SOC 23-2011 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Paralegals and Legal Assistants — Cedar Rapids
Cedar Rapids, IA · 7 metro areas compared
The median wage for Paralegals and Legal Assistants in Cedar Rapids, IA is $57,420 per year, 8.7% below the national median of $62,890.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage for Paralegals and Legal Assistants in Cedar Rapids, IA is $57,420 per year, 8.7% below the national median of $62,890. Pay ranges from under $37,900 at the tenth percentile to more than $76,860 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $47,520 to $63,590.
Employment stands at 310, or 2.2 jobs per thousand held locally. Iowa City leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $66,400. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 210th of 391 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $37,900 | −39.7% |
| 25th | $47,520 | −24.4% |
| Median (50th) | $57,420 | −8.7% |
| 75th | $63,590 | +1.1% |
| 90th | $76,860 | +22.2% |
| Mean | $56,440 | −10.3% |
Other metro areas in Iowa
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Iowa City | $66,400 | 330 | |
| 2 | Des Moines | $60,080 | 1,190 | |
| 3 | Davenport | $57,030 | 280 | |
| 4 | Sioux City | $56,100 | 80 | |
| 5 | Dubuque | $55,740 | 80 | |
| 6 | Ames | $53,180 | 60 | |
| 7 | Waterloo | $48,030 | 120 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Cedar Rapids run 12.2% below the national average, so the median of $57,420 goes as far as $65,399 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 4.0% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$57,420as reported by BLSLocal price level
87.8US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$65,399US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $57,420 a year, 8.7% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $37,900 to $76,860 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 310 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Iowa City, at $66,400.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Paralegals and Legal Assistants in Cedar Rapids, IA?
The median annual wage is $57,420, or $27.61 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $62,890, so pay in Cedar Rapids, IA is 8.7% lower. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in Cedar Rapids, IA earns more than $76,860 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $37,900 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in Iowa City, at $66,400 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 310 jobs in this occupation in Cedar Rapids, IA. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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