Salaries in Woodbury, MN

Here’s the thing about Woodbury: you can make a six-figure salary as a software developer and still feel like you’re living in a pretty normal suburb. That’s not a knock—it’s the city’s whole deal.

With a cost of living index of 104.5, you’re paying about 4.5% more than the national average for things like groceries and utilities. But that median household income of $120,588 is doing a lot of heavy lifting. It means a $1,201 one-bedroom rent isn’t crushing anyone with a decent job. The real story here is purchasing power. That COL-adjusted software developer salary of $123,424 buys you a lifestyle that would cost you way more in, say, Austin or Denver. It’s not a bargain, but it’s a solid value for the Midwest.

Woodbury thrives on a mix of healthcare, tech, and professional services. You’ve got the big employers like the HealthPartners clinics and the 3M campus just down the road in Maplewood, which pulls a lot of skilled workers into the area. The city’s 2.8% unemployment rate tells you jobs are there if you have the skills, especially with 45.6% of residents holding a bachelor’s degree or higher. The tech and finance roles are clearly the top of the food chain here.

The catch? For everyone not in software or accounting, wages are just… okay. That average salary across all roles is $55,116, which feels tight when you see the housing costs. Teachers and electricians earn a respectable living, but they’re not getting rich. You have to be in the right field to truly feel like you’re winning.

Below, we’ll break down exactly how these salaries stack up against the cost of living and what it really takes to get ahead here.