Paralegals and Legal Assistants Salary in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA
The median pay for a paralegals and legal assistants in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA is $60,790/year ($29.22/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $39K at the entry level to $84K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 91.7), which stretches that salary to about $66,292 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,318/month — about 33% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $61K get you in Des Moines-West Des Moines?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Des Moines-West Des Moines’s Regional Price Parity (91.7). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About paralegals and legal assistants
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Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA
Entry-level paralegals and legal assistants (10th percentile) start around $39K. Mid-career wages sit at $61K. Top earners bring in $84K or more, a $46K spread from bottom to top.
Paralegals and Legal Assistants pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $99K | +63% | 5,880 |
| Washington | $78K | +28% | 9,070 |
| Massachusetts | $75K | +23% | 7,520 |
| California | $73K | +20% | 45,740 |
| Minnesota | $67K | +10% | 6,640 |
| New York | $66K | +9% | 28,510 |
| Oregon | $64K | +5% | 4,910 |
| Maryland | $64K | +4% | 5,770 |
| Connecticut | $63K | +4% | 4,920 |
| Vermont | $63K | +3% | 730 |
| New Jersey | $63K | +3% | 11,720 |
| Illinois | $62K | +2% | 12,430 |
| Nevada | $62K | +2% | 3,490 |
| Michigan | $61K | +1% | 7,240 |
| Nebraska | $61K | +1% | 1,570 |
| Arizona | $61K | +0% | 6,780 |
| Virginia | $61K | +0% | 8,570 |
| Alaska | $61K | +0% | 690 |
| Pennsylvania | $61K | -0% | 14,130 |
| Hawaii | $61K | -0% | 1,170 |
| New Hampshire | $61K | -1% | 1,580 |
| Florida | $60K | -1% | 37,410 |
| Delaware | $60K | -2% | 2,220 |
| North Dakota | $60K | -2% | 610 |
| Texas | $60K | -2% | 28,770 |
| Ohio | $59K | -4% | 8,160 |
| Missouri | $59K | -4% | 6,410 |
| Maine | $59K | -4% | 1,260 |
| South Dakota | $57K | -6% | 660 |
| New Mexico | $57K | -7% | 1,660 |
| Wisconsin | $57K | -7% | 4,930 |
| Utah | $56K | -9% | 2,890 |
| Tennessee | $55K | -9% | 5,890 |
| Georgia | $55K | -10% | 14,480 |
| Rhode Island | $55K | -11% | 1,830 |
| Montana | $54K | -11% | 1,060 |
| Idaho | $54K | -11% | 2,250 |
| Iowa | $53K | -13% | 2,530 |
| Indiana | $51K | -17% | 5,970 |
| Oklahoma | $50K | -18% | 2,500 |
| Wyoming | $50K | -18% | 530 |
| West Virginia | $50K | -19% | 1,680 |
| North Carolina | $49K | -19% | 12,270 |
| Kentucky | $49K | -20% | 3,080 |
| Kansas | $49K | -20% | 2,330 |
| South Carolina | $49K | -20% | 7,260 |
| Louisiana | $48K | -22% | 4,960 |
| Arkansas | $47K | -23% | 1,400 |
| Alabama | $46K | -25% | 5,480 |
| Mississippi | $39K | -36% | 2,080 |
Showing 1–10 of 50 states
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track paralegals and legal assistants salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Des Moines-West Des Moines numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
How much do paralegals and legal assistants make in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA?
The median is $60,790 a year, that works out to about $29 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $38,550, and experienced paralegals and legal assistants can clear $84,100. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $61K enough to live in Des Moines-West Des Moines?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,987/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,318/month, which eats 33.1% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a paralegals and legal assistants salary go in Des Moines-West Des Moines?
Des Moines-West Des Moines has a Regional Price Parity of 91.7 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median paralegals and legal assistants salary is worth about $66,292 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do paralegals and legal assistants get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.