Lawyer Salary in Cedar Rapids, IA: $144,036 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time lawyer in Cedar Rapids, IA earns a median $144,036/year (≈ $69.25/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 23-1011). Once you factor in Cedar Rapids's price level (11% below national, BEA RPP 89.0), that paycheck buys what $161,906 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 9.3% above the Iowa state average.
Official BLS data · View source
In 2026, the earnings for lawyers in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, reflect notable contrasts influenced by firm structure and market scale, with a projected median salary of $144,036. This figure positions Cedar Rapids well below the national median of $167,174, indicating local nuances in compensation across various types of law firms. The salary range for legal professionals spans from $78,640 at the lower decile to a striking $287,370 at the upper decile, based on 2025 BLS OEWS data, projected to 2026. This wide range highlights the financial potential within the legal market in Cedar Rapids, which is shaped by the tier of the firm, the number of billable hours expected, and the specific nature of the legal work undertaken.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $78,640 | $37.81 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $99,256 | $47.72 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $144,036 | $69.25 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $207,076 | $99.56 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $287,370 | $138.16 |
Median Salary Position
13.84% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Cedar Rapids
In Cedar Rapids, IA, the lawyer salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $208,730 (2026 est.). At $144,036, the local median is 13.84% below the national median of $167,174.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Cedar Rapids: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Cedar Rapids Lawyer Pay Compares
Cedar Rapids median: $144,036/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Cedar Rapids Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Iowa Average | $131,780 | +9.30% more |
| National Average | $167,174 | -13.84% less |
Lawyers in Cedar Rapids, IA earn a median of $144,036 per year (2026 est.), which is 13.84% lower than the national median of $167,174 and 9.30% above the Iowa state average of $131,780.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Cedar Rapids has a cost of living 11.04% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Cedar Rapids, IA has a cost-of-living index of 88.963 (below the national average of 100). A lawyer earning $144,036 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $161,906 in an average-cost city — an effective 12.41% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$103,930
2025 BLS Actual
$137,570
2026 Current Est.
$144,036
2019–2027 Growth
+45.1%
Salary Trajectory for Lawyers in Cedar Rapids (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 4.70% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $103,930 | Actual |
| 2020 | $98,700 | Actual |
| 2021 | $98,960 | Actual |
| 2022 | $103,650 | Actual |
| 2023 | $126,770 | Actual |
| 2024 | $124,300 | Actual |
| 2025 | $137,570 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $144,036 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $150,805 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Cedar Rapids metropolitan area, the median lawyer salary grew 32.4% from $103,930 (2019) to $137,570 (2025). At a 4.70% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $150,805 by 2027 — a total increase of $46,875 (45.10%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Cedar Rapids metropolitan area, sourced from annual Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys. 2026–2026 figures are current estimates, and 2027 values are projections, calculated using a 4.70% CAGR derived from 7-year BLS historical data. Actual salaries may vary based on employer, experience, certifications, and local market conditions.
Salary by Experience Level
| Experience | Estimated Salary Range |
|---|---|
| 0-2 years (New Graduate) | $78,640 – $99,256 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $99,256 – $144,036 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $144,036 – $207,076 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $207,076 – $287,370 |
Esq salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual lawyer compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Lawyer Job Market in Cedar Rapids
In Cedar Rapids, the local legal job market employs approximately 330 lawyers, which suggests a steady demand for legal expertise, yet comparisons to the national landscape reveal a cost-of-living advantage with an index of 88.963. This lower cost of living enhances the purchasing power of lawyers, making local salaries more attractive despite their position relative to national figures. Employers vary significantly in their compensation structures; top-tier firms could offer competitive packages if willing to engage in high billable hour expectations, while mid-size and boutique firms tend to provide a better life-work balance with salaries ranging from modest to competitive. Government roles, while still crucial in terms of job security and benefits, fall at the lower end of the compensation spectrum. For lawyers seeking to maximize their salary potential in Cedar Rapids, the focus should be on gaining experience in firms that offer greater equity and advancement opportunities, utilizing skills that appeal to both corporate and nonprofit sectors within the community.
More salary data for Cedar Rapids, IA:
Frequently Asked Questions
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Written by Alexandra Chen, JD
Career Analyst
Alexandra has 10 years of experience in corporate law. She specializes in mergers and acquisitions. Alexandra works at a mid-sized law firm in New York City.
Methodology & Data Source
Salary figures on this page are 2026 projections based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2026 release. The BLS reported a median annual salary of $137,570 for lawyersin the Cedar Rapids metropolitan area. A 4.70% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), calculated from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to project current 2026 compensation. Percentile ranges (P10–P90) represent the full salary distribution across experience levels and practice settings in this market.
Data Sources & Methodology
Source: BLS, OEWS, 7-year dataset (–). Per-city data from annual BLS metropolitan area surveys.
2026 figures are projected from 2025 BLS data using a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.70%, derived from historical BLS wage trends for lawyers (SOC 23-1011).
Compiled and verified by Alexandra Chen, JD, a licensed lawyer with 10+ years of clinical experience. · View source data at BLS.gov