Lawyers in Minnesota. BLS OES + DOL OFLC + reader-reported submissions. How this is built →
What the numbers say
The median wage for Lawyers in Minnesota was $137,720 in 2024, about 8% below the US median of $149,496. That gap is smaller than it looks on paper. Minnesota's cost of living runs slightly below the national average, so the nominal difference shrinks when you account for what the money actually buys.
The spread from the 10th to the 75th percentile runs from $69,910 to $196,890, a range of roughly $127,000. That kind of spread shows up in occupations where experience, practice area, and employer type vary a lot. A public defender and a partner at a large commercial firm both carry the same SOC code. The number reflects both of them.
The mean wage, $157,360, sits well above the median. A smaller group of high earners pulls the average up, which means the typical Minnesota lawyer is closer to the lower figure than the higher one.
BLS projects average growth for this occupation nationally through 2034, at 4.2% over the decade. Minnesota employs around 12,880 lawyers across the state. The projection reflects the national picture; state-level growth can differ depending on what sectors and practice areas dominate locally.
Salary distribution
Where Minnesota lawyers fall on the wage curve.
Shaded band = interquartile range (where most full-time workers fall)
The middle 50% of workers earn between $107,220 and $216,440, with a median of $155,140.
Lawyers in Minnesota: actual employer-disclosed pay
Public records from 20 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. Median offered wage: $93,000. Every figure below is an actual offered salary an employer attested to under federal law.
By DOL wage level
DOL classifies every offer into one of four wage levels based on the role's experience and skill requirements.
| Level | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|
| Level I — entry | 12 | $87,753 |
| Level II — qualified | 4 | $122,500 |
| Level IV — fully competent | 2 | $295,000 |
Top employers filing for this role
Companies with the most certified filings for Lawyers in Minnesota. Median offer is across all of that employer's filings.
| Employer | Most-filed title | Filings | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dorsey & Whitney LLP | Associate | 2 | $295,000 |
| HSML P.C. | TRADEMARK ATTORNEY | 2 | $93,000 |
| KB Law PLLC | Lawyer | 2 | $87,506 |
| SRR Law Group LLC | Immigration Attorney | 2 | $98,500 |
| Toepfer at Law, PLLC | Associate Attorney | 2 | $80,000 |
| Cousineau Malone, P.A. | Associate Attorney | 1 | $90,000 |
| Fitch Johnson Larson, P.A. | Associate Attorney | 1 | $120,000 |
| Inspired Spine Enterprise, LLC | Associate Counsel, Regulatory Affairs | 1 | $87,506 |
| LEICA BIOSYSTEMS IMAGING | Intellectual Property Counsel | 1 | $160,000 |
| Mid-Minnesota Legal Assistance Incorporated | Staff Attorney | 1 | $90,182 |
Recent sample filings
A snapshot of recent certified offers. Each line is a real, public, verifiable record.
- TRADEMARK ATTORNEY at HSML P.C.$93,000MinneapolisDecided Feb 19, 2026I-203-26042-634782
- Global Governance and Integration Counsel at nVent Management Company$145,000St. Louis ParkWage Level IIDecided Jan 15, 2026I-200-26008-545900
- Associate at Dorsey & Whitney LLP$220,000MinneapolisWage Level IVDecided Jan 14, 2026I-202-26007-540746
- Associate Attorney at Toepfer at Law, PLLC$80,000Waite ParkWage Level IDecided Jun 25, 2025I-200-25168-103334
- Associate Counsel, Regulatory Affairs at Inspired Spine Enterprise, LLC$87,506BurnsvilleWage Level IDecided Jun 25, 2025I-200-25168-103916
- Associate Attorney at Fitch Johnson Larson, P.A.$120,000RosevilleWage Level IDecided Jun 18, 2025I-200-25162-079194
- Law Clerk at Stoel Rives LLP$200,000MinneapolisWage Level IDecided Jun 12, 2025I-200-25156-059711
- Immigration Attorney at SRR Law Group LLC$97,000St CloudWage Level IIDecided May 27, 2025I-200-25139-991512
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Foreign Labor Certification. Disclosed wages reflect what employers attested to pay; actual paid wages may differ. Only certified filings are shown — denied and withdrawn cases are excluded.
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Lawyers pay by experience level in Minnesota
Each band reflects DOL Wage Levels I-IV mapped onto a four-step ladder. Click a level to see the disclosed-wage range for that segment.
Lawyers in Minnesota, by industry
Median offered wage across 20 certified filings, grouped by NAICS industry sector. Professional services leads with a median of $93,000.
| Industry | Largest employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Professional services | Dorsey & Whitney LLP | 17 | $93,000 |
| Manufacturing | LEICA BIOSYSTEMS IMAGING | 2 | $152,500 |
| Healthcare | Inspired Spine Enterprise, LLC | 1 | $87,506 |
Sectors with at least 25 filings link to a dedicated page with full distribution and sample employer breakdown.
Wage trend
Median annual wage in Minnesota over the past 3 BLS OES releases. Real values are CPI-adjusted to 2025 dollars.
Typical entry
Education
Doctoral or professional degree
Experience
None
On-the-job training
None
Top skills (O*NET)
- 4.9 / 5
Oral Expression
Ability
- 4.7 / 5
Law and Government
Knowledge
- 4.6 / 5
Speaking
Basic skill
- 4.6 / 5
Active Listening
Basic skill
- 4.5 / 5
Written Comprehension
Ability
- 4.5 / 5
Oral Comprehension
Ability
- 4.5 / 5
English Language
Knowledge
- 4.4 / 5
Reading Comprehension
Basic skill
Common tasks (O*NET)
- 01
Analyze the probable outcomes of cases, using knowledge of legal precedents.
- 02
Advise clients concerning business transactions, claim liability, advisability of prosecuting or defending lawsuits, or legal rights and obligations.
- 03
Select jurors, argue motions, meet with judges, and question witnesses during the course of a trial.
- 04
Interpret laws, rulings and regulations for individuals and businesses.
- 05
Present evidence to defend clients or prosecute defendants in criminal or civil litigation.
- 06
Represent clients in court or before government agencies.
- 07
Work in environmental law, representing public interest groups, waste disposal companies, or construction firms in their dealings with state and federal agencies.
- 08
Present and summarize cases to judges and juries.
10-year outlook
Growth 2024 → 2034
+4.2%
Projected annual openings
—
BLS outlook
Average growth
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034 cycle.
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Explore coursesTop metros in Minnesota
Metro-level salary data for lawyers in major Minnesota metropolitan areas.
- Minneapolis$159,620
Compare Lawyers pay across nearby states
Considering a move? Compare Minnesota with another state
Frequently asked questions
- What is the median salary for Lawyers in Minnesota?
- According to BLS Occupational Employment Statistics, the median annual wage for Lawyers in Minnesota is $155,140.
- How does Minnesota compare to the national median for Lawyers?
- The Minnesota median is -2.6% versus the BLS national figure of $159,328.
- What is the salary range for Lawyers in Minnesota?
- BLS reports the 10th-percentile annual wage at $79,820 and the 90th-percentile at $341,170, which captures most full-time workers in the role.
- Is Lawyers a growing field?
- BLS Employment Projections show employment growing by 4.2% over the projection cycle. See the 10-year outlook section above for details.
- What education is required for Lawyers?
- BLS lists the typical entry-level education as Doctoral or professional degree. Many employers also weigh prior experience and credentials.
Information on this page is for general educational purposes only. It is not career, financial, or tax advice. Wage data reflects BLS estimates for the reference year shown and may not match individual offers, employer-specific ranges, or current market conditions. Confirm with a licensed professional before making career or compensation decisions.