is expected to grow at an average rate over the next decade. Globalizations, the increasing reliance on data to develop business strategies, and complex regulatory environments are expected to keep demand steady.

Barriers to entering these positions without appropriate education and experience are significant as the majority of jobs in this category require a specialized bachelor’s degree. However, the earning potential is good, with a $72,250 median wage for these occupations as of May 2020.

Information Technology Remote Jobs in Minnesota

Despite not being on the list of top vacancies in Minnesota, jobs in this category are in high demand nationwide. Moreover, they are expected to grow 13% over the next decade, significantly faster than the national average. In addition, IT jobs always make up a large proportion of the remote positions available due to familiarity with remote work models.

IT jobs in this category include software programmers, system administrators, and web developers, among others. Many positions will request a bachelor’s degree in computer science or a related field. On the other hand, a good number places experience and certifications ahead of formal education. Not to mention the availability of the remote positions, earnings are great, with a median annual wage of $91,250 in May 2020.

Minnesota Companies that Hire Remote Workers

With a favorable business climate, plenty of incentives, and a talented workforce, it’s no wonder that many companies choose to make Minnesota their home. Below are a few of Minnesota’s best that also frequently hire for remote positions.

1. Ameriprise Financial

Ameriprise Financial, Inc. is a financial services company that provides a full range of financial planning, investment, and lending services. They offer a comprehensive range of benefits to support the health and wellness of their employees, including flexible working arrangements. Examples of recently advertised positions include:

2. Ceridian HCM

Ceridian HCM, Inc. is a software developer that specializes in human capital management software. Apart from fully remote roles, Ceridian also offers a range of flexible work perks designed to make the lives of their employees easier. For example, an unlimited time away from work program and a Take 2 program where employees can take two hours to complete personal errands, no questions asked. This company recently advertised for the following positions:

3. Edmentum Inc.

Edmentum Inc. is an education solutions provider that offers educational solutions for all education levels. In particular, the company provides courseware, assessments, reading programs, college and career preparation, virtual academies, and tools for adaptive instruction. Edmentum is dedicated to creating a fun and flexible work environment with competitive compensation and advancement opportunities. Advertised opportunities include:

4. General Mills

General Mills is a global food and beverage company that manufactures and markets products. These include well-known brands such as Cheerios, Nature Valley, and Betty Crocker. Although most jobs require being on-site, there are also many remote positions. Jobseekers can search specifically for “remote eligible” positions on their careers web portal. Remote roles that General Mills advertised for include:

5. Prime Therapeutics

Prime Therapeutics, LLC provides total drug management solutions for health plans, employers, and government programs, serving 33 million. The company has fully embraced flexible new work models that offer employees the opportunity to create a customized remote or hybrid work schedule. The company’s main office serves as a “hub” where employees can come together and collaborate in specially designed spaces.

6. UnitedHealth Group

UnitedHealth Group ranked 8^th on the 2021 Fortune Global 500 list and is the second-largest healthcare company. Their products and services include healthcare coverage for individuals and families and healthcare management solutions for providers and organizations. By leveraging technology and implementing new processes, the company is now providing telecommute opportunities to over 25% of employees.

7. U.S. Bank (U.S. Bancorp)

U.S. Bank (U.S. Bancorp) is a nationwide banking and financing company established in 1868. Today, they are the fifth-largest bank in the nation. Specifically, their products and services include personal and business banking, credit cards, mortgages and refinancing, loans and lines of credit, and investment vehicles. U.S. Bank is one of the most telecommute-friendly financial employers in the Virtual Vocations database and advertises on an ongoing basis for many telecommute positions. Recently advertised remote jobs included:

Looking Ahead at Remote Work Opportunities in Minnesota

The tight job market in Minnesota combined with jobseeker preferences for remote or hybrid work arrangements mean that remote jobs are in Minnesota to stay. Facilitated by advancements in remote technologies and work models developed in response to the pandemic, employees and employers adapted quickly to their new realities. Today and in the future, more and more remote employees in Minnesota will be empowered to design a workday schedule that works best for them and their families.

What excites you about living and working in Minnesota? Connect with Virtual Vocations on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, and YouTube to share your thoughts and questions. We’d love to hear from you!