Paralegal Salary: What Paralegals Earn (BLS 2025 Data)
BestParalegals is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice. Information here is general and may not apply to your situation or state. For legal advice, consult a licensed attorney.
The median annual wage for paralegals and legal assistants was $62,890 in May 2025, or about $30.24 an hour, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook. Half of workers earned more than that and half earned less.
Pay range
| Measure (May 2025) | Annual wage |
|---|---|
| Lowest 10% earned less than | $44,740 |
| Median | $62,890 |
| Highest 10% earned more than | $101,500 |
| Median for all U.S. occupations | $50,980 |
Pay by industry
| Industry | Median annual wage (May 2025) |
|---|---|
| Federal government, excluding postal service | $81,470 |
| Finance and insurance | $80,120 |
| Local government, excluding education and hospitals | $63,370 |
| Legal services | $61,770 |
| State government, excluding education and hospitals | $59,320 |
Jobs and outlook
Paralegals and legal assistants held about 404,900 jobs in 2025. BLS projects little or no change in employment from 2025 to 2035, but about 40,800 openings a year, mostly to replace workers who retire or change careers. BLS notes that technology, including AI, may limit demand growth.
What affects pay
- Employer type: government and finance pay more than the legal services median.
- Location: see state and metro wages in the BLS OEWS data for SOC 23-2011.
- Experience and specialty: litigation, corporate and IP work often require more skills.
- Freelance work: BLS wage data do not include self-employed workers. See our freelance paralegal guide.
Related: how to become a paralegal and paralegal vs. lawyer.
Tell us what you need and we'll try to connect you with paralegal or legal-support providers. Get matched