Paralegal salary in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA
Des Moines-West Des Moines pays paralegals more than Iowa as a whole but less than the country. The median is $60,080 a year1: 10.1% above the Iowa statewide median of $54,550 and 4.5% below the US median of $62,890. Nationally it ranks #154 of 506 areas. It is the largest market for the job in Iowa: about 1,190 people, 40% of the Iowa total.
BLS occupation 23-2011, area Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in Des Moines-West Des Moines against Iowa and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | $37,490 | $60,080 | $89,920 | |
| Iowa | $37,900 | $54,550 | $83,520 | |
| United States | $44,740 | $62,890 | $101,500 |
Paralegals at the 90th percentile earn $89,920, 2.4 times the 10th percentile; the US ratio is 2.3. The middle half of paralegals in Des Moines-West Des Moines earns $48,570–$76,930. From the 25th to the 75th percentile, the local range is $28,360 wide, between the figure for Iowa ($18,740) and the US figure ($29,740).
What to budget for a paralegal here
| Point in the local range | Per year | Per month | Per hour | Employer cost per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $37,490 | $3,124 | $18.02 | $48,374 |
| 25th percentile | $48,570 | $4,048 | $23.35 | $62,671 |
| Median | $60,080 | $5,007 | $28.88 | $77,523 |
| 75th percentile | $76,930 | $6,411 | $36.99 | $99,265 |
| 90th percentile | $89,920 | $7,493 | $43.23 | $116,026 |
An offer at the 75th percentile instead of the median adds $16,850 a year in pay and about $21,742 in employer cost. Going down to the 25th percentile saves $11,510 in pay. These percentiles describe what people in the job earn locally, not experience levels, so place your offer by the tasks and seniority you need.
For scale, the US median of $62,890 falls between the median and the 75th percentile in Des Moines-West Des Moines, and the Iowa statewide median of $54,550 falls between the 25th percentile and the median.
What a hire really costs in Des Moines-West Des Moines
At the $60,080 median, a local hire costs about $77,523 a year: benefits and payroll taxes other than paid leave are 22.5% of total compensation in US private industry2, about $17,443 here. Recruiting, equipment and office space come on top. Benefit levels vary by employer, so treat this as an estimate.
We place executive assistants, customer support and e-commerce staff today; for paralegals we answer within one business day whether we can help. Enter the monthly pay you have in mind to compare it with a local hire. The fee field shows our standard fee3; Deel's contractor plan is the default payroll tool4.
Other roles in Des Moines-West Des Moines
Of the 17 roles we track in Des Moines-West Des Moines, this one ranks #8 by median pay, between executive assistants ($64,990) and payroll specialists ($58,600). Project Coordinator is the highest at $101,150.
| Role | Median | vs paralegal | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sales Development Representative | +9.0% | 2,400 | |
| Executive Assistant | +8.2% | 1,740 | |
| Paralegal | this role | 1,190 | |
| Payroll Specialist | -2.5% | 300 | |
| HR Assistant | -15.4% | 310 |
Measured against the US median, paralegals rank #11 of the 17 roles we track in Des Moines-West Des Moines (-4.5%), between marketing specialists (-2.8%) and accountants (-5.2%). The typical role here is at -1.1%, so, measured against the US, paralegals cost less in Des Moines-West Des Moines than the area's general pay level would suggest. Paralegals hold 2.6% of the jobs in these 17 roles in Des Moines-West Des Moines, 2.2% across Iowa and 2.5% nationally. That is close to the national mix.
Other areas in Iowa
Across the 12 areas of Iowa with data for this job, the median runs from $47,870 in the Northeast Iowa nonmetro area to $66,400 in Iowa City, a gap of $18,530 a year. No other area in Iowa has as many paralegals, and 10 of the other 11 pay less.
| Area | Median | vs Des Moines-West Des Moines | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Iowa City, IA | +10.5% | 330 | |
| Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | this area | 1,190 | |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | -4.4% | 310 | |
| Davenport-Moline, IA-IL | -5.1% | 280 | |
| Sioux City, IA-NE | -6.6% | 80 | |
| Dubuque, IA | -7.2% | 80 | |
| Ames, IA | -11.5% | 60 |
Des Moines-West Des Moines against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, Des Moines-West Des Moines is #56 of 503 US areas for this job. It is one of the larger markets for this job, with pay near the middle of the US range. Outside Iowa, Bismarck and Walla Walla pay just above Des Moines-West Des Moines and North Port-Bradenton and Roanoke just below. All four are within $40 a year of the median in Des Moines-West Des Moines. Of the three markets with about as many paralegals, none pays as much.
| Metro area | Median | vs Des Moines-West Des Moines | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Walla Walla, WA | +0.1% | 50 | pay | |
| Bismarck, ND | +0.0% | 160 | pay | |
| Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | this area | 1,190 | ||
| North Port-Bradenton, FL | -0.0% | 990 | pay | |
| Roanoke, VA | -0.0% | 390 | pay | |
| Rochester, NY | -4.7% | 1,300 | jobs | |
| Memphis, TN-MS | -5.4% | 1,120 | jobs | |
| Boise City, ID | -11.0% | 1,140 | jobs |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire a paralegal in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA?
About $77,523 a year at the median, or $6,460 a month: $60,080 in pay plus about $17,443 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What is the pay range for paralegals in Des Moines-West Des Moines?
The median was $60,080 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $37,490, the 90th $89,920, and the middle half earned $48,570 to $76,930.
Is Des Moines-West Des Moines cheaper than the rest of Iowa for paralegals?
No, it costs more: a median of $60,080 against $54,550 statewide. The next area up in Iowa is Iowa City at $66,400, the next down Cedar Rapids at $57,420.
How many paralegals work in Des Moines-West Des Moines?
BLS counts about 1,190 in the May 2025 survey. That is 40% of the Iowa total of 2,980. No other area in Iowa has as many.
Does a paralegal cost more than a payroll specialist in Des Moines-West Des Moines?
Yes: $1,480 a year more at the median. The medians are $60,080 and $58,600.
Sources
4 sources, with links
- BLS OEWS May 2025, 23-2011: bls.gov
- BLS Employer Costs for Employee Compensation, private industry, June 2026: bls.gov
- Stafka pricing: stafka.com
- Deel pricing, contractor management: deel.com
How these pages are built: methodology and data sources. Last updated 2026-11-12.