Paralegals and Legal Assistants Salary in Des Moines, IA

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA

Median annual salary $60,790 -0.4% vs national
Median hourly $29.22
10th percentile $38,550
90th percentile $84,100
Employed locally 1,050
National median $61,010

Compare Paralegals and Legal Assistants salary & buying power

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Paralegals and Legal Assistants
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Des Moines, IA
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $38,550
    25th
    $47,700
    50th (median)
    $60,790
    75th
    $75,020
    90th
    $84,100

    Des Moines economic context

    Unemployment rate 3.00% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $84,209 2023 • Census ACS
    Paralegals and Legal Assistants salary vs area income 72% Median Paralegals and Legal Assistants salary is 28% below the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Paralegals and Legal Assistants

    Metro areaMedian salary
    District of Columbia $99,300
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $97,740
    San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $85,230
    Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA $84,950
    Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV $80,550
    Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO $79,240

    Nearby metros — Paralegals and Legal Assistants salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    District of Columbia $99,300
    Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV $80,550
    Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO $79,240
    Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA $77,990
    California $72,960
    Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA $69,060

    Related occupations in Des Moines, IA

    OccupationMedian salary
    Lawyers$118,750
    Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates$147,510
    Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators, and Hearing Officers$117,200
    Judicial Law Clerks$58,650
    Legal Support Workers, All Other$44,430

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Paralegals and Legal Assistants make per hour in Des Moines?

    The median hourly wage for Paralegals and Legal Assistants in Des Moines, IA is $29.22, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $43.23 or more per hour.

    Is Des Moines above or below average for Paralegals and Legal Assistants salaries?

    The median Paralegals and Legal Assistants salary in Des Moines, IA is 0.4% below the national median of $61,010. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Paralegals and Legal Assistants in Des Moines?

    Entry-level Paralegals and Legal Assistants (10th percentile) earn around $38,550 per year in Des Moines, IA. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $47,700.