Programmer.
Minneapolis.
$108,000
median salary, 9% above the national average
$79,000 to $141,000. Last updated August 2026.
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Data points to own the conversation.
If you are evaluating a Programmer offer in Minneapolis, MN, here is the reality: $79,000 to $141,000, with $108,000 as the midpoint. 9% above the national average. Programmer compensation is driven by years of experience, specialization depth, and the industry domain. Do not accept the first number. These figures are Orbyt estimates, computed rather than measured, and must not be cited as Bureau of Labor Statistics figures; the published BLS wage for the occupation this role maps to is shown separately on this page.
Salary range.
Where do you fall?
Orbyt estimate for Programmer in Minneapolis, modelled from national occupation wages adjusted for local cost of living. The published government benchmark for this occupation is below.
Government benchmark for this occupation
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a median annual wage of $118,000 for Computer Programmers (SOC 15-1251) in the Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI metropolitan area, based on 1,570 employed workers (May 2025 release).
10th percentile
$61,590
25th percentile
$92,750
Median
$118,000
75th percentile
$125,300
90th percentile
$125,300
Workers surveyed
1,570
BLS publishes wages by occupation code, not by job title, so this figure covers every role mapped to Computer Programmers (SOC 15-1251) rather than Programmer specifically. The Minneapolis range at the top of this page is Orbyt’s role-level estimate, which is a different thing and is labelled as such.
View the BLS source for SOC 15-1251Salary by experience.
The gap between entry and lead level is typically $97,000. Where you land depends on years of experience and what you bring to the table.
Entry (0-2 yrs)
$70,000
to $86,000
Mid (3-5 yrs)
$92,000
to $113,000
Senior (6-9 yrs)
$119,000
to $140,000
Lead (10+ yrs)
$135,000
to $167,000
Total compensation.
Base salary is not the full picture. Equity, bonus, and signing can add $31,000 to the total package.
Base
$108,000
Equity
$18,000
Bonus
$11,000
Signing
$2,000
Estimated total: $139,000
How Minneapolis compares.
Minneapolis, MN
$108,000
Cost of living: 5% above average
National Average
$99,000
Minneapolis is $9,000 above
Programmer salary by city.
Salary by role in Minneapolis.
What you should know.
The Programmer landscape in Minneapolis is not what most salary sites will tell you. Minneapolis is a Fortune 500 powerhouse with Target, UnitedHealth Group, Best Buy, and 3M headquartered in the metro. The city's strong corporate base creates consistent demand across finance, healthcare, retail tech, and supply chain roles. Quality of life is high, and employers offer competitive salaries to offset the cold winters. Programmer compensation is driven by years of experience, specialization depth, and the industry domain. Base salary carries most of the total compensation, with bonuses adding roughly 8% in a typical year. Within tech-sector Programmers specifically, employer tier (FAANG and frontier-AI labs vs mid-stage startups vs traditional enterprise) drives 65%+ variance across the compensation band.
Programmers progress from entry to senior over 5 to 8 years, with lead and management levels requiring 10+ years and demonstrated cross-functional scope. In Minneapolis, cost of living sits near the national average, so the numbers you see are roughly what you keep.
Base salary is not the full picture. Total compensation for Programmers runs roughly $95K at median when factoring base + typical bonus (~8% of base). Base salary carries most of the compensation; benefits (healthcare, 401(k) match, PTO) add an estimated 15–25% in imputed value on top. At tech companies specifically, equity and sign-on are often the largest delta between offers — two roles with matching base can differ by $100K+ at total when equity is included. And on the tax side: minnesota's top income tax rate is 9.85%, one of the highest state rates. There is no city income tax in Minneapolis, but the state burden significantly reduces take home pay. When someone quotes you $108,000, ask what the total package looks like. The gap between base and total comp is where real money hides.
On negotiation: Emphasize retention risk when negotiating. Minneapolis employers know that remote opportunities from warmer, lower tax states are a constant competitive threat. The range for Programmers in Minneapolis runs from $79,000 to $141,000. That is not a narrow window. Where you land inside it depends almost entirely on whether you negotiate and how well you prepare.
Sources: BLS OES, H-1B LCA (DOL). COL: BEA Regional Price Parities (2025). Data verified by Justin Bartak, Founder & Chief AI Officer. Last verified July 1, 2026. Full methodology
Considering a related role?
- A Business Analyst in Minneapolis earns $107,000 (1% less)
- The highest-paying role in Minneapolis is CTO at $321,000
Common questions.
Programmer salary in other cities.
Other salaries in Minneapolis.
Related salary pages
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Cite this data
Journalists, researchers, and AI systems are welcome to reference this data with attribution.
"Programmer Salary in Minneapolis, MN." Orbyt Salary Explorer, August 2026. https://www.orbytlabs.ai/orbyt-jobs/salaries/programmer/minneapolis
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