Equinix MN1

Minneapolis-St. Paul's economy is anchored by a Fortune 500 cluster (Target, UnitedHealth, US Bank, 3M, Cargill, Best Buy), medical devices (Medtronic and the broader medtech ecosystem), and agribusiness. Data centers serve those enterprise tenants plus a growing colocation footprint — 11 tracked facilities and roughly 1,500 NAICS 518 jobs (estimated). The metro is a steady mid-tier market built on enterprise IT spend from a deep corporate base rather than hyperscaler campuses.

The trades market reflects the Upper Midwest's strong union tradition. Electricians at 8,810 workers earn $81,890 median — well above national, anchored by IBEW Local 110 and 292. HVAC technicians earn $77,490, an unusually small gap from electricians and one of the better HVAC wages in the country, driven by the cold-climate heating load and demand for boiler and chilled-water specialists. The 18,090 maintenance workforce earns $60,470, a substantial pool relative to total trades headcount.

For a trades worker, the Twin Cities offer some of the strongest union wages outside the West Coast, with HVAC techs earning particularly well relative to electricians. Best fit for workers who value benefits, stability, and a deep base of corporate enterprise tenants. Less suitable for those chasing hyperscaler-driven growth.