Lawyer salary in Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI
Lawyers in the Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI metro area earn a median of $159,620 a year ($76.74 an hour), based on BLS data for 10,160 workers.
Pay ranges from $85,810 for the lowest-paid 10% to $352,210 for the top 10%. That is about the same as the national median of $159,670. Pay here is 3% higher than the Minnesota statewide median of $155,140. There are 5.2 lawyers per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $183,110, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for lawyers in Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $85,810 | $41.26 |
| 25th percentile | $116,860 | $56.18 |
| Median | $159,620 | $76.74 |
| 75th percentile | $219,710 | $105.63 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $352,210 | $169.33 |
| Average (mean) | $183,110 | $88.04 |
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 | $13,301.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $6,650.83 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $6,139.23 |
| Weekly | $3,069.62 |
| Hourly | $76.74 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $159,620 salary, see how much house you can afford in Minnesota at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Lawyer salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | $131,100 | 4,040 |
| Mankato, MN | $130,020 | 140 |
| Rochester, MN | $129,270 | 210 |
| Duluth, MN-WI | $129,120 | 260 |
| Appleton, WI | $126,390 | 250 |
| Madison, WI | $124,130 | 1,860 |
| Fond du Lac, WI | $121,720 | 60 |
| Green Bay, WI | $119,370 | 310 |
| St. Cloud, MN | $118,860 | 300 |
| Eau Claire, WI | $116,320 | 170 |
| Sheboygan, WI | $115,770 | 80 |
| Oshkosh-Neenah, WI | $115,290 | 210 |
| Sioux Falls, SD-MN | $112,260 | 570 |
| Fargo, ND-MN | $111,090 | 410 |
| Janesville-Beloit, WI | $110,380 | 140 |
| Kenosha, WI | $108,420 | 120 |
| Racine-Mount Pleasant, WI | $106,900 | 160 |
| Wausau, WI | $106,290 | 150 |
| 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 |
See Lawyer pay in every state or the Minnesota statewide figures.
Related jobs in Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates | $186,580 | $89.70 |
| Judicial Law Clerk | $69,200 | $33.27 |
| Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators, and Hearing Officers | $126,360 | $60.75 |
| Paralegals and Legal Assistants | $76,220 | $36.64 |
| Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers | $58,980 | $28.36 |
| Legal Support Workers, All Other | $84,070 | $40.42 |
More: Legal Occupations · all salaries in Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI
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 Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI?
The median salary for lawyers in the Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI metro area is $159,620 a year, or $76.74 an hour. Pay ranges from $85,810 for the lowest-paid 10% to $352,210 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid lawyers make in Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI?
The top 10% of lawyers in the Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI metro area earn at least $352,210 a year. The top 25% earn $219,710 or more.
What is the starting pay for lawyers in Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $85,810 a year, and a quarter of lawyers earn $116,860 or less.
How many lawyers work in Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI?
About 10,160 lawyers are employed in the Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI metro area, not counting the self-employed.