Paralegals and Legal Assistants Salary in the United States
As of May 2025, the median annual wage for paralegals and legal assistants in the United States was $62,890 ($30.24 per hour), according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OES survey.
Annual Salary Percentiles
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $44,740 | $21.51 |
| 25th | $50,340 | $24.20 |
| Median | $62,890 | $30.24 |
| 75th | $80,080 | $38.50 |
| 90th | $101,500 | $48.80 |
Quick Facts
- Occupational code: 23-2011
- Total U.S. employment: 392,880
- Jobs per 1,000: —
- Hourly salary breakdown
- All-state comparison
How to interpret these figures
Pay spans a wide range: workers at the 10th percentile earn about $44,740, while those at the 90th percentile earn about $101,500 — a 2.3x gap between entry-level and top earners.
Paralegals and Legal Assistants Salary by State
The table below ranks every state by median annual wage. Click a state for detailed local data.
| State | Median Annual | Median Hourly | vs National | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $47,260 | $22.72 | -24.9% | 5,700 |
| Alaska | $68,700 | $33.03 | +9.2% | 570 |
| Arizona | $61,630 | $29.63 | -2.0% | 7,890 |
| Arkansas | $47,420 | $22.80 | -24.6% | 1,610 |
| California | $77,390 | $37.21 | +23.1% | 47,130 |
| Colorado | $78,190 | $37.59 | +24.3% | 5,620 |
| Connecticut | $63,820 | $30.68 | +1.5% | 5,210 |
| Delaware | $63,110 | $30.34 | +0.3% | 2,480 |
| District of Columbia | $89,750 | $43.15 | +42.7% | 6,400 |
| Florida | $61,000 | $29.33 | -3.0% | 40,950 |
| Georgia | $62,400 | $30.00 | -0.8% | 14,160 |
| Hawaii | $62,840 | $30.21 | -0.1% | 1,170 |
| Idaho | $49,690 | $23.89 | -21.0% | 2,030 |
| Illinois | $63,670 | $30.61 | +1.2% | 14,130 |
| Indiana | $57,030 | $27.42 | -9.3% | 5,910 |
| Iowa | $54,550 | $26.23 | -13.3% | 2,980 |
| Kansas | $55,000 | $26.44 | -12.5% | 2,210 |
| Kentucky | $59,830 | $28.76 | -4.9% | 3,540 |
| Louisiana | $60,250 | $28.97 | -4.2% | 4,890 |
| Maine | $62,420 | $30.01 | -0.7% | 1,210 |
| Maryland | $65,640 | $31.56 | +4.4% | 6,460 |
| Massachusetts | $77,640 | $37.33 | +23.5% | 7,800 |
| Michigan | $62,170 | $29.89 | -1.1% | 7,730 |
| Minnesota | $75,570 | $36.33 | +20.2% | 7,400 |
| Mississippi | $46,180 | $22.20 | -26.6% | 2,270 |
| Missouri | $61,410 | $29.52 | -2.4% | 7,130 |
| Montana | $57,290 | $27.54 | -8.9% | 1,010 |
| Nebraska | $63,250 | $30.41 | +0.6% | 1,630 |
| Nevada | $64,680 | $31.10 | +2.8% | 3,620 |
| New Hampshire | $62,040 | $29.83 | -1.4% | 1,430 |
| New Jersey | $71,500 | $34.38 | +13.7% | 12,010 |
| New Mexico | $59,840 | $28.77 | -4.8% | 1,740 |
| New York | $68,410 | $32.89 | +8.8% | 34,220 |
| North Carolina | $57,500 | $27.64 | -8.6% | 13,650 |
| North Dakota | $59,430 | $28.57 | -5.5% | 730 |
| Ohio | $60,420 | $29.05 | -3.9% | 9,270 |
| Oklahoma | $53,170 | $25.56 | -15.5% | 3,110 |
| Oregon | $61,490 | $29.56 | -2.2% | 4,870 |
| Pennsylvania | $63,370 | $30.47 | +0.8% | 14,670 |
| Rhode Island | $56,250 | $27.04 | -10.6% | 2,070 |
| South Carolina | $53,880 | $25.90 | -14.3% | 7,420 |
| South Dakota | $58,320 | $28.04 | -7.3% | 600 |
| Tennessee | $58,820 | $28.28 | -6.5% | 6,080 |
| Texas | $62,310 | $29.96 | -0.9% | 29,540 |
| Utah | $63,220 | $30.40 | +0.5% | 3,250 |
| Vermont | $67,160 | $32.29 | +6.8% | 660 |
| Virginia | $63,990 | $30.77 | +1.7% | 10,250 |
| Washington | $79,400 | $38.17 | +26.3% | 9,460 |
| West Virginia | $59,000 | $28.37 | -6.2% | 1,660 |
| Wisconsin | $58,500 | $28.12 | -7.0% | 4,780 |
| Wyoming | $49,490 | $23.80 | -21.3% | 600 |
Data source: BLS OES state file · U.S. BLS OES survey, May 2025
Related Occupations
- Construction Laborers — $47,120/yr
- Business Operations Specialists, All Other — $83,050/yr
- Project Management Specialists — $102,320/yr
- Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education — $72,040/yr
- Light Truck Drivers — $44,860/yr
- Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants — $45,930/yr
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average salary for paralegals and legal assistants?
The median annual wage for paralegals and legal assistants is $62,890 ($30.24 per hour), according to the BLS OES survey for May 2025.
Which state pays paralegals and legal assistants the most?
Wages vary by state. Use the state table above to compare median annual pay across all 50 states and Washington, D.C.
How many paralegals and legal assistants are employed in the U.S.?
There are approximately 392,880 paralegals and legal assistants employed nationally, per BLS OES.
How much do paralegals and legal assistants make per hour?
The median hourly wage is $30.24. See the hourly salary page for the full percentile breakdown.