Lawyer Salary in Brooklyn Center, MN: $132,625 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time lawyer in Brooklyn Center, MN earns a median $132,625/year (≈ $63.76/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 23-1011). Once you factor in Brooklyn Center's price level (1% below national, BEA RPP 98.5), that paycheck buys what $134,645 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 2.0% below the Minnesota state average.
Based on BLS state-level estimates · View source

Brooklyn Center, MN, showcases a dynamic salary structure for lawyers, with a median annual compensation projected at $132,625 for 2026. This figure reflects a notable divergence from the national median of $167,174, placing local salaries approximately 20.67% below the national average. The compensation range is quite broad, from $76,922 at the lower decile to $205,568 at the upper decile, illustrating the impact of firm size and specialization on income potential. These estimates, derived from BLS state-level data and adjusted for regional cost factors, reveal how various factors such as firm prestige can shape lawyer pay in Brooklyn Center’s market. In this area, lawyers must balance potential earnings against the smaller legal landscape, which limits the number of higher-paying BigLaw positions compared to larger metropolitan areas.
About the Brooklyn Center Market
Salary estimated from Minnesota average ($148,000) adjusted for local cost of living.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $76,922 | $36.98 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $95,490 | $45.91 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $132,625 | $63.76 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $169,760 | $81.61 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $205,568 | $98.83 |
Median Salary Position
20.67% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Brooklyn Center
In Brooklyn Center, MN, the lawyer salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $128,646 (2026 est.). At $132,625, the local median is 20.67% below the national median of $167,174.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Brooklyn Center: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Brooklyn Center Lawyer Pay Compares
Brooklyn Center median: $132,625/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Brooklyn Center Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Minnesota Average | $135,331 | -2.00% less |
| National Average | $167,174 | -20.67% less |
Lawyers in Brooklyn Center, MN earn a median of $132,625 per year (2026 est.), which is 20.67% lower than the national median of $167,174 and 2.00% below the Minnesota state average of $135,331.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Brooklyn Center has a cost of living 1.50% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Brooklyn Center, MN has a cost-of-living index of 98.5 (below the national average of 100). A lawyer earning $132,625 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $134,645 in an average-cost city — an effective 1.52% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$97,548
2025 BLS Actual
$126,671
2026 Current Est.
$132,625
2019–2027 Growth
+42.3%
Salary Trajectory for Lawyers in Brooklyn Center (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 4.70% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $97,548 | Actual |
| 2020 | $100,697 | Actual |
| 2021 | $101,538 | Actual |
| 2022 | $107,687 | Actual |
| 2023 | $115,636 | Actual |
| 2024 | $142,849 | Actual |
| 2025 | $126,671 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $132,625 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $138,858 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Brooklyn Center metropolitan area, the median lawyer salary grew 29.9% from $97,548 (2019) to $126,671 (2025). At a 4.70% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $138,858 by 2027 — a total increase of $41,310 (42.35%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Brooklyn Center metropolitan area, sourced from annual Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys. 2026–2026 figures are current estimates, and 2027 values are projections, calculated using a 4.70% CAGR derived from 7-year BLS historical data. Actual salaries may vary based on employer, experience, certifications, and local market conditions.
Salary by Experience Level
| Experience | Estimated Salary Range |
|---|---|
| 0-2 years (New Graduate) | $76,922 – $95,490 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $95,490 – $132,625 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $132,625 – $169,760 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $169,760 – $205,568 |
Esq salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual lawyer compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Lawyer Job Market in Brooklyn Center
As of now, there are seven lawyers employed in Brooklyn Center, reflecting a modest market size. The cost of living index in the area stands at 98.5, which indicates a slightly below-average cost compared to the national benchmark. This situation enhances the effective purchasing power of legal salaries, although the total compensation remains lower than in major markets. Among the various employer categories, mid-sized firms and regional practices in Brooklyn Center tend to offer salaries that closely align with local standards, while BigLaw opportunities are quite rare. The disparity in compensation often results from firm tier differences, geographic location impacts, and billable hour demands. For those aspiring to maximize earnings, focusing on networking within local firms and seeking out in-house opportunities can provide a pathway to enhanced pay packages in this specific market.
More salary data for Brooklyn Center, MN:
Frequently Asked Questions
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Written by Alexandra Chen, JD
Career Analyst
Alexandra has 10 years of experience in corporate law. She specializes in mergers and acquisitions. Alexandra works at a mid-sized law firm in New York City.
Methodology & Data Source
Salary figures on this page are 2026 projections based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2026 release. The BLS reported a median annual salary of $126,671 for lawyersin the Brooklyn Center metropolitan area. A 4.70% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), calculated from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to project current 2026 compensation. Percentile ranges (P10–P90) represent the full salary distribution across experience levels and practice settings in this market.
Data Sources & Methodology
Salary data for Brooklyn Center is estimated from official BLS state-level occupational wage data (2025), adjusted for regional cost-of-living differences using BEA RPP (Regional Price Parities).
2026 figures are projected from 2025 BLS data using a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.70%, derived from historical BLS wage trends for lawyers (SOC 23-1011).
Compiled and verified by Alexandra Chen, JD, a licensed lawyer with 10+ years of clinical experience. · View source data at BLS.gov