Iowa Median
$123,550
per year
Hourly Rate
$59.40
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
vs National
-23% vs US median
US median $159,670
State Rank
#34 of 51
3,550 employed here
How much does a Lawyer make in Iowa?
Lawyers in Iowa take home a median of $123,550 annually — roughly $59.40 an hour — which runs 23% below the national median of $159,670.
Within Iowa, entry-level pay starts around $63,790 while the top 10% make $268,460 or more. The middle 50% of earners fall between $81,860 and $179,610 a year.
Lawyer salary range in Iowa
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $63,790 | $30.67 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $81,860 | $39.36 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $123,550 | $59.40 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $179,610 | $86.35 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $268,460 | $129.07 |
|
How Iowa compares
Iowa ranks 34th out of 51 states and territories for Lawyer pay. The top 5 best-paying states:
Lawyer salary in other states
New York $207,860District of Columbia $195,190California $195,080Massachusetts $176,680Delaware $173,510Colorado $168,520Virginia $167,210Connecticut $163,600New Jersey $161,430Illinois $160,800Pennsylvania $157,180Minnesota $155,140Texas $154,200Washington $154,130Nevada $150,510Alaska $149,940Maryland $139,110Rhode Island $138,960Oregon $138,210Tennessee $136,180Georgia $134,830Arizona $134,260Missouri $133,450Florida $133,180Utah $132,830Alabama $131,970Ohio $131,020Michigan $130,520North Carolina $127,710Vermont $127,310Indiana $126,860Wisconsin $126,760Hawaii $124,990New Hampshire $120,810South Carolina $120,310New Mexico $119,680Maine $113,120Nebraska $109,170North Dakota $106,880Kansas $106,650Louisiana $104,100Montana $103,720Idaho $103,400Oklahoma $103,060West Virginia $102,420South Dakota $102,040Kentucky $101,550Wyoming $100,130Arkansas $98,880Mississippi $91,690
Working as a Lawyer in Iowa
Nationally, about 755,000 people work as Lawyers in the United States. A doctoral or professional degree (8 or more years of higher education) is required.
Considering a move? Compare Iowa pay ($123,550) against the highest-paying state above, and weigh the difference against housing and everyday costs — a smaller paycheck in a cheaper state can stretch further.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Lawyer make in Iowa?
The median Lawyer salary in Iowa is $123,550 per year, or about $59.40 per hour, per official BLS state wage estimates. Salaries typically range from $63,790 at the entry level to $268,460 for the top 10% of earners.
How does Iowa pay compare to the national average?
Iowa pays Lawyers about 23% less than the national median of $159,670. Iowa ranks 34th out of 51 states and territories reporting this occupation.
Is Iowa a good state for Lawyers?
Pay runs below the national median here, at $123,550 a year. About 3,550 Lawyers are employed in Iowa. A lower cost of living can offset the smaller paycheck, so compare take-home value, not just salary.
What are the highest-paying jobs in Iowa?
The highest-paying occupations in Iowa include Emergency Medicine Physician ($429,050), Dermatologist ($424,970), Radiologist ($405,220), based on median annual pay in official BLS state estimates.
← See the national Lawyer salary report
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Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Unknown vintage. Education requirements: O*NET (U.S. Department of Labor). State figures are official BLS state-level wage estimates. Where BLS suppresses a state percentile, it is scaled from the official national distribution. Individual pay varies by employer, metro area, and experience.