Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI · SOC 23-2011

Paralegals and Legal Assistants in Milwaukee-Waukesha

Metro area salary data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025)

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Median Salary

$60,340

per year in Milwaukee-Waukesha

4% below

National Median

$62,890

per year nationally

Hourly Rate

$29.01/hr

median hourly

Employment

1,880

jobs in Milwaukee-Waukesha

BLS metro-level wage data places Paralegals and Legal Assistants pay in Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI at a median of $60,340 per year ($29.01/hr/hour), drawn from the OEWS May 2025 release for this Metropolitan Statistical Area. Compared to the national median of $62,890, Milwaukee-Waukesha pays 4% below, which typically tracks with a lower local cost of living or smaller specialized-employer cluster. Approximately 1,880 paralegals and legal assistantss are employed across the Milwaukee-Waukesha MSA in SOC 23-2011.

The Milwaukee-Waukesha pay distribution spans from $47,130 at the 10th percentile to $87,290 at the 90th — a 1.9× spread that reflects experience tenure, specialization, employer size, and the difference between public-sector, nonprofit, and private-sector compensation inside the metro. The 25th percentile sits at $48,550 and the 75th at $76,650, so half of Milwaukee-Waukesha-based paralegals and legal assistantss earn within that middle band.

Metro figures capture where you actually work, not just where you live — which matters for commuters. BLS draws metro boundaries from the OMB MSA definitions, so Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI covers the central city plus outlying counties tied to the metro economically. Remember that OEWS wages reflect base pay only: employer-provided health insurance, retirement matches, stock options, signing bonuses, overtime, and tips are excluded and can add 20-40% to real total compensation. Before using this metro median as a negotiation anchor, triangulate against the same occupation's national profile (linked below), its state-wide WI data, and peer-metro comparisons — a median is a starting point, not a ceiling.

Salary Range in Milwaukee-Waukesha

Annual Salary Distribution

$47,130$48,550$60,340$76,650$87,290
10th pct25thMedian75th90th pct

10th Percentile

$47,130

25th Percentile

$48,550

Median

$60,340

75th Percentile

$76,650

90th Percentile

$87,290

Top Paying Jobs in Milwaukee-Waukesha

Similar Occupations in Milwaukee-Waukesha

Other roles inside the Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI MSA from the same SOC major group.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a Paralegals and Legal Assistants make in Milwaukee-Waukesha?
The median annual salary for Paralegals and Legal Assistants in Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI is $60,340 ($29.01/hour). The salary range spans from $47,130 at the 10th percentile to $87,290 at the 90th percentile.
Is Milwaukee-Waukesha a good place to work as a Paralegals and Legal Assistants?
Paralegals and Legal Assistants in Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI earns 4% below the national median of $62,890. There are approximately 1,880 Paralegals and Legal Assistants jobs in this metro area.

Last updated: May 2025 (BLS OEWS annual release). Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025.

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