Lawyer salary in Iowa
Lawyers in Iowa earn a median of $123,550 a year ($59.40 an hour), based on BLS data for 3,550 workers.
Pay ranges from $63,790 for the lowest-paid 10% to $268,460 for the top 10%. That is 23% lower than the national median of $159,670. Iowa ranks 34th of 51 states for lawyers pay. There are 2.3 lawyers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.47). The average (mean) salary is $144,760, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for lawyers in Iowa
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $63,790 | $30.67 |
| 25th percentile | $81,860 | $39.36 |
| Median | $123,550 | $59.40 |
| 75th percentile | $179,610 | $86.35 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $268,460 | $129.07 |
| Average (mean) | $144,760 | $69.59 |
Half of lawyers earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $10,295.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $5,147.92 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $4,751.92 |
| Weekly | $2,375.96 |
| Hourly | $59.40 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Lawyer salary in cities in Iowa
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Cedar Rapids, IA | $137,570 | 330 |
| Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | $134,560 | 1,760 |
| Omaha, NE-IA | $131,730 | 2,010 |
| Iowa City, IA | $127,210 | 140 |
| Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA | $126,570 | 160 |
| Ames, IA | $125,200 | 90 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $124,850 | 420 |
| Sioux City, IA-NE-SD | $120,790 | 150 |
| Dubuque, IA | $109,270 | 100 |
Highest-paying states for lawyers
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| New York | $207,860 |
| District of Columbia | $195,190 |
| California | $195,080 |
| Massachusetts | $176,680 |
| Delaware | $173,510 |
| Colorado | $168,520 |
| Virginia | $167,210 |
| Connecticut | $163,600 |
| New Jersey | $161,430 |
| Illinois | $160,800 |
Related jobs in Iowa
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates | $147,510 | $70.92 |
| Judicial Law Clerk | $64,260 | $30.90 |
| Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators, and Hearing Officers | $123,500 | $59.38 |
| Paralegals and Legal Assistants | $54,550 | $26.23 |
| Legal Support Workers, All Other | $44,470 | $21.38 |
| Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers | $46,330 | $22.27 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 23-1011. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a lawyer make in Iowa?
The median salary for lawyers in Iowa is $123,550 a year, or $59.40 an hour. Pay ranges from $63,790 for the lowest-paid 10% to $268,460 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid lawyers make in Iowa?
The top 10% of lawyers in Iowa earn at least $268,460 a year. The top 25% earn $179,610 or more.
What is the starting pay for lawyers in Iowa?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $63,790 a year, and a quarter of lawyers earn $81,860 or less.
How many lawyers work in Iowa?
About 3,550 lawyers are employed in Iowa, not counting the self-employed.