How Much Does a Paralegal Make? Salary by State
Median annual salary (U.S.)
$62,890
Paralegals in the U.S. earn a median of $62,890 a year, or $30.24 an hour. Half of paralegals earn more than $62,890 and half earn less. The top 10% make more than $101,500.
Pay percentiles for paralegals
| Percentile | Hourly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $21.51 | $44,740 |
| 25th | $24.20 | $50,340 |
| 50th (median) | $30.24 | $62,890 |
| 75th | $38.50 | $80,080 |
| 90th | $48.80 | $101,500 |
U.S. wages, May 2025. BLS occupation: Paralegals and Legal Assistants (SOC 23-2011). Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
Highest-paying states for paralegals
| State | Median annual | Median hourly | vs. U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $89,750 | $43.15 | +43% |
| Washington | $79,400 | $38.17 | +26% |
| Colorado | $78,190 | $37.59 | +24% |
| Massachusetts | $77,640 | $37.33 | +23% |
| California | $77,390 | $37.21 | +23% |
| Minnesota | $75,570 | $36.33 | +20% |
| New Jersey | $71,500 | $34.38 | +14% |
| Alaska | $68,700 | $33.03 | +9% |
| New York | $68,410 | $32.89 | +9% |
| Vermont | $67,160 | $32.29 | +7% |
| United States | $62,890 | $30.24 | — |
Top 10 states by median annual wage, May 2025. Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
How many paralegals are there?
BLS counts about 392,880 paralegals employed in the U.S. (May 2025, excluding the self-employed). These figures cover the BLS occupation “Paralegals and Legal Assistants”. The most jobs are in California (47,130), Florida (40,950) and New York (34,220).
The mean (average) annual wage is $69,700, higher than the median of $62,890.
Hourly to annual pay calculator
Per year
- Monthly
- $5,241
- Biweekly
- $2,419
- Weekly
- $1,209
- Daily (8 hours)
- $242
- Hours per year
- 2,080
BLS annual figure; hourly × 2,080 may differ slightly.
Frequently asked questions
How much do paralegals make an hour?
The median hourly wage for paralegals is $30.24. The middle 50% earn between $24.20 and $38.50 an hour.
Which state pays paralegals the most?
District of Columbia has the highest median wage for paralegals at $89,750, +43% vs. the U.S. median.
What is the starting salary for paralegals?
BLS does not report pay by experience, but the lowest-paid 10% of paralegals earn less than $44,740 a year, a common proxy for entry-level pay.