Paralegals and Legal Assistants pay in the United States
In the U.S., the median pay for paralegals and legal assistants is $30.24 an hour ($62,890 a year). About 392,880 people work in this job there.
Pay range for paralegals and legal assistants in the U.S.
| Earns more than | Hourly | Yearly |
|---|---|---|
| 10% of workers | $21.51 | $44,740 |
| 25% of workers | $24.20 | $50,340 |
| Half of workers (median) | $30.24 | $62,890 |
| 75% of workers | $38.50 | $80,080 |
| 90% of workers | $48.80 | $101,500 |
Best-paying states for paralegals and legal assistants
| State | Median yearly pay | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $89,750 | 6,400 |
| Washington | $79,400 | 9,460 |
| Colorado | $78,190 | 5,620 |
| Massachusetts | $77,640 | 7,800 |
| California | $77,390 | 47,130 |
| Minnesota | $75,570 | 7,400 |
| New Jersey | $71,500 | 12,010 |
| Alaska | $68,700 | 570 |
| New York | $68,410 | 34,220 |
| Vermont | $67,160 | 660 |
Pay by state
- Alabama · $47,260
- Alaska · $68,700
- Arizona · $61,630
- Arkansas · $47,420
- California · $77,390
- Colorado · $78,190
- Connecticut · $63,820
- Delaware · $63,110
- District of Columbia · $89,750
- Florida · $61,000
- Georgia · $62,400
- Hawaii · $62,840
- Idaho · $49,690
- Illinois · $63,670
- Indiana · $57,030
- Iowa · $54,550
- Kansas · $55,000
- Kentucky · $59,830
- Louisiana · $60,250
- Maine · $62,420
- Maryland · $65,640
- Massachusetts · $77,640
- Michigan · $62,170
- Minnesota · $75,570
- Mississippi · $46,180
- Missouri · $61,410
- Montana · $57,290
- Nebraska · $63,250
- Nevada · $64,680
- New Hampshire · $62,040
- New Jersey · $71,500
- New Mexico · $59,840
- New York · $68,410
- North Carolina · $57,500
- North Dakota · $59,430
- Ohio · $60,420
- Oklahoma · $53,170
- Oregon · $61,490
- Pennsylvania · $63,370
- Rhode Island · $56,250
- South Carolina · $53,880
- South Dakota · $58,320
- Tennessee · $58,820
- Texas · $62,310
- Utah · $63,220
- Vermont · $67,160
- Virginia · $63,990
- Washington · $79,400
- West Virginia · $59,000
- Wisconsin · $58,500
- Wyoming · $49,490
Education, experience and outlook for paralegals and legal assistants
- Typical education to start: Associate's degree (BLS)
- Related work experience most have: 2 to 4 years (O*NET)
- Job outlook: -0.3% over ten years, little or no change · about 40,800 openings a year (BLS)
Related jobs in the U.S.
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Post a job freeFind jobsCheck pay for any jobSource: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates. Figures are for wage and salary workers and do not include the self-employed. The median is the middle wage: half earn more, half earn less. Other job titles: O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license; O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. JAI Bot has modified this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.