23 Series · SOC 23-2011
Paralegals and Legal Assistants Salary
National pay, percentile range, growth outlook, and state-by-state detail from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey (May 2025).
- $62,890
- Median / year
- $101,500
- Top 10% earn
- +0.2%
- Growth '23–'33
- 392,880
- US workers
Paralegals and Legal Assistants earn a median of $62,890 per year.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey, the median annual wage is $62,890, based on the most recent survey of employers. Reported pay ranges from $44,740 (10th percentile) to $101,500 (90th percentile) nationally, across roughly 392,880 US workers. District of Columbia pays the most ($89,750), since pay varies by state and metro area.
The pay verdict
Paralegals and Legal Assistants earn a median of $62,890, putting them above the typical US occupation and higher than 53% of the 825 occupations with a published BLS median. Within Legal, it ranks #7 of 8 by median pay. Employment is projected to grow 0.2% by 2033.
- $62,890
- Median annual wage
- Top 47%
- of 825 US occupations with published wages
- #7 of 8
- in Legal
- 2.3×
- 90th-to-10th pay spread
Highest-paying state: District of Columbia at $89,750. Typical entry-level education: Associate's degree.
Paralegals and Legal Assistants (SOC 23-2011) pays a national median of $62,890 per year according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey released in May 2025. Full-range compensation stretches from $44,740 at the 10th percentile to $101,500 at the 90th, with a mean of $69,700 indicating a right-skew where top earners pull the average above the midpoint. An estimated 392,880 Americans work in this occupation across 54 reporting states and 507 metro areas.
BLS Employment Projections forecast a +0.2% change in employment from 2024 to 2034, which the agency classifies as slower than average relative to the 5% all-occupations baseline. About 39,300 openings are projected per year, combining new positions with replacement needs from retirements and occupation-switchers. Typical entry-level preparation is Associate's degree. The BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) and Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII) produce a workplace-safety grade of A for this role, with a fatality rate of 0.2 per 100,000 and injury rate of 0.2 per 100.
Geographic variation matters as much as the headline median. District of Columbia pays the highest state median at $89,750, which is +43% above the national figure. The top metro is San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA at $99,250 - metro premiums typically reflect higher cost of living, industry concentration, or specialized employer demand. When using this page for negotiation or career planning, pair the national median with the state and metro rows below, remember that BLS wages exclude benefits, bonuses, and overtime, and revisit after each May OEWS release since percentiles shift with cost-of-living cycles and industry demand. See our methodology for exactly how these figures are sourced, computed, and verified.
BLS OEWS May 2025 392,880 jobs Median $62,890/yr
Median Salary
$62,890
per year
Median Hourly
$30.24/hr
per hour
Mean Salary
$69,700
average
Employment
392,880
jobs nationwide
How does this pay compare nationally?
Where Paralegals and Legal Assistants pay sits nationally
Median annual wage vs. 825 detailed BLS occupations with a published median
$62,890 Top 47% higher than 53% of 825 US occupations
Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US occupations. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS · May 2025
Does this job pay well and grow?
Each dot is a 23-series occupation, placed by projected 2024–2034 growth and median pay. The highlighted dot is Paralegals and Legal Assistants; the upper-right quadrant is the sweet spot (high pay + fast growth).
Among 8 23-series occupations with growth data, Paralegals and Legal Assistants sits on the slower-growing side at +0.2% growth and $62,890 median pay.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS (wages, May 2025) and Employment Projections (2024–2034).
Job Outlook (2024–2034)
Projected Growth
+0.2%
Slower than average
Annual Openings
39,300
per year (projected)
Typical Education
Associate's degree
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034
Workplace Safety
All safety ratings → A
Very Safe
Safety Grade (BLS 2023)
Fatality Rate
0.2/100K
Injury Rate
0.2/100
Danger Index
0.9/100
Source: BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) & Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII), 2023
Career Intelligence
Skills, knowledge, and tasks most important for Paralegals and Legal Assistants roles, ranked by importance. Source: O*NET.
Top Skills
Writing 4.0
Reading Comprehension 3.9
Active Listening 3.9
Speaking 3.6
Critical Thinking 3.3
Active Learning 3.0
Monitoring 3.0
Social Perceptiveness 3.0
Service Orientation 3.0
Complex Problem Solving 3.0
Knowledge Areas
Law and Government 4.8
English Language 4.4
Administrative 4.2
Computers and Electronics 3.9
Customer and Personal Service 3.6
Administration and Management 3.3
Mathematics 2.6
Education and Training 2.6
Economics and Accounting 2.5
Personnel and Human Resources 2.5
Key Tasks
- ▸ Prepare affidavits or other documents, such as legal correspondence, and organize and maintain documents in paper or electronic filing system.
- ▸ Prepare, edit, or review legal documents, including legislation, briefs, pleadings, appeals, wills, contracts, and real estate closing statements.
- ▸ Investigate facts and law of cases and search pertinent sources, such as public records and internet sources, to determine causes of action and to prepare cases.
- ▸ Prepare for trial by performing tasks such as organizing exhibits.
- ▸ Meet with clients and other professionals to discuss details of cases.
- ▸ Gather and analyze research data, such as statutes, decisions, and legal articles, codes, and documents.
- ▸ File pleadings with court clerks.
- ▸ Direct and coordinate law office activity, including delivery of subpoenas.
- ▸ Call upon witnesses to testify at hearings.
- ▸ Arbitrate disputes between parties and assist in the real estate closing process, such as by reviewing title searches.
Source: O*NET Online, National Center for O*NET Development. Data represents typical importance ratings for this occupation.
Salary Range
Annual Salary Distribution
Hourly Rate Distribution
10th Percentile
$44,740
25th Percentile
$50,340
Median
$62,890
75th Percentile
$80,080
90th Percentile
$101,500
Salary by State
Highest Paying States
View all 54 states →
| # | State | Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | $89,750 | +43% above national |
| 2 | Washington | $79,400 | +26% above national |
| 3 | Colorado | $78,190 | +24% above national |
| 4 | Massachusetts | $77,640 | +23% above national |
| 5 | California | $77,390 | +23% above national |
| 6 | Minnesota | $75,570 | +20% above national |
| 7 | New Jersey | $71,500 | +14% above national |
| 8 | Alaska | $68,700 | +9% above national |
| 9 | New York | $68,410 | +9% above national |
| 10 | Vermont | $67,160 | +7% above national |
| 11 | Maryland | $65,640 | +4% above national |
| 12 | Nevada | $64,680 | +3% above national |
| 13 | Virginia | $63,990 | +2% above national |
| 14 | Connecticut | $63,820 | +1% above national |
| 15 | Illinois | $63,670 | +1% above national |
| 16 | Pennsylvania | $63,370 | +1% above national |
| 17 | Nebraska | $63,250 | +1% above national |
| 18 | Utah | $63,220 | +1% above national |
| 19 | Delaware | $63,110 | same as national |
| 20 | Hawaii | $62,840 | same as national |
| 21 | Maine | $62,420 | 1% below national |
| 22 | Georgia | $62,400 | 1% below national |
| 23 | Texas | $62,310 | 1% below national |
| 24 | Michigan | $62,170 | 1% below national |
| 25 | New Hampshire | $62,040 | 1% below national |
| 26 | Arizona | $61,630 | 2% below national |
| 27 | Oregon | $61,490 | 2% below national |
| 28 | Missouri | $61,410 | 2% below national |
| 29 | Florida | $61,000 | 3% below national |
| 30 | Ohio | $60,420 | 4% below national |
| 31 | Louisiana | $60,250 | 4% below national |
| 32 | New Mexico | $59,840 | 5% below national |
| 33 | Kentucky | $59,830 | 5% below national |
| 34 | North Dakota | $59,430 | 6% below national |
| 35 | West Virginia | $59,000 | 6% below national |
| 36 | Tennessee | $58,820 | 6% below national |
| 37 | Wisconsin | $58,500 | 7% below national |
| 38 | South Dakota | $58,320 | 7% below national |
| 39 | North Carolina | $57,500 | 9% below national |
| 40 | Montana | $57,290 | 9% below national |
| 41 | Indiana | $57,030 | 9% below national |
| 42 | Rhode Island | $56,250 | 11% below national |
| 43 | Kansas | $55,000 | 13% below national |
| 44 | Iowa | $54,550 | 13% below national |
| 45 | South Carolina | $53,880 | 14% below national |
| 46 | Oklahoma | $53,170 | 15% below national |
| 47 | Virgin Islands | $52,140 | 17% below national |
| 48 | Idaho | $49,690 | 21% below national |
| 49 | Wyoming | $49,490 | 21% below national |
| 50 | Arkansas | $47,420 | 25% below national |
| 51 | Alabama | $47,260 | 25% below national |
| 52 | Mississippi | $46,180 | 27% below national |
| 53 | Puerto Rico | $38,770 | 38% below national |
| 54 | Guam | $37,920 | 40% below national |
Salary by Metro Area
Highest Paying Metros
View all 507 metro areas →
| # | Metro Area | Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $99,250 | +58% above national |
| 2 | Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $92,900 | +48% above national |
| 3 | San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $84,030 | +34% above national |
| 4 | Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $81,590 | +30% above national |
| 5 | Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $80,930 | +29% above national |
| 6 | Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $80,500 | +28% above national |
| 7 | Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $79,850 | +27% above national |
| 8 | Vallejo, CA | $79,280 | +26% above national |
| 9 | Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $78,550 | +25% above national |
| 10 | Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $78,160 | +24% above national |
| 11 | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $77,520 | +23% above national |
| 12 | Napa, CA | $77,020 | +22% above national |
| 13 | Parkersburg-Vienna, WV | $76,400 | +21% above national |
| 14 | San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $76,300 | +21% above national |
| 15 | Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $76,220 | +21% above national |
| 16 | Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $75,430 | +20% above national |
| 17 | New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $75,330 | +20% above national |
| 18 | Wenatchee-East Wenatchee, WA | $75,230 | +20% above national |
| 19 | San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $75,200 | +20% above national |
| 20 | Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $74,780 | +19% above national |
| 21 | Northwest Colorado nonmetropolitan area | $74,210 | +18% above national |
| 22 | Alaska nonmetropolitan area | $73,380 | +17% above national |
| 23 | Trenton-Princeton, NJ | $73,250 | +16% above national |
| 24 | Massachusetts nonmetropolitan area | $72,970 | +16% above national |
| 25 | Fairbanks-College, AK | $71,390 | +14% above national |
| 26 | Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA | $71,310 | +13% above national |
| 27 | Burlington-South Burlington, VT | $71,160 | +13% above national |
| 28 | Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA | $71,140 | +13% above national |
| 29 | Worcester, MA | $70,990 | +13% above national |
| 30 | Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $70,550 | +12% above national |
| 31 | Stockton-Lodi, CA | $70,520 | +12% above national |
| 32 | Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $70,430 | +12% above national |
| 33 | Carson City, NV | $70,010 | +11% above national |
| 34 | Hanford-Corcoran, CA | $69,600 | +11% above national |
| 35 | Fort Collins-Loveland, CO | $69,440 | +10% above national |
| 36 | Eastern and Southern Colorado nonmetropolitan area | $69,110 | +10% above national |
| 37 | Southwest Colorado nonmetropolitan area | $69,110 | +10% above national |
| 38 | Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT | $67,500 | +7% above national |
| 39 | Kahului-Wailuku, HI | $67,480 | +7% above national |
| 40 | Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV | $66,720 | +6% above national |
| 41 | Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ | $66,540 | +6% above national |
| 42 | Iowa City, IA | $66,400 | +6% above national |
| 43 | Anchorage, AK | $66,210 | +5% above national |
| 44 | Boulder, CO | $66,090 | +5% above national |
| 45 | Springfield, MA | $65,820 | +5% above national |
| 46 | Northern Vermont nonmetropolitan area | $65,700 | +4% above national |
| 47 | Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | $65,640 | +4% above national |
| 48 | Southern Vermont nonmetropolitan area | $65,390 | +4% above national |
| 49 | Colorado Springs, CO | $64,830 | +3% above national |
| 50 | New Orleans-Metairie, LA | $64,780 | +3% above national |
| 51 | Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $64,690 | +3% above national |
| 52 | Salt Lake City-Murray, UT | $64,670 | +3% above national |
| 53 | Naples-Marco Island, FL | $64,660 | +3% above national |
| 54 | Greeley, CO | $64,620 | +3% above national |
| 55 | Waterbury-Shelton, CT | $64,570 | +3% above national |
| 56 | Midland, TX | $64,500 | +3% above national |
| 57 | Visalia, CA | $64,380 | +2% above national |
| 58 | Las Cruces, NM | $64,370 | +2% above national |
| 59 | Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $64,330 | +2% above national |
| 60 | Barnstable Town, MA | $64,310 | +2% above national |
| 61 | Portland-South Portland, ME | $64,280 | +2% above national |
| 62 | Omaha, NE-IA | $64,230 | +2% above national |
| 63 | Helena, MT | $64,210 | +2% above national |
| 64 | Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | $64,140 | +2% above national |
| 65 | Eastern Sierra-Mother Lode Region of California nonmetropolitan area | $64,100 | +2% above national |
| 66 | Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $64,080 | +2% above national |
| 67 | Amherst Town-Northampton, MA | $64,050 | +2% above national |
| 68 | Southeast Minnesota nonmetropolitan area | $64,020 | +2% above national |
| 69 | Bellingham, WA | $63,950 | +2% above national |
| 70 | Salinas, CA | $63,950 | +2% above national |
| 71 | Kansas City, MO-KS | $63,880 | +2% above national |
| 72 | Western Washington nonmetropolitan area | $63,860 | +2% above national |
| 73 | Lexington Park, MD | $63,770 | +1% above national |
| 74 | Lexington-Fayette, KY | $63,640 | +1% above national |
| 75 | Pittsburgh, PA | $63,620 | +1% above national |
| 76 | Wasatch Front Fringe Utah nonmetropolitan area | $63,580 | +1% above national |
| 77 | Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $63,420 | +1% above national |
| 78 | Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | $63,400 | +1% above national |
| 79 | New Haven, CT | $63,390 | +1% above national |
| 80 | Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV | $63,290 | +1% above national |
| 81 | Hawaii / Kauai nonmetropolitan area | $63,270 | +1% above national |
| 82 | Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $63,220 | +1% above national |
| 83 | Yakima, WA | $63,140 | same as national |
| 84 | El Centro, CA | $63,000 | same as national |
| 85 | Richmond, VA | $62,940 | same as national |
| 86 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $62,840 | same as national |
| 87 | Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $62,730 | same as national |
| 88 | North Valley-Northern Mountains Region of California nonmetropolitan area | $62,690 | same as national |
| 89 | Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | $62,620 | same as national |
| 90 | Kennewick-Richland, WA | $62,500 | 1% below national |
| 91 | Jacksonville, FL | $62,480 | 1% below national |
| 92 | Fresno, CA | $62,450 | 1% below national |
| 93 | North Coast Region of California nonmetropolitan area | $62,440 | 1% below national |
| 94 | Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI | $62,370 | 1% below national |
| 95 | Southwest Minnesota nonmetropolitan area | $62,300 | 1% below national |
| 96 | Kingston, NY | $62,210 | 1% below national |
| 97 | Pittsfield, MA | $62,210 | 1% below national |
| 98 | Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | $62,130 | 1% below national |
| 99 | Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $62,090 | 1% below national |
| 100 | Manchester-Nashua, NH | $62,040 | 1% below national |
| 101 | Eastern New Mexico nonmetropolitan area | $62,030 | 1% below national |
| 102 | St. Louis, MO-IL | $61,970 | 1% below national |
| 103 | Central New Hampshire nonmetropolitan area | $61,960 | 1% below national |
| 104 | Raleigh-Cary, NC | $61,880 | 2% below national |
| 105 | Morgantown, WV | $61,840 | 2% below national |
| 106 | Lancaster, PA | $61,780 | 2% below national |
| 107 | West North Dakota nonmetropolitan area | $61,620 | 2% below national |
| 108 | Ann Arbor, MI | $61,480 | 2% below national |
| 109 | Northwest Minnesota nonmetropolitan area | $61,470 | 2% below national |
| 110 | Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $61,460 | 2% below national |
| 111 | Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA | $61,450 | 2% below national |
| 112 | Lincoln, NE | $61,440 | 2% below national |
| 113 | Grand Junction, CO | $61,420 | 2% below national |
| 114 | Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY | $61,350 | 2% below national |
| 115 | Merced, CA | $61,320 | 2% below national |
| 116 | Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $61,270 | 3% below national |
| 117 | Rochester, MN | $61,230 | 3% below national |
| 118 | Peoria, IL | $61,220 | 3% below national |
| 119 | Central Oregon nonmetropolitan area | $61,160 | 3% below national |
| 120 | Syracuse, NY | $61,150 | 3% below national |
| 121 | Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ | $61,000 | 3% below national |
| 122 | Cleveland, OH | $60,960 | 3% below national |
| 123 | East North Dakota nonmetropolitan area | $60,870 | 3% below national |
| 124 | Northeast Maine nonmetropolitan area | $60,810 | 3% below national |
| 125 | Madison, WI | $60,800 | 3% below national |
| 126 | Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | $60,800 | 3% below national |
| 127 | Eastern Washington nonmetropolitan area | $60,720 | 3% below national |
| 128 | Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL | $60,700 | 3% below national |
| 129 | Yuma, AZ | $60,700 | 3% below national |
| 130 | Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY | $60,680 | 4% below national |
| 131 | Yuba City, CA | $60,650 | 4% below national |
| 132 | Ithaca, NY | $60,550 | 4% below national |
| 133 | Elizabethtown, KY | $60,540 | 4% below national |
| 134 | Sussex Delaware nonmetropolitan area | $60,500 | 4% below national |
| 135 | Balance of Nevada nonmetropolitan area | $60,480 | 4% below national |
| 136 | Columbus, OH | $60,430 | 4% below national |
| 137 | Binghamton, NY | $60,420 | 4% below national |
| 138 | Fayetteville, NC | $60,370 | 4% below national |
| 139 | Port St. Lucie, FL | $60,370 | 4% below national |
| 140 | Savannah, GA | $60,370 | 4% below national |
| 141 | Vineland, NJ | $60,370 | 4% below national |
| 142 | Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA | $60,360 | 4% below national |
| 143 | Bend, OR | $60,340 | 4% below national |
| 144 | Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | $60,340 | 4% below national |
| 145 | Santa Fe, NM | $60,320 | 4% below national |
| 146 | Akron, OH | $60,290 | 4% below national |
| 147 | Connecticut nonmetropolitan area | $60,240 | 4% below national |
| 148 | Lansing-East Lansing, MI | $60,220 | 4% below national |
| 149 | Bloomington, IL | $60,160 | 4% below national |
| 150 | Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | $60,150 | 4% below national |
| 151 | West South Dakota nonmetropolitan area | $60,150 | 4% below national |
| 152 | Walla Walla, WA | $60,120 | 4% below national |
| 153 | Bismarck, ND | $60,110 | 4% below national |
| 154 | Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | $60,080 | 4% below national |
| 155 | North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL | $60,070 | 4% below national |
| 156 | Roanoke, VA | $60,060 | 4% below national |
| 157 | Sioux Falls, SD-MN | $60,060 | 4% below national |
| 158 | Springfield, IL | $59,990 | 5% below national |
| 159 | Toledo, OH | $59,960 | 5% below national |
| 160 | Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | $59,950 | 5% below national |
| 161 | Maryland nonmetropolitan area | $59,940 | 5% below national |
| 162 | Odessa, TX | $59,890 | 5% below national |
| 163 | St. Cloud, MN | $59,890 | 5% below national |
| 164 | Pueblo, CO | $59,880 | 5% below national |
| 165 | Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $59,870 | 5% below national |
| 166 | Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $59,790 | 5% below national |
| 167 | Northeast Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $59,780 | 5% below national |
| 168 | Amarillo, TX | $59,740 | 5% below national |
| 169 | Charlottesville, VA | $59,740 | 5% below national |
| 170 | Rockford, IL | $59,700 | 5% below national |
| 171 | Decatur, IL | $59,690 | 5% below national |
| 172 | Redding, CA | $59,620 | 5% below national |
| 173 | Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA | $59,540 | 5% below national |
| 174 | Lebanon, PA | $59,490 | 5% below national |
| 175 | Mankato, MN | $59,490 | 5% below national |
| 176 | Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | $59,470 | 5% below national |
| 177 | Minot, ND | $59,430 | 6% below national |
| 178 | York-Hanover, PA | $59,400 | 6% below national |
| 179 | Farmington, NM | $59,380 | 6% below national |
| 180 | Albuquerque, NM | $59,370 | 6% below national |
| 181 | Chattanooga, TN-GA | $59,290 | 6% below national |
| 182 | Southwest Maine nonmetropolitan area | $59,210 | 6% below national |
| 183 | Eastern Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $59,200 | 6% below national |
| 184 | Bowling Green, KY | $59,170 | 6% below national |
| 185 | Glens Falls, NY | $59,170 | 6% below national |
| 186 | Northern New Mexico nonmetropolitan area | $59,150 | 6% below national |
| 187 | Bozeman, MT | $59,120 | 6% below national |
| 188 | Paducah, KY-IL | $59,110 | 6% below national |
| 189 | Southwest Montana nonmetropolitan area | $59,070 | 6% below national |
| 190 | Baton Rouge, LA | $59,030 | 6% below national |
| 191 | Jackson, MI | $59,030 | 6% below national |
| 192 | Border Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $59,000 | 6% below national |
| 193 | Killeen-Temple, TX | $58,970 | 6% below national |
| 194 | Shreveport-Bossier City, LA | $58,900 | 6% below national |
| 195 | Fort Wayne, IN | $58,870 | 6% below national |
| 196 | Bloomington, IN | $58,850 | 6% below national |
| 197 | Dover, DE | $58,830 | 6% below national |
| 198 | Modesto, CA | $58,820 | 6% below national |
| 199 | Abilene, TX | $58,700 | 7% below national |
| 200 | Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH | $58,680 | 7% below national |
| 201 | Billings, MT | $58,670 | 7% below national |
| 202 | Coastal Plains Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $58,660 | 7% below national |
| 203 | Greensboro-High Point, NC | $58,650 | 7% below national |
| 204 | Winchester, VA-WV | $58,640 | 7% below national |
| 205 | Waco, TX | $58,620 | 7% below national |
| 206 | Northwestern Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $58,620 | 7% below national |
| 207 | Champaign-Urbana, IL | $58,580 | 7% below national |
| 208 | Reading, PA | $58,570 | 7% below national |
| 209 | Lewiston-Auburn, ME | $58,430 | 7% below national |
| 210 | Johnstown, PA | $58,390 | 7% below national |
| 211 | Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA | $58,320 | 7% below national |
| 212 | Bangor, ME | $58,280 | 7% below national |
| 213 | Chico, CA | $58,280 | 7% below national |
| 214 | Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY | $58,270 | 7% below national |
| 215 | Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL | $58,250 | 7% below national |
| 216 | East Central Illinois nonmetropolitan area | $58,220 | 7% below national |
| 217 | Slidell-Mandeville-Covington, LA | $58,070 | 8% below national |
| 218 | Kokomo, IN | $57,960 | 8% below national |
| 219 | East South Dakota nonmetropolitan area | $57,820 | 8% below national |
| 220 | Duluth, MN-WI | $57,790 | 8% below national |
| 221 | Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC | $57,780 | 8% below national |
| 222 | Wildwood-The Villages, FL | $57,740 | 8% below national |
| 223 | Canton-Massillon, OH | $57,730 | 8% below national |
| 224 | State College, PA | $57,680 | 8% below national |
| 225 | Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA | $57,600 | 8% below national |
| 226 | Northern New Hampshire nonmetropolitan area | $57,560 | 8% below national |
| 227 | Fargo, ND-MN | $57,550 | 8% below national |
| 228 | Oklahoma City, OK | $57,550 | 8% below national |
| 229 | North Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $57,550 | 8% below national |
| 230 | College Station-Bryan, TX | $57,510 | 9% below national |
| 231 | Asheville, NC | $57,500 | 9% below national |
| 232 | Appleton, WI | $57,450 | 9% below national |
| 233 | Cedar Rapids, IA | $57,420 | 9% below national |
| 234 | Grants Pass, OR | $57,380 | 9% below national |
| 235 | Tyler, TX | $57,320 | 9% below national |
| 236 | Rochester, NY | $57,250 | 9% below national |
| 237 | Salem, OR | $57,230 | 9% below national |
| 238 | Coast Oregon nonmetropolitan area | $57,230 | 9% below national |
| 239 | Columbia, SC | $57,220 | 9% below national |
| 240 | Medford, OR | $57,200 | 9% below national |
| 241 | Northeast Minnesota nonmetropolitan area | $57,150 | 9% below national |
| 242 | Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach, FL | $57,110 | 9% below national |
| 243 | Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | $57,100 | 9% below national |
| 244 | Great Falls, MT | $57,090 | 9% below national |
| 245 | Charleston-North Charleston, SC | $57,030 | 9% below national |
| 246 | Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $57,030 | 9% below national |
| 247 | Sebastian-Vero Beach-West Vero Corridor, FL | $56,960 | 9% below national |
| 248 | Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $56,850 | 10% below national |
| 249 | Oshkosh-Neenah, WI | $56,780 | 10% below national |
| 250 | Alexandria, LA | $56,760 | 10% below national |
| 251 | Rapid City, SD | $56,720 | 10% below national |
| 252 | South Florida nonmetropolitan area | $56,700 | 10% below national |
| 253 | Tallahassee, FL | $56,660 | 10% below national |
| 254 | Southwestern New Hampshire nonmetropolitan area | $56,580 | 10% below national |
| 255 | Eugene-Springfield, OR | $56,340 | 10% below national |
| 256 | Traverse City, MI | $56,270 | 11% below national |
| 257 | Elmira, NY | $56,230 | 11% below national |
| 258 | Gainesville, GA | $56,200 | 11% below national |
| 259 | Watertown-Fort Drum, NY | $56,190 | 11% below national |
| 260 | Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent, FL | $56,140 | 11% below national |
| 261 | Norwich-New London-Willimantic, CT | $56,120 | 11% below national |
| 262 | Sioux City, IA-NE-SD | $56,100 | 11% below national |
| 263 | Wilmington, NC | $56,060 | 11% below national |
| 264 | Erie, PA | $56,040 | 11% below national |
| 265 | Northeast Nebraska nonmetropolitan area | $56,040 | 11% below national |
| 266 | Clarksville, TN-KY | $56,010 | 11% below national |
| 267 | Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin, FL | $55,960 | 11% below national |
| 268 | Eastern North Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $55,860 | 11% below national |
| 269 | El Paso, TX | $55,830 | 11% below national |
| 270 | Dubuque, IA | $55,740 | 11% below national |
| 271 | High Desert Utah nonmetropolitan area | $55,690 | 11% below national |
| 272 | Albany, OR | $55,580 | 12% below national |
| 273 | Reno, NV | $55,410 | 12% below national |
| 274 | Western Wyoming nonmetropolitan area | $55,410 | 12% below national |
| 275 | Flint, MI | $55,370 | 12% below national |
| 276 | Corvallis, OR | $55,210 | 12% below national |
| 277 | Spartanburg, SC | $55,000 | 13% below national |
| 278 | South Georgia nonmetropolitan area | $55,000 | 13% below national |
| 279 | Kenosha, WI | $54,940 | 13% below national |
| 280 | Utica-Rome, NY | $54,850 | 13% below national |
| 281 | Charleston, WV | $54,780 | 13% below national |
| 282 | Southeast Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area | $54,730 | 13% below national |
| 283 | Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA | $54,210 | 14% below national |
| 284 | Bay City, MI | $54,170 | 14% below national |
| 285 | Ogden, UT | $54,020 | 14% below national |
| 286 | Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC | $53,930 | 14% below national |
| 287 | Hill Country Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $53,630 | 15% below national |
| 288 | Boise City, ID | $53,470 | 15% below national |
| 289 | Western Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area | $53,470 | 15% below national |
| 290 | Northeastern Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area | $53,360 | 15% below national |
| 291 | Mid Michigan nonmetropolitan area | $53,350 | 15% below national |
| 292 | Owensboro, KY | $53,320 | 15% below national |
| 293 | San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | $53,300 | 15% below national |
| 294 | Ames, IA | $53,180 | 15% below national |
| 295 | Birmingham, AL | $53,160 | 15% below national |
| 296 | Kalamazoo-Portage, MI | $53,090 | 16% below national |
| 297 | Central East New York nonmetropolitan area | $53,030 | 16% below national |
| 298 | Texarkana, TX-AR | $52,590 | 16% below national |
| 299 | Lawrence, KS | $52,530 | 16% below national |
| 300 | Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | $52,500 | 17% below national |
| 301 | Tucson, AZ | $52,430 | 17% below national |
| 302 | Southwest Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area | $52,420 | 17% below national |
| 303 | Northern West Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $52,400 | 17% below national |
| 304 | Columbus, GA-AL | $52,280 | 17% below national |
| 305 | Northwestern Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | $52,240 | 17% below national |
| 306 | Northern Michigan nonmetropolitan area | $52,210 | 17% below national |
| 307 | Lafayette, LA | $52,130 | 17% below national |
| 308 | West Montana nonmetropolitan area | $52,120 | 17% below national |
| 309 | Racine-Mount Pleasant, WI | $52,000 | 17% below national |
| 310 | South Central Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area | $51,970 | 17% below national |
| 311 | Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH | $51,880 | 18% below national |
| 312 | Niles, MI | $51,820 | 18% below national |
| 313 | Jacksonville, NC | $51,630 | 18% below national |
| 314 | Burlington, NC | $51,620 | 18% below national |
| 315 | Eastern Oregon nonmetropolitan area | $51,620 | 18% below national |
| 316 | Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC | $51,560 | 18% below national |
| 317 | Green Bay, WI | $51,520 | 18% below national |
| 318 | Sheboygan, WI | $51,410 | 18% below national |
| 319 | Northeastern Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | $51,370 | 18% below national |
| 320 | St. George, UT | $51,350 | 18% below national |
| 321 | Panama City-Panama City Beach, FL | $51,340 | 18% below national |
| 322 | Corpus Christi, TX | $51,290 | 18% below national |
| 323 | Sebring, FL | $51,230 | 19% below national |
| 324 | Wheeling, WV-OH | $51,150 | 19% below national |
| 325 | Flagstaff, AZ | $51,140 | 19% below national |
| 326 | Evansville, IN | $51,110 | 19% below national |
| 327 | Terre Haute, IN | $51,070 | 19% below national |
| 328 | Northwestern Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area | $50,980 | 19% below national |
| 329 | Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN | $50,950 | 19% below national |
| 330 | Ocala, FL | $50,900 | 19% below national |
| 331 | Staunton-Stuarts Draft, VA | $50,890 | 19% below national |
| 332 | Harrisonburg, VA | $50,870 | 19% below national |
| 333 | Southern Ohio nonmetropolitan area | $50,870 | 19% below national |
| 334 | Muncie, IN | $50,810 | 19% below national |
| 335 | Janesville-Beloit, WI | $50,780 | 19% below national |
| 336 | Tulsa, OK | $50,740 | 19% below national |
| 337 | North Central Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | $50,720 | 19% below national |
| 338 | Brunswick-St. Simons, GA | $50,690 | 19% below national |
| 339 | Winston-Salem, NC | $50,680 | 19% below national |
| 340 | Missoula, MT | $50,670 | 19% below national |
| 341 | Lynchburg, VA | $50,660 | 19% below national |
| 342 | South Central Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | $50,640 | 19% below national |
| 343 | East Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | $50,640 | 19% below national |
| 344 | Northeast Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area | $50,540 | 20% below national |
| 345 | Columbus, IN | $50,500 | 20% below national |
| 346 | Jackson, MS | $50,470 | 20% below national |
| 347 | Johnson City, TN | $50,450 | 20% below national |
| 348 | Salisbury, MD | $50,420 | 20% below national |
| 349 | Southeast-Central Idaho nonmetropolitan area | $50,420 | 20% below national |
| 350 | Topeka, KS | $50,350 | 20% below national |
| 351 | Warner Robins, GA | $50,340 | 20% below national |
| 352 | Southern Michigan nonmetropolitan area | $50,270 | 20% below national |
| 353 | Wichita, KS | $50,240 | 20% below national |
| 354 | Coeur d'Alene, ID | $50,140 | 20% below national |
| 355 | Lewiston, ID-WA | $50,040 | 20% below national |
| 356 | Williamsport, PA | $50,010 | 20% below national |
| 357 | Lawton, OK | $49,940 | 21% below national |
| 358 | Morristown, TN | $49,940 | 21% below national |
| 359 | Goldsboro, NC | $49,890 | 21% below national |
| 360 | Southwestern Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | $49,840 | 21% below national |
| 361 | Hinesville, GA | $49,780 | 21% below national |
| 362 | Knoxville, TN | $49,780 | 21% below national |
| 363 | Macon-Bibb County, GA | $49,780 | 21% below national |
| 364 | St. Joseph, MO-KS | $49,760 | 21% below national |
| 365 | Northwest Iowa nonmetropolitan area | $49,730 | 21% below national |
| 366 | La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN | $49,720 | 21% below national |
| 367 | South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI | $49,650 | 21% below national |
| 368 | Central Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | $49,610 | 21% below national |
| 369 | Eastern Wyoming nonmetropolitan area | $49,540 | 21% below national |
| 370 | Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL | $49,520 | 21% below national |
| 371 | Prescott Valley-Prescott, AZ | $49,500 | 21% below national |
| 372 | Sierra Vista-Douglas, AZ | $49,500 | 21% below national |
| 373 | Chambersburg, PA | $49,490 | 21% below national |
| 374 | Mobile, AL | $49,460 | 21% below national |
| 375 | Pinehurst-Southern Pines, NC | $49,430 | 21% below national |
| 376 | Central North Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $49,430 | 21% below national |
| 377 | Columbia, MO | $49,390 | 21% below national |
| 378 | Central Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | $49,380 | 21% below national |
| 379 | Casper, WY | $49,360 | 22% below national |
| 380 | Northeast Louisiana nonmetropolitan area | $49,360 | 22% below national |
| 381 | Eastern Ohio nonmetropolitan area | $49,360 | 22% below national |
| 382 | Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR | $49,330 | 22% below national |
| 383 | Central Louisiana nonmetropolitan area | $49,310 | 22% below national |
| 384 | Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC | $49,300 | 22% below national |
| 385 | Grand Forks, ND-MN | $49,290 | 22% below national |
| 386 | West Central Illinois nonmetropolitan area | $49,240 | 22% below national |
| 387 | Albany, GA | $49,210 | 22% below national |
| 388 | Springfield, MO | $49,210 | 22% below national |
| 389 | South Illinois nonmetropolitan area | $49,170 | 22% below national |
| 390 | Rocky Mount, NC | $49,140 | 22% below national |
| 391 | Rome, GA | $49,140 | 22% below national |
| 392 | Altoona, PA | $49,110 | 22% below national |
| 393 | Southwest New York nonmetropolitan area | $49,110 | 22% below national |
| 394 | Michigan City-La Porte, IN | $49,090 | 22% below national |
| 395 | Eau Claire, WI | $49,050 | 22% below national |
| 396 | North Georgia nonmetropolitan area | $48,990 | 22% below national |
| 397 | Jackson, TN | $48,970 | 22% below national |
| 398 | Lake Charles, LA | $48,970 | 22% below national |
| 399 | Homosassa Springs, FL | $48,940 | 22% below national |
| 400 | Punta Gorda, FL | $48,910 | 22% below national |
| 401 | Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX | $48,890 | 22% below national |
| 402 | Athens-Clarke County, GA | $48,840 | 22% below national |
| 403 | Southeast Iowa nonmetropolitan area | $48,840 | 22% below national |
| 404 | East Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | $48,790 | 22% below national |
| 405 | East Georgia nonmetropolitan area | $48,760 | 22% below national |
| 406 | Southside Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $48,750 | 22% below national |
| 407 | Saginaw, MI | $48,740 | 22% below national |
| 408 | Southwest Iowa nonmetropolitan area | $48,670 | 23% below national |
| 409 | Cleveland, TN | $48,640 | 23% below national |
| 410 | Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC | $48,530 | 23% below national |
| 411 | East-Central Montana nonmetropolitan area | $48,470 | 23% below national |
| 412 | North Florida nonmetropolitan area | $48,460 | 23% below national |
| 413 | Middle Georgia nonmetropolitan area | $48,440 | 23% below national |
| 414 | Elkhart-Goshen, IN | $48,410 | 23% below national |
| 415 | Upper Peninsula of Michigan nonmetropolitan area | $48,360 | 23% below national |
| 416 | Montgomery, AL | $48,350 | 23% below national |
| 417 | Sandusky, OH | $48,350 | 23% below national |
| 418 | Cheyenne, WY | $48,260 | 23% below national |
| 419 | Florence, SC | $48,230 | 23% below national |
| 420 | Valdosta, GA | $48,150 | 23% below national |
| 421 | Lima, OH | $48,140 | 23% below national |
| 422 | Sherman-Denison, TX | $48,110 | 24% below national |
| 423 | Northwestern South Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $48,050 | 24% below national |
| 424 | Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA | $48,030 | 24% below national |
| 425 | Upper East Mississippi nonmetropolitan area | $48,030 | 24% below national |
| 426 | Longview, TX | $47,990 | 24% below national |
| 427 | Muskegon-Norton Shores, MI | $47,940 | 24% below national |
| 428 | Northern Indiana nonmetropolitan area | $47,910 | 24% below national |
| 429 | Manhattan, KS | $47,890 | 24% below national |
| 430 | Northeast Iowa nonmetropolitan area | $47,870 | 24% below national |
| 431 | Capital/Northern New York nonmetropolitan area | $47,850 | 24% below national |
| 432 | Gainesville, FL | $47,840 | 24% below national |
| 433 | Jefferson City, MO | $47,840 | 24% below national |
| 434 | Provo-Orem-Lehi, UT | $47,830 | 24% below national |
| 435 | Dalton, GA | $47,780 | 24% below national |
| 436 | Northwestern Idaho nonmetropolitan area | $47,750 | 24% below national |
| 437 | North Northeastern Ohio nonmetropolitan area (noncontiguous) | $47,720 | 24% below national |
| 438 | Northwest Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $47,700 | 24% below national |
| 439 | Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR | $47,690 | 24% below national |
| 440 | Springfield, OH | $47,680 | 24% below national |
| 441 | Northwest Nebraska nonmetropolitan area | $47,620 | 24% below national |
| 442 | Greenville, NC | $47,530 | 24% below national |
| 443 | South Nebraska nonmetropolitan area | $47,520 | 24% below national |
| 444 | Fond du Lac, WI | $47,420 | 25% below national |
| 445 | Kansas nonmetropolitan area | $47,400 | 25% below national |
| 446 | Wichita Falls, TX | $47,360 | 25% below national |
| 447 | McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX | $47,330 | 25% below national |
| 448 | Dothan, AL | $47,260 | 25% below national |
| 449 | Central Indiana nonmetropolitan area | $47,170 | 25% below national |
| 450 | Mansfield, OH | $47,150 | 25% below national |
| 451 | Central Missouri nonmetropolitan area | $47,090 | 25% below national |
| 452 | Monroe, LA | $47,070 | 25% below national |
| 453 | Laredo, TX | $47,060 | 25% below national |
| 454 | Southern South Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $47,060 | 25% below national |
| 455 | Youngstown-Warren, OH | $47,040 | 25% below national |
| 456 | Twin Falls, ID | $46,870 | 25% below national |
| 457 | Sumter, SC | $46,750 | 26% below national |
| 458 | Southeast Missouri nonmetropolitan area | $46,710 | 26% below national |
| 459 | Northeastern South Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $46,690 | 26% below national |
| 460 | Pocatello, ID | $46,670 | 26% below national |
| 461 | Southwest Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $46,670 | 26% below national |
| 462 | Idaho Falls, ID | $46,640 | 26% below national |
| 463 | West Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | $46,640 | 26% below national |
| 464 | Fort Smith, AR-OK | $46,620 | 26% below national |
| 465 | Joplin, MO-KS | $46,620 | 26% below national |
| 466 | Lake Havasu City-Kingman, AZ | $46,590 | 26% below national |
| 467 | South Central Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | $46,590 | 26% below national |
| 468 | Huntsville, AL | $46,580 | 26% below national |
| 469 | Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux, LA | $46,560 | 26% below national |
| 470 | Western North Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $46,520 | 26% below national |
| 471 | Logan, UT-ID | $46,290 | 26% below national |
| 472 | Gulfport-Biloxi, MS | $46,240 | 26% below national |
| 473 | Arizona nonmetropolitan area | $46,210 | 27% below national |
| 474 | Cape Girardeau, MO-IL | $46,160 | 27% below national |
| 475 | Eagle Pass, TX | $46,030 | 27% below national |
| 476 | North Arkansas nonmetropolitan area | $45,960 | 27% below national |
| 477 | Tuscaloosa, AL | $45,860 | 27% below national |
| 478 | West Arkansas nonmetropolitan area | $45,840 | 27% below national |
| 479 | Lubbock, TX | $45,780 | 27% below national |
| 480 | Wausau, WI | $45,590 | 28% below national |
| 481 | Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL | $45,540 | 28% below national |
| 482 | Jonesboro, AR | $45,520 | 28% below national |
| 483 | Brownsville-Harlingen, TX | $45,480 | 28% below national |
| 484 | Enid, OK | $45,460 | 28% below national |
| 485 | Southern Indiana nonmetropolitan area | $45,320 | 28% below national |
| 486 | Hattiesburg, MS | $45,050 | 28% below national |
| 487 | Southwest Louisiana nonmetropolitan area | $44,740 | 29% below national |
| 488 | Northeast Alabama nonmetropolitan area | $44,660 | 29% below national |
| 489 | Daphne-Fairhope-Foley, AL | $43,990 | 30% below national |
| 490 | Northwest Illinois nonmetropolitan area | $43,960 | 30% below national |
| 491 | North Missouri nonmetropolitan area | $43,780 | 30% below national |
| 492 | Auburn-Opelika, AL | $43,280 | 31% below national |
| 493 | Northwest Alabama nonmetropolitan area | $42,590 | 32% below national |
| 494 | Decatur, AL | $42,510 | 32% below national |
| 495 | Southwest Missouri nonmetropolitan area | $41,600 | 34% below national |
| 496 | Northwest Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area | $41,600 | 34% below national |
| 497 | Anniston-Oxford, AL | $39,270 | 38% below national |
| 498 | San Juan-Bayamon-Caguas, PR | $38,780 | 38% below national |
| 499 | Southwest Alabama nonmetropolitan area | $38,590 | 39% below national |
| 500 | West Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | $38,480 | 39% below national |
| 501 | Gadsden, AL | $37,980 | 40% below national |
| 502 | West Delta Mississippi nonmetropolitan area | $37,600 | 40% below national |
| 503 | Southern West Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $37,250 | 41% below national |
| 504 | Lower West Mississippi nonmetropolitan area | $36,630 | 42% below national |
| 505 | Lower East Mississippi nonmetropolitan area | $36,420 | 42% below national |
| 506 | Beckley, WV | $35,900 | 43% below national |
| 507 | Southeast Alabama nonmetropolitan area | $35,790 | 43% below national |
Similar Occupations in the Same Category
Other roles in SOC major group 23 (legal) with comparable pay and career paths.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a Paralegals and Legal Assistants make? ▼
The median annual salary for Paralegals and Legal Assistants is $62,890 ($30.24/hour). The salary range spans from $44,740 at the 10th percentile to $101,500 at the 90th percentile.
What state pays Paralegals and Legal Assistants the most? ▼
District of Columbia pays the highest median salary for Paralegals and Legal Assistants at $89,750/year, which is +43% above the national median.
What education do you need to become a Paralegals and Legal Assistants? ▼
The typical entry-level education for Paralegals and Legal Assistants is Associate's degree.
How dangerous is being a Paralegals and Legal Assistants? ▼
Paralegals and Legal Assistants has a safety grade of A (Very Safe) based on BLS data. The fatality rate is 0.2 per 100,000 workers and the injury rate is 0.2 per 100 workers.
Is Paralegals and Legal Assistants a good career? ▼
Employment for Paralegals and Legal Assistants is projected to grow 0.2% from 2024 to 2034, which is slower than average. About 39,300 openings are projected each year.
How does Paralegals and Legal Assistants pay vary by state? ▼
Paralegals and Legal Assistants salaries vary significantly by state. The highest-paying state is District of Columbia at $89,750/year, while Arkansas pays the least at $47,420/year. BLS data covers 54 states and territories.
Which metro areas pay the most for Paralegals and Legal Assistants? ▼
The highest-paying metro area for Paralegals and Legal Assistants is San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA at $99,250/year. BLS reports wage data for 507 metro areas for this occupation, with pay varying based on local demand and cost of living.
What to do with this data
How to use Paralegals and Legal Assistants pay figures in a real decision
- For an experienced offer, anchor on the 75th percentile (about $80,080/year), not the median. The median marks the middle worker; the upper quartile is the realistic target with strong experience. Salary calculator
- Location moves pay significantly: District of Columbia leads at $89,750/year for this role. Weigh state pay against local cost of living before relocating or negotiating remote. Pay by state
- Compare this occupation against similar roles before you decide, so you are reading the pay band in context rather than in isolation. Compare jobs
These are BLS survey estimates for the occupation, not a salary offer or a prediction for any individual. Your pay depends on experience, employer, exact role, and location.
Every figure on WageDex is rendered directly from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, no number is typed in by an editor. This occupation's figures are computed directly from the BLS OEWS and Employment Projections datasets, nothing is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of May 2025.
This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or career advice. Actual pay for a specific role, employer, or offer may differ from these national/state figures, consult a qualified career counselor, recruiter, or financial advisor before making decisions based on this data.