Paralegal Salaries By State – Pursue A Career As A Paralegal
Below is a comprehensive state by state review of the competitive salaries in the Paralegal field. There is a an immense amount of room for growth within this field, as experienced paralegals may find themselves in positions for promotions to higher positions such as administrative and managerial roles. Paralegal roles are suited for those seeking a challenging and engaging line of work in an ever growing field.
Paralegals heavily assist lawyers in preparation for trials, hearings and meetings. They may be present while questioning of the witness takes place in order to take notes, which allows them to be prepared to conduct witness interviews following the interviewing process the paralegal will be required to prepare a memo summarizing the testimony for the attorney.
We will discuss in detail How much do paralegals earn? Find paralegal salary and job growth information by state. See what your state has to offer paralegals and legal assistants.
Paralegals are an important pillar in the US legal system. They are responsible for preparing important legal documents such as:
- Correspondence
- Pleadings
- Interrogatories
- Testimonies
Paralegal salary is a set of different types of salaries clubbed together. They include base salary, bonus and overtime pay. It is assumed that paralegals earn a fair amount of money in today’s environment. The Paralegal salary is estimated to be around $34,000 to $70,000. To expect such a massive amount of compensation, it is essential to know precisely the paralegal work. The most common functions of a paralegal include meeting with the clients and witnesses, researching the laws pertinent to a case, drafting legal documents, and assisting attorneys with the trial preparation and during legal proceedings.
Most paralegals have either an associate’s degree in legal assisting or a bachelor’s degree in another field, with a legal assisting certificate. Many community colleges offer paralegal training programs and legal assisting certification programs. The National Association of Legal Assistants offers a two-day exam; candidates who pass them successfully may use either the Certified Legal Assistant or Certified Paralegal designation. And thus these designations define the Paralegal salary earn by the person.
Paralegal salary range
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2009, the median annual Paralegal salary was $46,980. But the salary range differs from industries to the state you are practising it. The top-paying industries include petroleum & coal products manufacturing which pays around $81,150 Paralegal salary; medical and diagnostic labs pay roughly $72,550; software publishers: $70,660; professional and commercial equipment and supplies merchant wholesalers: $69,650; computer and peripheral equipment manufacturing offers $69,200 as Paralegal salary.
Certain states offer handsome Paralegal salary to professionals. They include Columbia, offering $64,760; New York with $60,140; California: $59,690; Illinois offering $54,690 and Alaska offering Paralegal salary of $52,640.
Bonuses in Paralegal salary
Apart from the basic salary, everyone loves receiving bonuses, and this same is applied when distributing Paralegal salary. Law firms compensate Paralegals based on their work’s quantity and quality and the value of that work to the law practice. Paralegal salary also comprises of the referral fee. This referral fee is given to those paralegals, which refer the clients to the firm. A paralegal can earn as much as they want, once they gain experience and learn to do their job efficiently and effectively. All these factors will help a paralegal to calculate its Paralegal salary.
National estimates for A Paralegal:
Employment estimate and mean wage estimates for this occupation:
| Employment (1) | Employment RSE (3) | Mean hourly wage | Mean annual wage (2) | Wage RSE (3) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 309,940 | 1.1 % | $26.20 | $54,500 | 0.5 % |
Percentile wage estimates for this occupation:
| Percentile | 10% | 25% | 50% (Median) | 75% | 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hourly Wage | $15.10 | $18.68 | $24.49 | $31.29 | $39.45 |
| Annual Wage (2) | $31,400 | $38,860 | $50,940 | $65,080 | $82,050 |
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States with highest level of employment in this occupation:
- California
- Florida
- New York
- Texas
- Illinois
States with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in this occupation:
- District of Columbia
- Florida
- South Carolina
- Connecticut
- New York
Top paying States for this occupation:
- District of Columbia
- Connecticut
- California
- Washington
- Massachusetts
Best-Paying States for Paralegals
The states and districts that pay Paralegals the highest mean salary are District of Columbia ($83,420), Washington ($71,900), California ($70,290), Massachusetts ($66,820), and New Jersey ($65,950).
Industries with the highest levels of employment in this occupation:
| Industry | Employment (1) | Percent of industry employment | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Legal Services | 238,040 | 20.92 | $25.20 | $52,410 |
| Local Government, excluding schools and hospitals (OES Designation) | 13,930 | 0.25 | $26.36 | $54,820 |
| Federal Executive Branch (OES Designation) | 12,900 | 0.64 | $33.91 | $70,540 |
| State Government, excluding schools and hospitals (OES Designation) | 10,340 | 0.47 | $23.66 | $49,220 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | 6,520 | 0.27 | $33.19 | $69,040 |
Industries with the highest concentration of employment in this occupation:
| Industry | Employment (1) | Percent of industry employment | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Legal Services | 238,040 | 20.92 | $25.20 | $52,410 |
| Other Investment Pools and Funds | 120 | 1.38 | $27.60 | $57,410 |
| Lessors of Nonfinancial Intangible Assets (except Copyrighted Works) | 170 | 0.78 | $29.99 | $62,380 |
| Federal Executive Branch (OES Designation) | 12,900 | 0.64 | $33.91 | $70,540 |
| State Government, excluding schools and hospitals (OES Designation) | 10,340 | 0.47 | $23.66 | $49,220 |
Top paying industries for this occupation:
| Industry | Employment (1) | Percent of industry employment | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grantmaking and Giving Services | 90 | 0.07 | $45.54 | $94,710 |
| Software Publishers | 360 | 0.09 | $39.76 | $82,700 |
| Motor Vehicle Manufacturing | 30 | 0.01 | $39.69 | $82,560 |
| Natural Gas Distribution | 70 | 0.07 | $39.50 | $82,160 |
| Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing | 180 | 0.06 | $38.61 | $80,320 |
Top paying States for Paralegal:
| State | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | 5,330 | 7.48 | 3.49 | $38.69 | $80,470 |
| Connecticut | 4,780 | 2.88 | 1.34 | $30.17 | $62,760 |
| California | 33,390 | 1.96 | 0.92 | $29.44 | $61,240 |
| Washington | 6,220 | 1.91 | 0.89 | $29.30 | $60,940 |
| Massachusetts | 7,330 | 2.05 | 0.96 | $29.00 | $60,320 |
Metropolitan areas with the highest employment level in Paralegal :
| Metropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA | 26,250 | 2.76 | 1.29 | $29.18 | $60,700 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 15,960 | 2.61 | 1.22 | $26.73 | $55,590 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | 13,100 | 5.06 | 2.36 | $25.74 | $53,540 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI | 11,680 | 2.52 | 1.18 | $27.68 | $57,570 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 11,540 | 3.68 | 1.72 | $33.09 | $68,820 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 8,820 | 3.09 | 1.45 | $26.80 | $55,740 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | 7,290 | 2.72 | 1.27 | $26.86 | $55,870 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 7,280 | 2.04 | 0.95 | $31.20 | $64,900 |
| Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX | 6,160 | 2.06 | 0.96 | $28.75 | $59,800 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH | 6,040 | 2.19 | 1.02 | $29.89 | $62,170 |
Top paying metropolitan areas for Paralegal:
| Metropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | 1,880 | 1.68 | 0.78 | $41.65 | $86,630 |
| Napa, CA | 50 | 0.62 | 0.29 | $37.73 | $78,480 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | 340 | 1.10 | 0.51 | $35.99 | $74,860 |
| Trenton, NJ | 640 | 2.75 | 1.28 | $33.38 | $69,430 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 11,540 | 3.68 | 1.72 | $33.09 | $68,820 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA | 5,540 | 2.29 | 1.07 | $33.04 | $68,730 |
| San Diego-Carlsbad, CA | 2,840 | 1.94 | 0.91 | $32.90 | $68,440 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | 4,110 | 2.07 | 0.97 | $31.72 | $65,980 |
| Reno, NV | 330 | 1.43 | 0.67 | $31.59 | $65,700 |
| Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT | 2,130 | 3.65 | 1.70 | $31.38 | $65,280 |
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Alabama:
Employment: 3,000
Location quotient: 0.72
Employment per 1,000: 1.55
Annual mean salary: $45,530“
Alaska:
Employment: 690
Location quotient: 1.02
Employment per 1,000: 2.17
Annual mean wage: $59,140
Arizona:
Employment: 7,280
Location quotient: 1.22
Employment per 1,000: 2.61
Annual mean wage: $48,370
Arkansas:
Employment: 1,890
Location quotient: 0.73
Employment per 1,000: 1.56
Annual mean wage: $42,050“
California:
Employment: 33,390
Location quotient: 0.92
Employment per 1,000: 1.96
Annual mean wage: $61,240
Colorado:
Employment: 5,250
Location quotient: 0.94
Employment per 1,000: 2.00
Annual mean wage: $58,350
Connecticut:
Employment: 4,780
Location quotient: 1.34
Employment per 1,000: 2.88
Annual mean wage: $62,760
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Delaware:
Employment: 1,210
Location quotient: 1.26
Employment per 1,000: 2.69
Annual mean wage: $57,290“
Florida:
Employment: 30,230
Location quotient: 1.64
Employment per 1,000: 3.51
Annual mean wage: $50,120
Georgia:
Employment: 9,140
Location quotient: 0.97
Employment per 1,000: 2.08
Annual mean wage: $54,130
Hawaii:
Employment: 1,050
Location quotient: 0.76
Employment per 1,000: 1.63
Annual mean wage: $52,280“
Idaho:
Employment: 1,170
Location quotient: 0.77
Employment per 1,000: 1.66
Annual mean wage: $46,510
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Illinois:
Employment: 13,540
Location quotient: 1.06
Employment per 1,000: 2.26
Annual mean wage: $57,180
Indiana:
Employment: 3,970
Location quotient: 0.61
Employment per 1,000: 1.30
Annual mean wage: $49,090“
Iowa:
Employment: 2,350
Location quotient: 0.71
Employment per 1,000: 1.52
Annual mean wage: $46,990
Kansas:
Employment: 2,240
Location quotient: 0.76
Employment per 1,000: 1.63
Annual mean wage: $43,790
Kentucky:
Employment: 2,940
Location quotient: 0.73
Employment per 1,000: 1.55
Annual mean wage: $46,130“
Louisiana:
Employment: 4,550
Location quotient: 1.11
Employment per 1,000: 2.38
Annual mean wage: $50,540“
Maine:
Employment: 1,330
Location quotient: 1.03
Employment per 1,000: 2.20
Annual mean wage: $49,490
Maryland:
Employment: 7,060
Location quotient: 1.23
Employment per 1,000: 2.63
Annual mean wage: $55,950
Massachusetts:
Employment: 7,330
Location quotient: 0.96
Employment per 1,000: 2.05
Annual mean wage: $60,320
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Michigan:
Employment: 6,110
Location quotient: 0.66
Employment per 1,000: 1.42
Annual mean wage: $50,590“
Minnesota:
Employment: 4,890
Location quotient: 0.80
Employment per 1,000: 1.70
Annual mean wage: $56,880
Mississippi:
Employment: 1,820
Location quotient: 0.76
Employment per 1,000: 1.62
Annual mean wage: $44,300“
Missouri:
Employment: 4,630
Location quotient: 0.77
Employment per 1,000: 1.65
Annual mean wage: $53,110“
Montana:
Employment: 950
Location quotient: 0.96
Employment per 1,000: 2.05
Annual mean wage: $44,330“
Nebraska:
Employment: 1,740
Location quotient: 0.83
Employment per 1,000: 1.78
Annual mean wage: $49,250
Nevada:
Employment: 2,440
Location quotient: 0.85
Employment per 1,000: 1.81
Annual mean wage: $57,600
New Hampshire:
Employment: 1,140
Location quotient: 0.81
Employment per 1,000: 1.74
Annual mean wage: $54,550
New Jersey:
Location quotient: 0.94
Employment per 1,000: 2.01
Employment: 8,120
Annual mean wage: $58,260
New Mexico:
Employment: 1,310
Location quotient: 0.75
Employment per 1,000: 1.61
Annual mean wage: $48,050
New York:
Location quotient: 1.27
Employment per 1,000: 2.72
Employment: 25,500
Annual mean wage: $58,750
North Carolina:
Employment: 10,160
Location quotient: 1.08
Employment per 1,000: 2.32
Annual mean wage: $47,210“
North Dakota:
Employment: 650
Location quotient: 0.72
Employment per 1,000: 1.55
Annual mean wage: $45,870
Ohio:
Employment: 9,150
Location quotient: 0.79
Employment per 1,000: 1.69
Annual mean wage: $49,200“
Oklahoma:
Employment: 2,920
Location quotient: 0.85
Employment per 1,000: 1.83
Annual mean wage: $48,330
Oregon:
Employment: 4,060
Location quotient: 1.01
Employment per 1,000: 2.15
Annual mean wage: $55,850
Pennsylvania:
Employment: 12,440
Location quotient: 0.99
Employment per 1,000: 2.13
Annual mean wage: $52,780
Rhode Island:
Employment: 1,100
Location quotient: 1.06
Employment per 1,000: 2.28
Annual mean wage: $50,650“
South Carolina:
Employment: 6,060
Location quotient: 1.37
Employment per 1,000: 2.94
Annual mean wage: $45,480“
South Dakota:
Employment: 440
Location quotient: 0.48
Employment per 1,000: 1.04
Annual mean wage: $49,560“
Tennessee:
Employment: 4,100
Location quotient: 0.65
Employment per 1,000: 1.39
Annual mean wage: $49,050
Texas:
Employment: 24,290
Location quotient: 0.94
Employment per 1,000: 2.01
Annual mean wage: $56,270“
Utah:
Employment: 2,760
Location quotient: 0.88
Employment per 1,000: 1.89
Annual mean wage: $49,140“
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Vermont:
Employment: 670
Location quotient: 1.02
Employment per 1,000: 2.19
Annual mean wage: $50,570“
Virginia:
Location quotient: 1.21
Employment per 1,000: 2.60
Employment: 1,810
Annual mean wage: $46,080
Washington:
Employment: 6,220
Location quotient: 0.89
Employment per 1,000: 1.91
Annual mean wage: $60,940
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West Virginia:
Employment: 1,810
Location quotient: 1.21
Employment per 1,000: 2.60
Annual mean wage: $46,080“
Wisconsin:
Employment: 4,320
Location quotient: 0.71
Employment per 1,000: 1.52
Annual mean wage: $50,360“
Wyoming:
Employment: 480
Location quotient: 0.84
Employment per 1,000: 1.80
Annual mean wage: $46,770
States with the highest employment level For Paralegal:
| State | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | 33,390 | 1.96 | 0.92 | $29.44 | $61,240 |
| Florida | 30,230 | 3.51 | 1.64 | $24.10 | $50,120 |
| New York | 25,500 | 2.72 | 1.27 | $28.25 | $58,750 |
| Texas | 24,290 | 2.01 | 0.94 | $27.05 | $56,270 |
| Illinois | 13,540 | 2.26 | 1.06 | $27.49 | $57,180 |
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Refrences:
Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics 2018-19 Occupational Outlook Handbook, “State & Area Data.”
*The salary information listed is based on a national average, unless noted. Actual salaries may vary greatly based on specialization within the field, location, years of experience and a variety of other factors. National long-term projections of employment growth may not reflect local and/or short-term economic or job conditions, and do not guarantee actual job growth.
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