How much does a lawyer make in Des Moines?
$134,600a year
Median yearly pay for lawyers in the Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metro area. That is $64.69 an hour or $11,210 a month.
- Hourly
- $64.69
- Vs. national median
- -16%
- Rank among cities
- 82 of 378
- Jobs in the area
- 1,760
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $65,830Median: $134,600Highest 10%: $292,000
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $65,830 | $31.65 | |
| 25th | $95,820 | $46.07 | |
| Median | $134,600 | $64.69 | |
| 75th | $213,200 | $102.48 | |
| 90th | $292,000 | $140.39 |
Other cities in Iowa
Median yearly pay for lawyers.
| Cedar Rapids, IA | $137,600 |
| Omaha, NE | $131,700 |
| Iowa City, IA | $127,200 |
| Waterloo, IA | $126,600 |
| Ames, IA | $125,200 |
| Davenport, IA | $124,900 |
| Sioux City, IA | $120,800 |
| Dubuque, IA | $109,300 |
Related jobs in Des Moines
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Judge | $147,500 |
| Administrative Law Judge | $127,500 |
| Paralegal and Legal Assistant | $60,080 |
| Legal Support Worker | $44,470 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a lawyer make an hour in Des Moines?
The median hourly pay in the Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metro area is $64.69 ($134,600 a year).
Do lawyers make more in Des Moines than the national average?
No: $134,600 against $159,700 nationally, 16% less.
How does Des Moines compare with the rest of Iowa?
The median in Iowa is $123,600, so Des Moines pays 9% more.
Where does Des Moines rank for lawyer pay?
82 of 378 metro areas with data.
How much does a lawyer make starting out in Des Moines?
The lowest-paid 10% make $65,830 or less a year; the top 10% make $292,000 or more.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS): pay in May 2025, published by BLS in 2026. Hourly pay is the yearly figure divided by 2,080 hours.