Lawyers pay range in Des Moines
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $65,830 a year or less, while the top 10% make $292,020 or more. The middle half of lawyers in Des Moines earn between $95,820 and $213,150.
- $66K10th
- $96K25th
- $135KMedian
- $213K75th
- $292K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $159,230 | $13,269 | $76.55 |
| Median | $134,560 | $11,213 | $64.69 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $95,820 | $7,985 | $46.07 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $213,150 | $17,762 | $102.48 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Lawyers pay in Des Moines vs. Iowa and the U.S.
Lawyers in Des Moines earn 10% more than the Iowa average ($144,760) and 14% less than the U.S. average ($185,840). At the median the gap is -16% against the U.S. median of $159,670.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Des Moines | $159,230 | $134,560 | $65,830 | $292,020 | 1,760 |
| Iowa | $144,760 | $123,550 | $63,790 | $268,460 | 3,550 |
| United States | $185,840 | $159,670 | $78,360 | $351,600 | 754,500 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Lawyers salary after taxes in Des Moines
On the average salary of $159,230, a single filer in Des Moines takes home about $114,661 a year, or $9,555 a month and $4,410 every two weeks. Taxes take 28% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Iowa school district surtaxes (a percentage of state tax in some districts) are not included.
Is Des Moines a good place for lawyers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Des Moines area are 8% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 91.7), so the average $159,230 buys what about $173,640 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.6 times the median wage of all jobs in Des Moines ($51,820). A typical home costs $296,070, or 1.9 years of this average salary before tax.
Lawyers salary in other Iowa cities
Des Moines ranks 1st of 8 Iowa metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Des Moines$159,230
- Cedar Rapids$157,430
- Waterloo$155,780
- Davenport$150,980
- Iowa City$142,540
- Sioux City$142,440
- Dubuque$134,060
- Ames$130,550
Highest-paying cities for lawyers
San Jose, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($288,980).
- San Jose, CA$288,980
- Santa Rosa, CA$248,950
- Los Angeles, CA$241,500
- San Francisco, CA$237,060
- Bridgeport, CT$231,710
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Lawyers salary in Des Moines: questions
How much do lawyers make an hour in Des Moines?
$76.55 an hour on average, and $64.69 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level lawyers salary in Des Moines?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $65,830 a year and the 25th percentile is $95,820, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the lawyers take-home pay in Des Moines?
About $114,661 a year ($9,555 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $159,230. Iowa school district surtaxes (a percentage of state tax in some districts) are not included.
Do lawyers earn more in Des Moines than elsewhere?
The average here is 14% less than the U.S. average for this job ($185,840).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 23-1011; area Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA (19780). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 6.1%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Iowa school district surtaxes (a percentage of state tax in some districts) are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.90, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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