Paralegals and Legal Assistants pay in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria

In Washington-Arlington-Alexandria (DC), the median pay for paralegals and legal assistants is $39.23 an hour ($81,590 a year). About 12,990 people work in this job there.

$39.23Median hourly pay
$64,180–$106,990Middle half of workers, yearly
12,990People in this job in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria (DC)

That is 30% higher than the U.S. median ($62,890). It is 9% lower than the District of Columbia median ($89,750).

Pay range for paralegals and legal assistants in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria (DC)

Earns more thanHourlyYearly
10% of workers$27.48$57,160
25% of workers$30.85$64,180
Half of workers (median)$39.23$81,590
75% of workers$51.44$106,990
90% of workers$60.59$126,020

Paralegals and Legal Assistants pay in District of Columbia metro areas

Metro areaMedian yearly payPeople in this job
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria (this page)$81,59012,990

District of Columbia unemployment rate: 5.7% (August 2026), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

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 Washington-Arlington-Alexandria (DC)

JobMedian yearly pay
Office Clerks, General$51,880
Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive$53,660
Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants$90,320
Legal Secretaries and Administrative Assistants$77,220
Medical Records Specialists$58,810
Eligibility Interviewers, Government Programs$66,130
Court, Municipal, and License Clerks$53,210
Legal Support Workers, All Other$169,690

Other job titles for this job

Law AssociateLegal ClerkCertified ParalegalPreparerContracts SpecialistCorporate Legal AssistantCorporate ParalegalEstate Planning ParalegalFamily Law ParalegalImmigration ParalegalIntellectual Property ParalegalLegal Aide

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Source: 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.