Paralegal Salary in Iowa: $61,026 (2026)
Quick Answer:Across Iowa's 26 metropolitan areas, the average median paralegal pay sits at $61,026/year heading into 2026 — a figure projected from 2025 BLS OEWS wage data for SOC 23-2011. Because Iowa sits at BEA RPP 90.4 (10% below the U.S. baseline), that statewide median translates to roughly $67,507 in nationally-comparable purchasing power. Highest-paying metros: Iowa City ($66,400), Des Moines ($60,080), West Des Moines ($59,304).
In 2026, the average median salary for paralegals in Iowa is projected to be $61,026, which is approximately 6.3% lower than the national median of $65,097. The salary range across Iowa cities varies significantly, with Iowa City leading at $68,731 and Waterloo at the lower end with $49,716, resulting in a gap of $18,015. This difference can be attributed to various factors including the concentration of law firms, regional demand, and the cost of living. Iowa’s landscape includes 26 metro areas, and employment figures indicate a total of 2,586 paralegals in the state. Cities like Des Moines and West Des Moines follow Iowa City with projected salaries of $62,189 and $61,386, respectively. With a projected annual growth rate of 3.51%, the job market for paralegals appears stable. Iowa does not require paralegals to obtain state licensing, but understanding the scope of practice laws and staying updated with local legal trends is essential. The increasing demand for legal services in both urban and rural settings continues to drive job opportunities in the field, indicating a positive outlook for prospective paralegals in the state.
Iowa Paralegal Salary Range
Overall salary range in Iowa: $35,540 (lowest entry-level) to $108,696 (highest top earner)
Iowa vs National Average
Iowa paralegals earn 6.25% less than the national median ($-4,071/year difference).
Iowa Paralegal Salary Distribution (2026)
Paralegal salaries in Iowa range from $40,615 (entry-level, 10th percentile) to $90,069 (top earners, 90th percentile), with a median of $61,026. The Iowa median is $4,071 below the US national median of $65,097. The average hourly rate is $29.34/hr. Approximately 2,586 paralegals are employed across 26 cities.
2019 BLS Actual
$51,385
2025 BLS Actual
$58,957
2026 Current Est.
$61,026
2019–2027 Growth
+22.9%
Salary Trajectory for Paralegals in Iowa (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.51% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $51,385 | Actual |
| 2020 | $51,151 | Actual |
| 2021 | $53,293 | Actual |
| 2022 | $55,753 | Actual |
| 2023 | $60,875 | Actual |
| 2024 | $56,953 | Actual |
| 2025 | $58,957 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $61,026 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $63,168 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Iowa metropolitan area, the median paralegal salary grew 14.7% from $51,385 (2019) to $58,957 (2025). At a 3.51% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $63,168 by 2027 — a total increase of $11,783 (22.93%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Iowa metropolitan area, sourced from annual Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys. 2026–2026 figures are current estimates, and 2027 values are projections, calculated using a 3.51% CAGR derived from 7-year BLS historical data. Actual salaries may vary based on employer, experience, certifications, and local market conditions.
Top 5 Highest Paying Cities in Iowa
Lowest Paying Cities in Iowa
| City | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Waterloo | $49,716 |
| Cedar Falls | $50,776 |
| Fort Dodge | $53,745 |
| Johnston | $54,344 |
| Ottumwa | $54,476 |
Best Value Cities for Paralegals in Iowa
When adjusted for local cost of living, these Iowa cities offer the most purchasing power for paralegals.
| City | Nominal Salary | CoL Index | Adjusted Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| Iowa City | $68,731 | 91.509 | $75,108 |
| West Des Moines | $61,386 | 90.4 | $67,905 |
| Des Moines | $62,189 | 91.701 | $67,817 |
| Sioux City | $58,069 | 86.454 | $67,168 |
| Cedar Rapids | $59,435 | 88.963 | $66,809 |
Adjusted salary = nominal salary × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average. Lower index = lower cost of living.
Salary by Experience Level in Iowa
| Experience Level | Estimated Annual |
|---|---|
| Entry Level (0-2 years) | $40,615 |
| Mid Career (3-7 years) | $61,026 |
| Experienced (7+ years) | $90,069 |
Estimates based on BLS percentile data averaged across Iowa metro areas. Individual pay varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
All 26 Cities in Iowa
| # | City | Median Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Iowa City | $68,731 |
| 2 | Des Moines | $62,189 |
| 3 | West Des Moines | $61,386 |
| 4 | Cedar Rapids | $59,435 |
| 5 | Davenport | $59,032 |
| 6 | Sioux City | $58,069 |
| 7 | Dubuque | $57,696 |
| 8 | Marion | $57,573 |
| 9 | Ankeny | $56,900 |
| 10 | Council Bluffs | $56,543 |
| 11 | Burlington | $56,219 |
| 12 | Waukee | $56,018 |
| 13 | Urbandale | $55,942 |
| 14 | Bettendorf | $55,938 |
| 15 | Marshalltown | $55,765 |
| 16 | Coralville | $55,691 |
| 17 | Mason City | $55,433 |
| 18 | North Liberty | $55,215 |
| 19 | Ames | $55,047 |
| 20 | Clinton | $54,943 |
| 21 | Muscatine | $54,683 |
| 22 | Ottumwa | $54,476 |
| 23 | Johnston | $54,344 |
| 24 | Fort Dodge | $53,745 |
| 25 | Cedar Falls | $50,776 |
| 26 | Waterloo | $49,716 |
More Iowa Salary Data
Senior / Experienced
Top earner salaries for experienced paralegals.
Explore More Paralegal Salary Data
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do paralegals make in Iowa in 2026?
What is the highest paying city for paralegals in Iowa?
How does Iowa paralegal pay compare to the national average?
What is the entry-level paralegal salary in Iowa?
How many paralegals are employed in Iowa?
Which Iowa city offers the best value for paralegals?
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.
Methodology & Data Source
Statewide salary figures on this page are 2026 projections based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2026 release. A 3.51% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), derived from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to each metro area's reported salary to estimate current 2026 paralegal compensation across Iowa. State averages are employment-weighted across 26 metro areas — larger metro areas with more paralegalscontribute proportionally more to the average, producing figures that better reflect typical compensation. Individual pay varies by city, employer, certifications, and experience.
Data Sources & Methodology
Source: BLS, OEWS, 7-year dataset (–). Per-city data from annual BLS metropolitan area surveys.
2026 figures are projected from 2025 BLS data using a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.51%, derived from historical BLS wage trends for paralegals (SOC 23-2011).
Compiled and verified by Jessica Tran, JD, a licensed paralegal with 10+ years of clinical experience. · View source data at BLS.gov