The median paralegal salary in the United States was $62,890 a year ($30.24 an hour) in May 2025, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The middle half of paralegals earned between $50,340 and $80,080. The top 10% earned more than $101,500. Pay depends most on where you work, who employs you and how long you have done the job.
This guide breaks down paralegal pay by state, city, employer type and experience, using the May 2025 BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics release (published May 2026), plus named surveys where they add detail. It also covers UK paralegal salaries for readers weighing a move.
How much do paralegals make in the US?
BLS groups paralegals and legal assistants together (occupation code 23-2011). In May 2025 it counted 392,880 of them in payroll employment, with an average (mean) wage of $69,700. The mean sits above the median because a minority of high earners pulls it up.
| Percentile (May 2025) | Annual wage | Hourly wage |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $44,740 | $21.51 |
| 25th percentile | $50,340 | $24.20 |
| Median (50th) | $62,890 | $30.24 |
| 75th percentile | $80,080 | $38.50 |
| 90th percentile | $101,500 | $48.80 |
| Mean | $69,700 | $33.51 |
For context, the median lawyer earned $159,670 in the same release. Our lawyer salary guide covers that side of the office in detail.
The BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook counts 404,900 paralegal jobs in 2025 once self-employed workers are included. It projects little or no change in employment from 2025 to 2035, but still expects about 40,800 openings a year as people retire or change careers.
Which states pay paralegals the most?
The District of Columbia leads by a wide margin. Washington, California, Massachusetts and Colorado follow. All five have dense legal markets and high living costs, so the premium is partly eaten by rent.
| State (May 2025) | Median annual wage | Mean annual wage | Paralegals employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $89,750 | $95,400 | 6,400 |
| Washington | $79,400 | $83,740 | 9,460 |
| Colorado | $78,190 | $80,760 | 5,620 |
| Massachusetts | $77,640 | $81,160 | 7,800 |
| California | $77,390 | $81,320 | 47,130 |
| Minnesota | $75,570 | $73,960 | 7,400 |
| New York | $68,410 | $76,890 | 34,220 |
| Illinois | $63,670 | $72,310 | 14,130 |
| Texas | $62,310 | $65,480 | 29,540 |
| Florida | $61,000 | $63,250 | 40,950 |
At the other end, Mississippi had a median of $46,180 and Alabama $47,260. The gap between the District of Columbia and Mississippi is more than $43,000 at the median.
How much do paralegals make in California?
California employs more paralegals than any other state: 47,130 in May 2025, at a median of $77,390. California also regulates paralegals by statute. Business and Professions Code section 6450 sets education rules and requires continuing education every two years. Our guide on how to become a paralegal explains those rules.
How much do paralegals make in New York and Texas?
New York’s statewide median was $68,410, but the mean was $76,890, which points to a well-paid top end in Manhattan firms. Texas paid a median of $62,310. A separate State Bar of Texas survey, covered below, found higher figures among its own members.
Which cities pay paralegals the most?
Metro data shows sharper differences than state data. The San Jose area tops the list, driven by tech company legal departments.
| Metro area (May 2025) | Median annual wage | Mean annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $99,250 | $103,080 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $92,900 | $92,230 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $84,030 | $92,830 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $81,590 | $87,900 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $80,500 | $85,240 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $79,850 | $84,580 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $77,520 | $79,550 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $75,330 | $80,260 |
The New York metro area has the most paralegals of any city, at 33,850. Los Angeles is second with 22,240.
Who pays paralegals more: law firms, government or companies?
Law firms employ most paralegals, but they are not the best payers. BLS puts 75% of paralegal jobs in legal services. Yet the median there was $61,770 in May 2025, slightly below the national figure.
| Employer type (May 2025) | Median annual wage | Paralegals employed |
|---|---|---|
| Management of companies and enterprises (corporate head offices) | $94,570 | 6,970 |
| Federal executive branch | $81,470 | 15,960 |
| Finance and insurance | $80,120 | 11,030 |
| Insurance carriers | $78,440 | 4,610 |
| Local government | $63,370 | 19,620 |
| Legal services (law firms) | $61,770 | 304,820 |
| State government | $59,320 | 12,090 |
Federal agencies pay well and offer structured grade progression. Corporate legal departments pay the most, though they hire far fewer paralegals. If you want to move in-house later, our guide to in-house counsel careers explains how corporate legal teams are built.
Does specialism change paralegal pay?
Probably, but the public data is thin. Neither BLS nor the free summaries of the main paralegal surveys publish pay by practice area. NALA’s 2024 National Utilization and Compensation Report holds that detail in its paid full report. Its public executive summary (January 2025) does report two useful facts:
- Paralegal pay grew 15% between 2022 and 2024, the largest jump NALA has recorded since 2002.
- Paralegal time is billed at an average of $134 an hour nationally.
The employer table above is the best public proxy for specialism. Paralegals in corporate head offices, finance and insurance tend to work on corporate, compliance, regulatory and claims matters. Those employers paid roughly $16,000 to $33,000 more at the median than law firms. Litigation remains the most common practice area. The State Bar of Texas survey found 34% of its respondents worked in litigation in 2024.
How does experience affect paralegal pay?
BLS does not publish pay by years of experience. Two sources give a useful picture.
The Texas survey
The State Bar of Texas 2025 Paralegal Compensation Survey covered calendar year 2024 and drew 982 responses. It found:
- Median salary for full-time paralegals: $77,739, up 25% since 2019.
- Median starting salary: $35,110.
- Median experience among respondents: 12 years.
- 81% received a bonus.
- Median billed hourly rate: $129.
The gap between the starting median and the overall median is large. It shows how much experience is worth in this job. Note that survey respondents are Paralegal Division members, who skew experienced, so the survey sits above the BLS Texas median.
Recruiter benchmarks
Robert Half’s 2027 Salary Guide projects a midpoint paralegal salary of $70,500, with 3.3% projected growth. Recruiter figures reflect roles they place, so treat them as a market signal rather than a census.
The BLS percentiles also work as a rough ladder. New entrants usually start near the 10th to 25th percentile ($44,740 to $50,340). Experienced specialists in well-paying cities and sectors reach the 75th to 90th percentile ($80,080 to $101,500).
How much do paralegals make in the UK?
UK paralegal pay is lower in cash terms. Prospects (March 2025) reports:
- Junior paralegals at non-graduate entry: £23,000 to £28,000.
- Graduate-entry paralegals: £28,000 to £32,000.
- Senior paralegals: upwards of £35,000.
- Self-employed paralegals: typically £30 to £55 an hour.
The government’s National Careers Service gives a range of £20,000 for starters to £40,000 for experienced paralegals. London salaries run higher than the rest of the country. Many UK paralegals use the role as a step towards qualifying as a solicitor or CILEX lawyer.
How can paralegals earn more?
- Move sector. Corporate, federal and insurance employers pay well above law firm medians.
- Move market. The San Jose median was more than $36,000 above the national figure in May 2025.
- Get certified. Credentials such as NALA’s Certified Paralegal help you stand out. Our guide to paralegal certificate programs compares the options.
- Build a specialism. E-discovery, IP and corporate transactional skills are harder to replace than general support.
- Consider remote roles. See our list of remote paralegal jobs for roles that let you earn big-city pay from elsewhere.
Frequently asked questions
What is the average paralegal salary in 2026?
The most recent official figures are BLS May 2025 data, released in May 2026. The median paralegal salary was $62,890 and the mean was $69,700. Half of all paralegals earned between $50,340 and $80,080.
What is the highest paying state for paralegals?
The District of Columbia paid the highest median, $89,750, in May 2025. Among states, Washington ($79,400), Colorado ($78,190), Massachusetts ($77,640) and California ($77,390) led. Mississippi and Alabama paid the least.
Do federal government paralegals earn more?
Yes. Paralegals in the federal executive branch earned a median of $81,470 in May 2025. That is about $19,700 more than the law firm median of $61,770. Only corporate head offices paid more at the median.
Can a paralegal earn $100,000?
Yes, but it is the top tier. The BLS 90th percentile was $101,500 in May 2025. Reaching it usually means senior experience, a well-paying sector such as corporate or federal work, and a high-cost city.
How much do paralegals make in the UK?
Prospects (March 2025) puts junior paralegals at £23,000 to £32,000, depending on whether they have a degree. Senior paralegals earn upwards of £35,000. London pays more than the regions.
Bottom line
A typical US paralegal earns about $63,000, with a realistic range of $45,000 to $100,000. Location and employer type move the number more than anything else. Federal, corporate and insurance roles pay best, and experience compounds over time. If you are just starting out, read what a paralegal does day to day before choosing a route in.
This article is general information, not legal or career advice. Pay figures are drawn from the sources listed and vary by employer, location and experience.
Sources
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 (released May 2026): bls.gov
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025 time-series data files, occupation 23-2011 (May 2026): download.bls.gov
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook: Paralegals and Legal Assistants (2025 data, 2025-35 projections): bls.gov
- NALA, 2024 National Utilization and Compensation Report, Executive Summary (January 2025): nala.org
- State Bar of Texas, 2025 Paralegal Compensation Survey (2024 data): texasbar.com
- Robert Half, Legal Salary Trends, 2027 Salary Guide: roberthalf.com
- Prospects, Paralegal job profile (March 2025): prospects.ac.uk
- National Careers Service, Paralegal job profile (accessed October 2026): nationalcareers.service.gov.uk
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