Paralegals and Legal Assistants, Des Moines
$60,080
BLS OEWS median annual wage in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA. Middle half of wages roughly $48,570 to $76,930.
BLS OEWS median, May 2025, as of May 15, 2026. BEA Regional Price Parity 2024. Disclaimer
- vs US median
- −4.5%
- US median
- $62,890
- Metro RPP
- 91.7
- Middle half
- $48,570 to $76,930
- OEWS employment
- 1,190
- SOC
- 23-2011
Paralegals and Legal Assistants in Des Moines pay a median $60,080 (May 2025), 4.5% below the US median of $62,890. At local prices (RPP 91.7), that median buys about what $65,518 buys at US-average prices.
Purchasing power
$60,080 in Des Moines buys about what $65,518 buys at US-average prices (BEA RPP 91.7, 2024). Housing (rents) RPP is 84.7 vs all-items 91.7 (US = 100, 2024).
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See current openings for Paralegals and Legal Assistants in Des Moines.
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Paralegals and Legal Assistants in nearby metros
| Metro | Median | Middle half | RPP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Des Moines | $60,080 | $48,570 to $76,930 | 91.7 |
| Birmingham | $53,160 | $39,090 to $69,950 | 91.6 |
| San Francisco | $84,030 | $74,050 to $103,060 | 115.6 |
| Tulsa | $50,740 | $37,770 to $61,900 | 89.2 |
BLS OEWS May 2025 where published for the CBSA.
FAQ
- What is the median salary for Paralegals and Legal Assistants in Des Moines?
- According to BLS OEWS May 2025, the median annual wage for Paralegals and Legal Assistants in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA is $60,080.
- How does Des Moines pay compare to the US median for Paralegals and Legal Assistants?
- Local median pay is 4.5% below the national OEWS median of $62,890.
- How does cost of living change what that wage buys?
- BEA RPP for Des Moines is 91.7 (US = 100, 2024). The local median of $60,080 has about the same purchasing power as $65,518 at US-average prices.
- How current is this data?
- Wages are BLS OEWS May 2025. Price levels use BEA Regional Price Parities for 2024. See methodology for source details.
What this covers
Includes
- BEA Regional Price Parities (all items, goods, housing rents, other services)
- BLS OEWS median wages, percentile bands, and employment where published
- Purchasing-power math: salary × (destination RPP ÷ origin RPP)
Does not include
- Federal, state, or local income taxes
- Childcare, healthcare premiums, or leave benefits
- Job openings. OEWS employment is a published stock estimate, not hiring demand
Median wages are published BLS OEWS metro estimates; price levels use BEA Regional Price Parities. See methodology and disclaimer.