Paralegal Salary by State & Role
BLS OEWS May 2025 · BLS occupation: SOC 23-2011 Paralegals and Legal Assistants
Paralegals earned a median $62,890 a year, or $30.24 an hour, in May 2025 (SOC 23-2011 Paralegals and Legal Assistants).
The middle half earned between $50,340 and $80,080.
BLS counts paralegals and legal assistants as one occupation (SOC 23-2011); wage-and-salary workers only.
Annual figures are BLS hourly wages × 2,080 hours.
OEWS covers wage-and-salary workers only, so it leaves out the self-employed, overtime pay and most bonuses.
How pay spreads across Paralegals and Legal Assistants
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $44,740 | $21.51 |
| 25th | $50,340 | $24.20 |
| 50th (median) | $62,890 | $30.24 |
| 75th | $80,080 | $38.50 |
| 90th | $101,500 | $48.80 |
| Mean (average) | $69,700 | $33.51 |
SOC 23-2011 Paralegals and Legal Assistants: 392,880 wage-and-salary jobs, BLS OEWS May 2025.
Pay by employer type
| Employer sector (BLS) | Median annual wage |
|---|---|
| Legal Services (NAICS 5411) | $61,770 |
| Federal Executive Branch | $81,470 |
| State Government excl. schools/hospitals | $59,320 |
| Local Government excl. schools/hospitals | $63,370 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | $94,570 |
Median annual wage for SOC 23-2011 Paralegals and Legal Assistants by industry, BLS OEWS May 2025.
Hourly pay and overtime
Federal rules say paralegals and legal assistants generally do not qualify for the learned-professional overtime exemption, because an advanced specialized degree is not a standard requirement for the job (29 CFR 541.301).
Job titles do not decide exemption; duties and salary do.
OEWS wages leave out overtime pay, so a paralegal who works paid overtime can take home more than these figures show.
Paralegal Salary by State
Median annual wage for SOC 23-2011 Paralegals and Legal Assistants in each state BLS published, BLS OEWS May 2025, alphabetical. "vs. U.S." compares the state median with the national median of $62,890; it is not adjusted for living costs.
| State | Median | Hourly | 10th–90th | Jobs | vs. U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $47,260 | $22.72 | $30,750–$77,100 | 5,700 | −25% |
| Alaska | $68,700 | $33.03 | $53,830–$99,320 | 570 | +9% |
| Arizona | $61,630 | $29.63 | $45,700–$96,340 | 7,890 | −2% |
| Arkansas | $47,420 | $22.80 | $36,290–$81,700 | 1,610 | −25% |
| California | $77,390 | $37.21 | $50,460–$119,580 | 47,130 | +23% |
| Colorado | $78,190 | $37.59 | $56,930–$106,160 | 5,620 | +24% |
| Connecticut | $63,820 | $30.68 | $46,440–$100,040 | 5,210 | +1% |
| Delaware | $63,110 | $30.34 | $48,880–$99,390 | 2,480 | +0% |
| District of Columbia | $89,750 | $43.15 | $59,770–$131,650 | 6,400 | +43% |
| Florida | $61,000 | $29.33 | $38,830–$83,410 | 40,950 | −3% |
| Georgia | $62,400 | $30.00 | $39,530–$101,210 | 14,160 | −1% |
| Hawaii | $62,840 | $30.21 | $47,010–$85,440 | 1,170 | −0% |
| Idaho | $49,690 | $23.89 | $36,930–$75,420 | 2,030 | −21% |
| Illinois | $63,670 | $30.61 | $46,860–$104,580 | 14,130 | +1% |
| Indiana | $57,030 | $27.42 | $40,650–$92,160 | 5,910 | −9% |
| Iowa | $54,550 | $26.23 | $37,900–$83,520 | 2,980 | −13% |
| Kansas | $55,000 | $26.44 | $38,860–$79,090 | 2,210 | −13% |
| Kentucky | $59,830 | $28.76 | $36,560–$78,730 | 3,540 | −5% |
| Louisiana | $60,250 | $28.97 | $36,960–$78,230 | 4,890 | −4% |
| Maine | $62,420 | $30.01 | $48,260–$80,550 | 1,210 | −1% |
| Maryland | $65,640 | $31.56 | $48,260–$108,380 | 6,460 | +4% |
| Massachusetts | $77,640 | $37.33 | $49,770–$117,480 | 7,800 | +23% |
| Michigan | $62,170 | $29.89 | $46,590–$96,610 | 7,730 | −1% |
| Minnesota | $75,570 | $36.33 | $47,730–$102,920 | 7,400 | +20% |
| Mississippi | $46,180 | $22.20 | $35,660–$67,960 | 2,270 | −27% |
| Missouri | $61,410 | $29.52 | $42,150–$96,820 | 7,130 | −2% |
| Montana | $57,290 | $27.54 | $46,140–$76,660 | 1,010 | −9% |
| Nebraska | $63,250 | $30.41 | $44,230–$86,990 | 1,630 | +1% |
| Nevada | $64,680 | $31.10 | $47,640–$82,160 | 3,620 | +3% |
| New Hampshire | $62,040 | $29.83 | $46,870–$86,190 | 1,430 | −1% |
| New Jersey | $71,500 | $34.38 | $47,070–$99,900 | 12,010 | +14% |
| New Mexico | $59,840 | $28.77 | $43,660–$80,490 | 1,740 | −5% |
| New York | $68,410 | $32.89 | $48,330–$115,720 | 34,220 | +9% |
| North Carolina | $57,500 | $27.64 | $38,570–$84,410 | 13,650 | −9% |
| North Dakota | $59,430 | $28.57 | $45,300–$78,430 | 730 | −6% |
| Ohio | $60,420 | $29.05 | $41,720–$94,660 | 9,270 | −4% |
| Oklahoma | $53,170 | $25.56 | $36,020–$82,060 | 3,110 | −15% |
| Oregon | $61,490 | $29.56 | $48,250–$98,640 | 4,870 | −2% |
| Pennsylvania | $63,370 | $30.47 | $45,710–$96,080 | 14,670 | +1% |
| Rhode Island | $56,250 | $27.04 | $43,370–$79,650 | 2,070 | −11% |
| South Carolina | $53,880 | $25.90 | $38,020–$75,640 | 7,420 | −14% |
| South Dakota | $58,320 | $28.04 | $48,890–$84,090 | 600 | −7% |
| Tennessee | $58,820 | $28.28 | $43,570–$83,100 | 6,080 | −6% |
| Texas | $62,310 | $29.96 | $39,190–$98,440 | 29,540 | −1% |
| Utah | $63,220 | $30.40 | $43,930–$100,510 | 3,250 | +1% |
| Vermont | $67,160 | $32.29 | $48,650–$87,390 | 660 | +7% |
| Virginia | $63,990 | $30.77 | $47,860–$100,550 | 10,250 | +2% |
| Washington | $79,400 | $38.17 | $50,470–$116,750 | 9,460 | +26% |
| West Virginia | $59,000 | $28.37 | $35,770–$107,310 | 1,660 | −6% |
| Wisconsin | $58,500 | $28.12 | $45,220–$86,210 | 4,780 | −7% |
| Wyoming | $49,490 | $23.80 | $35,890–$64,780 | 600 | −21% |
Job outlook
BLS projects little or no change in paralegal and legal assistant employment from 2025 to 2035, but about 40,800 openings a year, mostly to replace people who change occupations or leave the workforce.
Source: BLS Employment Projections 2025–35 (Occupational Outlook Handbook).
Pay by legal staff role
BLS publishes wages by occupation, not job title.
Paralegals and legal assistants share one occupation, legal secretaries have their own, and several staff roles have only an all-industry proxy or no BLS occupation at all.
Compare figures with the same basis only.
| Role | Median shown | What the number is |
|---|---|---|
| Law Clerk | $64,920 | BLS occupation (court clerks only) (SOC 23-1012) |
| Paralegal | $62,890 | BLS occupation (SOC 23-2011) |
| Litigation Paralegal | $62,890 | Proxy: broader BLS occupation (SOC 23-2011) |
| Personal Injury Paralegal | $62,890 | Proxy: broader BLS occupation (SOC 23-2011) |
| Family Law Paralegal | $62,890 | Proxy: broader BLS occupation (SOC 23-2011) |
| Immigration Paralegal | $62,890 | Proxy: broader BLS occupation (SOC 23-2011) |
| Corporate Paralegal | $62,890 | Proxy: broader BLS occupation (SOC 23-2011) |
| Real Estate Paralegal | $62,890 | Proxy: broader BLS occupation (SOC 23-2011) |
| Estate Planning Paralegal | $62,890 | Proxy: broader BLS occupation (SOC 23-2011) |
| Bankruptcy Paralegal | $62,890 | Proxy: broader BLS occupation (SOC 23-2011) |
| Legal Assistant | $62,890 | BLS occupation (SOC 23-2011) |
| Legal Secretary | $55,570 | BLS occupation (SOC 43-6012) |
| Legal Intake Specialist | No BLS figure | No BLS occupation |
| Legal Receptionist | $38,010 | Proxy: all-industry occupation (SOC 43-4171) |
| Docketing Clerk | No BLS figure | No BLS occupation |
| Legal Billing Specialist | $48,500 | Proxy: all-industry occupation (SOC 43-3021) |
| Law Firm Administrator | $114,130 | Proxy: all-industry occupation (SOC 11-3012) |
| eDiscovery Specialist | No BLS figure | No BLS occupation |
| Litigation Support Specialist | No BLS figure | No BLS occupation |
| Legal Nurse Consultant | $97,550 | Proxy: all-industry occupation (SOC 29-1141) |
| Case Manager | No BLS figure | No BLS occupation |
| Legal Recruiter | $75,940 | Proxy: all-industry occupation (SOC 13-1071) |
Paralegal salary questions
01How much do paralegals make a year?
The median annual wage for paralegals and legal assistants was $62,890 in May 2025 (BLS OEWS).
Half earned more and half earned less.
The 10th percentile was $44,740 and the 90th percentile $101,500.
02How much do paralegals make an hour?
The median hourly wage was $30.24 in May 2025.
BLS converts between hourly and annual figures at 2,080 hours a year, so this is the same median expressed per hour, before overtime or bonuses.
03How much do paralegals make a month?
BLS does not publish a monthly figure.
Dividing the $62,890 annual median by 12 gives about $5,241 a month before tax; that is our arithmetic, not a BLS statistic.
04Which state pays paralegals the most?
District of Columbia had the highest median in May 2025 at $89,750.
Mississippi had the lowest at $46,180.
These are not adjusted for living costs; the state table above lists every state BLS published.
05What is the average paralegal salary?
The mean (average) annual wage was $69,700 in May 2025, above the $62,890 median because a smaller number of very high earners pull the average up.
The median is the better guide to a typical salary.
06Do paralegals earn more than legal assistants?
BLS cannot say.
It counts paralegals and legal assistants as one occupation (SOC 23-2011), so every OEWS figure on this page covers both job titles together.