Lawyer salary in Minnesota
Lawyers in Minnesota earn a median of $155,140 a year ($74.59 an hour), based on BLS data for 12,380 workers.
Pay ranges from $79,820 for the lowest-paid 10% to $341,170 for the top 10%. That is 3% lower than the national median of $159,670. Minnesota ranks 12th of 51 states for lawyers pay. There are 4.2 lawyers per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $174,300, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for lawyers in Minnesota
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $79,820 | $38.37 |
| 25th percentile | $107,220 | $51.55 |
| Median | $155,140 | $74.59 |
| 75th percentile | $216,440 | $104.06 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $341,170 | $164.02 |
| Average (mean) | $174,300 | $83.80 |
Half of lawyers earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $12,928.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $6,464.17 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $5,966.92 |
| Weekly | $2,983.46 |
| Hourly | $74.59 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Lawyer salary in cities in Minnesota
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $159,620 | 10,160 |
| Mankato, MN | $130,020 | 140 |
| Rochester, MN | $129,270 | 210 |
| Duluth, MN-WI | $129,120 | 260 |
| St. Cloud, MN | $118,860 | 300 |
| Sioux Falls, SD-MN | $112,260 | 570 |
| Fargo, ND-MN | $111,090 | 410 |
| La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN | $104,910 | 130 |
| Grand Forks, ND-MN | $104,210 | 90 |
Highest-paying states for lawyers
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| New York | $207,860 |
| District of Columbia | $195,190 |
| California | $195,080 |
| Massachusetts | $176,680 |
| Delaware | $173,510 |
| Colorado | $168,520 |
| Virginia | $167,210 |
| Connecticut | $163,600 |
| New Jersey | $161,430 |
| Illinois | $160,800 |
Related jobs in Minnesota
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates | $190,110 | $91.40 |
| Judicial Law Clerk | $71,070 | $34.17 |
| Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators, and Hearing Officers | $126,360 | $60.75 |
| Paralegals and Legal Assistants | $75,570 | $36.33 |
| Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers | $58,250 | $28.01 |
| Legal Support Workers, All Other | $86,940 | $41.80 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 23-1011. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a lawyer make in Minnesota?
The median salary for lawyers in Minnesota is $155,140 a year, or $74.59 an hour. Pay ranges from $79,820 for the lowest-paid 10% to $341,170 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid lawyers make in Minnesota?
The top 10% of lawyers in Minnesota earn at least $341,170 a year. The top 25% earn $216,440 or more.
What is the starting pay for lawyers in Minnesota?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $79,820 a year, and a quarter of lawyers earn $107,220 or less.
How many lawyers work in Minnesota?
About 12,380 lawyers are employed in Minnesota, not counting the self-employed.