Paralegal & Legal Assistant Salary

The median annual Paralegal & Legal Assistant salary in the United States is $61,010, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, May 2024 release. This midpoint figure means half of the 367,220 Paralegal & Legal Assistants employed nationwide earn above $61,010 and half earn below. The mean annual wage is $66,510 — slightly above the median, reflecting upward pull from high-paying metropolitan and specialty positions. Entry-level earners (10th percentile) typically start around $39,710, while experienced professionals at the 75th percentile reach $78,280. Source: BLS OEWS May 2024, SOC 23-2011.

Paralegal & Legal Assistants earn a mean hourly wage of $31.98, based on the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS May 2024 survey. This figure represents the average across all Paralegal & Legal Assistants in all industries and geographic areas in the United States. Hourly rates vary considerably based on employer type, geographic location, shift differentials, and years of experience. Hourly equivalents for salaried roles are calculated against a standard 2,080-hour work year (40 hours per week × 52 weeks); actual compensated hours may differ. For reference, the annual mean salary for Paralegal & Legal Assistants is $66,510. Part-time workers, per-diem positions, and contract roles may fall above or below this figure depending on the agreed pay structure and premium differentials. Source: BLS OEWS May 2024, SOC 23-2011.

Entry-level Paralegal & Legal Assistants — those in the bottom 10% of the wage distribution — typically earn around $39,710 per year, according to BLS OEWS May 2024 data. Workers in the 25th percentile (early-career, typically 1–4 years of experience) earn approximately $48,190 annually. These figures represent all industries and geographic regions nationwide; entry wages in high-cost states such as California, New York, and Massachusetts often run 10–25% above these benchmarks, while rural areas and lower-cost states may pay below them. As credentials, certifications, and clinical or technical experience accumulate, pay scales toward the median of $61,010 and beyond. Entry wage estimates are derived from BLS percentile bands and are labeled as estimates; they are not directly published as entry wages by the BLS. Source: BLS OEWS May 2024, SOC 23-2011.

The top 10% of Paralegal & Legal Assistants earn $98,990 or more annually, and the 75th percentile sits at $78,280, according to BLS OEWS May 2024. The highest-paid positions tend to cluster in major metropolitan areas — particularly in California, New York, Massachusetts, and Washington — and in settings that demand advanced credentials, specialized certifications, or leadership responsibilities. Employer type also drives meaningful pay variation: private-sector roles, large hospital systems, and government positions each carry different pay structures. For Paralegal & Legal Assistants, moving from the median ($61,010) to the 90th percentile often involves a combination of advanced degrees or board certifications, supervisory responsibilities, and tenure at a high-volume or high-acuity facility. The mean salary of $66,510 sits below the 90th percentile, indicating most very-high earners are outliers. Source: BLS OEWS May 2024, SOC 23-2011.

Yes, the mean Paralegal & Legal Assistant salary ($66,510) is $5,500 above the median ($61,010). When the mean exceeds the median, it signals that a subset of high earners pulls the average upward — a common pattern in occupations with significant pay variation across specialties, employer types, or geographies. The median is generally the more useful benchmark for an individual worker: it represents what a typical Paralegal & Legal Assistant earns, unaffected by the very highest outlier salaries. Both figures come from the BLS OEWS May 2024 survey, SOC 23-2011.

BLS projects 4% change in Paralegal & Legal Assistant employment over the next decade — about as fast as average compared to the 4% average growth rate across all US occupations. Demand for Paralegal & Legal Assistants is expected to keep pace with the broader labor market over the coming decade. Source: BLS Employment Projections program.

Approximately 367,220 people work as Paralegal & Legal Assistants in the United States, making it a specialized occupation in the US labor market. This employment count is based on the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2024 release, SOC 23-2011. The OEWS program covers non-farm wage and salary workers and excludes the self-employed. Total US employment across all occupations surveyed in the same release was approximately 158 million workers. The Paralegal & Legal Assistant field represents roughly 0.23% of total surveyed US employment.