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Seeds Student Worker Program

2019 Seeds and Phoenix Student Workers

2024 Seeds Students and Graduates

MnDOT's Seeds Program provides paid college-level student worker positions to highly motivated minority or economically disadvantaged college students, students who are recently separated veterans, students with disabilities or female students in STEM or non-tradition fields of study.

About

Seeds is not an acronym, but a concept for MnDOT growing its own workforce talent. Launched in 1993, the Seeds Program helps the workforce better reflect the communities MnDOT serves, and has placed many successful program students into permanent, full-time MnDOT positions.

As a participant in this program, students will gain firsthand knowledge and experience by working in the real world with professionals in a variety of fields. Day-to-day opportunities include participating in meetings and training classes, as well as networking with industry professionals in your chosen field of study.

To be considered for this program you must meet all of the following requirements.

A college-level student who identifies in one of the following groups:

    • minority *
    • Recently Separated Veteran **
    • student with a disability ***
    • female student in STEM or non-tradition field of study ****
    • economically disadvantaged *****

Enrolled at a college, university, technical or trade school and taking a minimum of six semester credits or nine quarter credits

Have at least 12 months left of school before graduation

Pursuing of a major related to MnDOT’s business needs

A minimum GPA of 2.5 (3.0 for engineering majors)

Legally eligible to work in the United States

 

* A minority student is defined as an individual who identifies themselves as an ethnic person of color.

** A recently separated veteran is defined as a veteran who has served in active military duty, on or after Sept. 11, 2001, and has been honorably discharged as shown on their DD214.

*** An individual with a disability is defined as a person who has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities; has a record of such impairment; or is regarded as having such impairment.

**** A female student in STEM or non-traditional field is defined as a person who identifies as female studying either science, technology, engineering or math fields. Non-tradition refers to labor intensive fields.

***** If applying under the economically disadvantaged criteria, please review income verification details as part of your application.

Seeds students must be pursuing of a major related to MnDOT’s business needs, including:

Accounting/Finance
Architecture/Architectural Drafting
Business Management
Chemistry/Materials Science/Physics
Civil Engineering
Construction Management
Communications/Marketing
Environmental Studies/Science
Geography/GIS
Human Resources
Land Surveying
Law/Paralegal
Office Management
Planning/Urban Studies
Public Administration

Seeds students are hired as either a Student Worker Paraprofessional or a Student Worker Paraprofessional Sr.depending on their level of education and experience. As of July 1, 2025:

Student Worker Paraprofessional pay rate is $17.84 - $20.89 per hour

Student Worker Paraprofessional Sr pay rate is $19.85 - $23.61 per hour

Seeds students typically work 15-20 hours per week during the school year and up to 40 hours during the summer and school breaks.

For more detailed descriptions, please visit the Seeds Positions page.

To apply, select the position name to go directly to the Seeds Student Worker application on mn.gov/careers.

Environmental Stewardship Seeds Student Worker
Location: St. Paul
Number of openings: 1
Major/field of study: GIS, Natural Resources, Urban Planning, or a related field of study

Human Resources Seeds Student Worker
Location: St. Paul
Number of openings: 1
Major/field of study: Human Resource Management, Human Resource Development, Business Administration, Business Management, or a related field of study

Seeds Student Worker - general application
Location: Various
Major/field of study: Various