Paralegal Salary

St. Cloud vs St. Louis Park: Paralegal Salary (2026)

Compare paralegal salaries between St. Cloud, MN and St. Louis Park, MN. All figures are 2026 estimates projected from BLS 2025 data.

St. Cloud, MN
$61,992
$29.80/hr
St. Louis Park, MN
$59,707
$28.70/hr

Side-by-Side Comparison

MetricSt. Cloud, MNSt. Louis Park, MN
Median Salary$61,992$59,707
Hourly Rate$29.80$28.70
Entry Level (P10)$43,433$43,982
25th Percentile$49,147$48,214
75th Percentile$80,179$75,580
Top Earner (P90)$90,551$92,545
Total Employed2109
Side-by-side bar chart comparing St. Cloud ($61,992) and St. Louis Park ($59,707) paralegal salaries.St. CloudSt. Louis ParkMedian Salary$61,992$59,707Entry Level (P10)$43,433$43,982Top Earner (P90)$90,551$92,545US Median $65,097

Verdict

St. Cloud, MN offers better overall compensation for paralegals, winning 3 out of 4 metrics compared to St. Louis Park.

The salary gap between St. Cloud and St. Louis Park is $2,285 (3.83%). St. Cloud's median is -4.77% compared to the US national median of $65,097.

Salary Range Comparison

The full salary range (10th to 90th percentile) in St. Cloud spans $47,118,St. Louis Park spans $48,563. St. Louis Park has a wider pay range, suggesting more variation in pay between entry-level and experienced paralegals.

St. Cloud
P10 (Entry)$43,433
P25$49,147
Median$61,992
P75$80,179
P90 (Top)$90,551
St. Louis Park
P10 (Entry)$43,982
P25$48,214
Median$59,707
P75$75,580
P90 (Top)$92,545

Cost-of-Living Adjusted Comparison

After cost-of-living adjustment, St. Cloud ($70,741 effective) pays 16.70% more than St. Louis Park ($60,616 effective).

St. Cloud
Nominal: $61,992
CoL Index: 87.632
Adjusted: $70,741
St. Louis Park
Nominal: $59,707
CoL Index: 98.5
Adjusted: $60,616

Cost-of-living adjustment: salary × (100 / CoL index). Index of 100 = national average.

Which City Is Right for You?

Choose St. Cloud if…

  • Higher median salary ($61,992/year)
  • Larger job market (210 employed)
  • Better purchasing power (CoL-adjusted: $70,741)
  • You prefer the Minnesota area and lifestyle

Choose St. Louis Park if…

  • Better top-earner potential ($92,545)
  • You prefer the Minnesota area and lifestyle

Historical Salary Growth Comparison

Based on BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, paralegal salaries in St. Cloud grew 26.2% from 2019 to 2025, compared to -1.9% growth in St. Louis Park over the same period.

St. Cloud, MN

+26.2%

$47,460 (2019) → $59,890 (2025)

St. Louis Park, MN

+-1.9%

$58,818 (2024) → $57,682 (2025)

View Full Salary Data

Frequently Asked Questions

Which city pays paralegals more: St. Cloud or St. Louis Park?

St. Cloud has a higher median paralegal salary at $61,992/year, compared to St. Louis Park at $59,707/year — a difference of $2,285 (3.83%).

What is the hourly rate difference between St. Cloud and St. Louis Park?

St. Cloud paralegals earn $29.80/hr while St. Louis Park hygienists earn $28.70/hr (2026 est.).

Should I relocate from St. Cloud to St. Louis Park as a paralegal?

Consider more than just salary when comparing St. Cloud and St. Louis Park. Factor in cost of living (CoL-adjusted: St. Cloud = $70,741, St. Louis Park = $60,616), job availability (210 vs 9 employed), commute, and career growth potential.

What do entry-level paralegals earn in St. Cloud vs St. Louis Park?

Entry-level (10th percentile) paralegals earn $43,433 in St. Cloud and $43,982 in St. Louis Park. The St. Louis Park area offers higher starting salaries.

Related Comparisons

JT

Written by Jessica Tran, JD

Career Analyst

Jessica Tran has 10 years of experience in paralegal studies. She specializes in corporate law and works with a law firm. She trains new paralegals in legal research and documentation.

Clinically reviewed by Michael Garcia, CLAData verified by Ayesha Khan, CP

Methodology & Data Source

All salary figures are 2026 projections based on BLS OEWS May 2025 data. A 3.51% CAGR (derived from 6-year national BLS trends) was applied to estimate current compensation. Cost-of-living adjustments use BEA Regional Price Parity data. Actual salaries vary by employer, certifications, and experience.

Data Sources & Methodology

Source: BLS, OEWS , released .

Compiled and verified by Jessica Tran, JD, a licensed paralegal with 10+ years of clinical experience. · View source data at BLS.gov