The annual Minneapolis City Council salary is $109,846, and it applies to all thirteen ward representatives, including the council president and vice president. The council held that figure flat for 2026 and 2027 when it approved the current budget in late 2025. Cost-of-living adjustments are scheduled to resume in 2028.
What the Job Pays
Every council member earns the same $109,846, no matter which committees they sit on or whether they hold a leadership title. The president and vice president get no extra pay for those roles.
Minneapolis is one of a handful of Minnesota cities, along with St. Paul, Duluth, and Rochester, where council pay reaches a level that could be considered more than supplemental income. The position functions as full-time work: members represent a ward, sit on standing committees, review the city’s roughly $2 billion annual budget, and vote on ordinances that affect the whole city.
How the Salary Is Set
The council sets its own pay by resolution, an authority granted by a 1971 Minnesota law (Laws of Minnesota 1971, Chapter 744). Section 14.60 of the Minneapolis Code of Ordinances spells out the mechanics: before January 1 of each year, the council may fix each member’s annual salary by resolution.1Municode Library. Minneapolis Code of Ordinances Chapter 14 – In General The same section bars members from keeping extra fees for serving on boards or commissions created by charter or statute; that money goes into the city treasury.
Because members vote on their own pay, the timing of raises tends to draw scrutiny. In the decade before the current freeze, council raises averaged about 2% per year. A 2023 compensation study by the consulting firm Guidehouse found that Minneapolis council members were the highest-paid among nine peer cities. After that finding, members skipped raises for the 2024–2025 term and then extended the freeze through 2027.
When Pay Will Change Again
The salary stays at $109,846 through the end of 2027. Beginning in 2028, cost-of-living adjustments will apply automatically, pegged to whatever percentage the majority of the city’s collective bargaining units received the prior year. The same formula applies in 2029. After that, the council would need to pass a new resolution to continue adjustments or set a different salary.
Benefits That Come With the Position
Council members receive the same benefits offered to other city employees, and the package adds meaningful value on top of the base salary.
- Medical insurance through Medica, with a choice of six provider networks, covering members and their dependents.2City of Minneapolis. Great Benefits
- Dental insurance through Delta Dental, with the city paying 100% of premiums for employees and their dependents.2City of Minneapolis. Great Benefits
- A health reimbursement account (HRA/VEBA) for employees enrolled in the city’s medical plan, usable for eligible out-of-pocket medical expenses.2City of Minneapolis. Great Benefits
- Basic life insurance fully paid by the city, equal to one times annual salary and capped at $50,000, with optional additional coverage up to $500,000 at the employee’s expense.3City of Minneapolis. Benefits and Wellness
Council members may also participate in the Minnesota Public Employees Retirement Association pension system, though PERA describes its automatic membership as applying to “non-elected public employees,” so elected officials should verify enrollment status with PERA directly.4Public Employees Retirement Association (PERA). Pension Plans
How Council Pay Compares to the Mayor
Mayor Jacob Frey’s salary rose to roughly $187,000 in 2026 after the council approved a raise of about $46,000, and that figure holds through 2029. Before the raise, Frey earned $140,814, which a city-commissioned review found was well below the average for mayors of comparable cities, projected at nearly $206,000. The gap between council pay and mayoral pay reflects the difference in executive responsibilities: the mayor oversees day-to-day operations, manages department heads, and proposes the annual budget.
Outside Employment Rules
Council members are not barred from holding outside jobs, but the city’s ethics ordinance sets real limits. Under Section 15.60, officials must obtain written permission before accepting outside employment or entering a service contract.5City of Minneapolis. Outside Employment Policy They cannot solicit or perform outside work during their hours of city employment. Approval requires completing an outside employment form and submitting it through the appropriate supervisor. Because the council position pays a full-time salary and carries full-time expectations, outside work that creates scheduling conflicts or the appearance of a conflict of interest is likely to face pushback.