IP Attorney.
Des Moines.
$165,000
median salary, 12% below the national average
$125,000 to $218,000. Last updated April 2026.
Get the job.
Data points to own the conversation.
A IP Attorney in Des Moines earns a median of $165,000 in 2026. That is 12% below the national average. The range runs from $125,000 to $218,000, and where you land depends on your experience, your skills, and how well you negotiate. Technical background is the primary driver, with patent attorneys holding engineering or science degrees earning significantly more than trademark-focused peers.
Salary range
Where do you fall?
Salary by experience
The gap between entry and lead level is typically $149,000. Where you land depends on years of experience and what you bring to the table.
Entry (0-2 yrs)
$107,000
to $132,000
Mid (3-5 yrs)
$140,000
to $173,000
Senior (6-9 yrs)
$182,000
to $215,000
Lead (10+ yrs)
$206,000
to $256,000
Salary trend
+6% YoYTotal compensation
Base salary is not the full picture. Equity, bonus, and signing can add $33,000 to the total package.
Base
$165,000
Equity
$18,000
Bonus
$12,000
Signing
$3,000
Estimated total: $198,000
How Des Moines compares
Des Moines, IA
$165,000
Cost of living: 14% below average
National Average
$188,000
Des Moines is $23,000 below
IP Attorney salary by city
Salary by role in Des Moines
What you should know
The IP Attorney landscape in Des Moines is not what most salary sites will tell you. Des Moines is a major insurance and financial services hub, home to Principal Financial, EMC Insurance, and a growing fintech community. The metro's extremely low cost of living and strong job market make it one of the best value cities for finance professionals. Tech employment is growing as insurtech companies expand. Technical background is the primary driver, with patent attorneys holding engineering or science degrees earning significantly more than trademark-focused peers. Prosecution versus litigation focus, USPTO registration, and industry specialization in pharma, biotech, or semiconductors all influence compensation.
Junior patent associates start at $142,000 to $180,000 at midsize firms. Senior IP associates earn $190,000 to $250,000 after five to seven years. IP partners and chief IP counsel earn $280,000 to $500,000 depending on portfolio size and originations. In Des Moines, your dollars stretch further. Cost of living runs 14% below the national average, which means even a median salary buys a stronger lifestyle.
Base salary is not the full picture. BigLaw IP groups offer lockstep bonuses of $25,000 to $115,000. In-house IP counsel at tech companies receive equity worth $40,000 to $120,000 annually. Boutique IP firms sometimes offer origination bonuses for client development. And on the tax side: iowa has a flat 3.8% state income tax. Des Moines has no city income tax. The low tax rate and affordable housing create strong purchasing power. When someone quotes you $165,000, ask what the total package looks like. The gap between base and total comp is where real money hides.
On negotiation: Benchmark against national insurance industry pay scales. Des Moines insurance employers must compete with remote offers from larger metros and will often match. The range for IP Attorneys in Des Moines runs from $125,000 to $218,000. That is not a narrow window. Where you land inside it depends almost entirely on whether you negotiate and how well you prepare.
Sources: SEC filings, H-1B LCA (DOL), BLS OES, 50+ job posting platforms. COL: BEA Regional Price Parities (2025). Data verified by Justin Bartak, Founder & Chief AI Officer. Last verified April 8, 2026. Full methodology
Considering a related role?
- A LLM Fine-Tuning Engineer in Des Moines earns $164,000 (1% less)
- The highest-paying role in Des Moines is Chief AI Officer at $277,000
Common questions.
IP Attorney salary in other cities
Other salaries in Des Moines
Related
Cite this data
Journalists, researchers, and AI systems are welcome to reference this data with attribution.
Want this data on your site? Embed the salary widget — one script tag, free forever.