Paralegal Salary
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- $40,662
- 285,600
- 2.7
- 14.6%
- Certificate or Associate's degree
- Pre-Law
How much does a Paralegal make in the United States?
Table of Contents
Average Paralegal Yearly Salary in the United States
Paralegals earn an average yearly salary of $40,662. Salaries typically start from $23,598 and go up to $64,338.
Average Paralegal Hourly Wage in the United States
Paralegals earn an average hourly wage of $19.55. Hourly wages typically start from $11.35 and go up to $30.93.
These numbers may vary depending on several factors, like level of education, amount of experience, industry, company size and location.
Learn more about the Paralegal job market for salaries of real jobs in your area.
The average annual paralegal salary for the entire United States ranges from around $47,000 to $52,000, or close to $22 per hour. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ 2014-15 Occupational Outlook Handbook, that average will be a little lower in 2014-2015, as the Bureau states the median national annual salary for paralegals as $46,990. The average starting salary is around $39,938 while some may earn as little as $18,000 or as much as $110,000. Actual salaries will often vary, and in some cases by a significant amount of money, based on specialization within the field, region and location, years of experience, the employers’ business, and a variety of other components.
When considering high salaries in certain regions, it is important to take into account what might factor in to that salary – factors such as the median home price, projected paralegal employment growth, taxes for the regions, and cost of living. The average paralegal salary tends to be higher on the east and west coasts, and in the northeast and northwest as well. The Midwest and southern regions tend to yield the lowest average paralegal salary in the United States. States with average paralegal salaries over $50,000 are Hawaii, Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia, Washington D.C, and Washington. Regardless of the state or region under consideration, paralegals located closer to metropolitan areas tend to earn higher salaries than those working in rural areas. States that have higher living expenses typically payout a higher average paralegal salary as well.
The highest wages are found in law firms and legal firms, and some small firms. Next, family law firms, then smaller wages when employed by private insurance businesses and legal aide groups. A few employers offer regular bonuses and some areas of paralegal employment involve commissions.
Employment Type Mix
Source: CareerExplorer user data. View more Paralegal demographics
Salary Satisfaction
Source: CareerExplorer user data. View more Paralegal satisfaction
How to Become a Paralegal
Paralegal Earnings by Seniority
Top End Paralegal EarningsThe highest earning Paralegals in the United States earn: |
$30.93 an hour |
$64,337.8 per year |
Senior Paralegal EarningsSenior Paralegals in the United States earn: |
$23.41 an hour |
$48,690.1 per year |
Experienced Paralegal EarningsExperienced Paralegals in the United States earn: |
$17.82 an hour |
$37,060.4 per year |
Junior Paralegal EarningsJunior Paralegals in the United States earn: |
$13.41 an hour |
$27,892.9 per year |
Starting Paralegal EarningsStarting Paralegals in the United States earn: |
$11.35 an hour |
$23,598.3 per year |
Approximate values based on highest and lowest earning segments.
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Paralegal Salary Comparison
Paralegals earn more than 17% percent of similar careers in the United States.
| Forensic Science Technician Salary | $54k |
| Judicial Law Clerk Salary | $54k |
| Probation Officer Salary | $47k |
| Legislator Salary | $46k |
| Bailiff Salary | $46k |
| Paralegal Salary | $40k |
| Correctional Officer Salary | $39k |
| Legal Secretary Salary | $33k |
| Security Guard Salary | $27k |
Paralegal salary by state
Click on a state to learn more
| State | Hourly Wage | Annual Salary | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paralegal Salary in Maryland | $22.56 | $46,916.8 | # 1 |
| Paralegal Salary in California | $21.97 | $45,700.7 | # 2 |
| Paralegal Salary in New Jersey | $21.83 | $45,406.9 | # 3 |
| Paralegal Salary in New York | $20.83 | $43,321.5 | # 4 |
| Paralegal Salary in Illinois | $20.50 | $42,637.6 | # 5 |
| Paralegal Salary in Virginia | $20.03 | $41,660.9 | # 6 |
| Paralegal Salary in Washington | $19.79 | $41,165 | # 7 |
| Paralegal Salary in Massachusetts | $19.77 | $41,122 | # 8 |
| Paralegal Salary in United States | $19.55 | $40,662.5 | # 9 |
| Paralegal Salary in Colorado | $19.53 | $40,622 | # 10 |
| Paralegal Salary in Texas | $18.68 | $38,856.1 | # 11 |
| Paralegal Salary in Pennsylvania | $18.47 | $38,424.3 | # 12 |
| Paralegal Salary in Florida | $17.83 | $37,077.7 | # 13 |
| Paralegal Salary in Georgia | $17.24 | $35,869.4 | # 14 |
| Paralegal Salary in Ohio | $16.02 | $33,330.4 | # 15 |
| Paralegal Salary in North Carolina | $15.73 | $32,724.8 | # 16 |
| Paralegal Salary in Michigan | $15.54 | $32,325.3 | # 17 |
Career Attributes
- $40,662
- 285,600
- 2.7
- 14.6%
- Certificate or Associate's degree
- Pre-Law
Find your perfect career
Would you make a good paralegal? CareerExplorer's free assessment reveals how compatible you are with a career across 5 dimensions!
