Paralegals and Legal Assistants
SOC 23-2011 • View wages by state
The median annual wage for Paralegals and Legal Assistants is $60,970, based on BLS OEWS 2023 data. The mean annual wage is $66,460, and an estimated 354,890 workers are employed in this occupation nationally. Between 2020 and 2023, pay rose +15.2% while consumer prices rose 17.7% — a real change of -2.1% (pay did not keep up with inflation). BLS projects employment will grow 0.2% between 2024 and 2034.
Wage Trend & Inflation Adjustment
How the national median wage for Paralegals and Legal Assistants has moved across BLS OEWS release years, and what each year's wage is worth in 2023 dollars after adjusting for CPI inflation. "Real" change strips out inflation — the truest measure of whether pay is actually rising.
| Year | Median (nominal) | In 2023 $ (real) | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $60,970 | $60,970 | 354,890 |
| 2022 | $59,200 | $61,637 | 345,240 |
| 2021 | $56,230 | $63,230 | 336,250 |
| 2020 | $52,920 | $62,303 | 332,720 |
Nominal change
+15.2%
Inflation (CPI)
+17.7%
Real change
-2.1%
Job Outlook (2024–2034 BLS projection)
The BLS Employment Projections program estimates how each occupation's employment will change over the coming decade, and how many job openings to expect each year (from both growth and the need to replace workers who leave).
Projected Growth
+0.2%
About average
Employment 2024
376,200
Projected 2034
376,800
Annual Openings
39,300
Typical entry-level education: Associate's degree.
Highest-Paying Areas (2023)
Where Paralegals and Legal Assistants earn the most, and how each area's median compares to the national median of $60,970. A positive premium means the area pays above the national rate.
| Area | Median Annual | vs National | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $95,480 | +56.6% | 5,340 |
| California | $75,140 | +23.2% | 39,220 |
| New York | $73,740 | +20.9% | 30,930 |
| Massachusetts | $70,570 | +15.7% | 7,520 |
| Connecticut | $69,370 | +13.8% | 4,850 |
| Washington | $69,260 | +13.6% | 7,960 |
| Colorado | $68,860 | +12.9% | 5,400 |
| New Jersey | $68,370 | +12.1% | 11,440 |
| Rhode Island | $68,190 | +11.8% | 1,450 |
| Maryland | $64,940 | +6.5% | 6,190 |
Wage Distribution (National, 2023)
10th, 25th, 50th (median), 75th, and 90th percentile annual wages from BLS OEWS — the full spread, not just an average.
10th Pct
$39,710
25th Pct
$48,180
Median
$60,970
75th Pct
$77,600
90th Pct
$98,830
H-1B Employer Filings
Employer-certified wages from DOL H-1B LCA filings — competitive market benchmark, not approved visas.
| Employer | State | Filings | Median Wage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shanze Partners PLLC | WA | 4 | $65,500 |
| CONSULTADD INC. | NJ | 3 | $62,400 |
| Clifford Chance US LLP | NY | 2 | $205,000 |
| Fish & Richardson P.C. | NY | 2 | $110,430 |
| MUSA-OBREGON LAW PC | NY | 2 | $83,500 |
| Central Law Guatemala LLC | FL | 2 | $72,176 |
| TSYNGAUZ & ASSOCIATES P.C. | NY | 1 | $87,000 |
| Herbert Smith Freehills New York LLP | NY | 1 | $205,000 |
| ROCHE LEGAL, PLLC | NY | 1 | $52,678 |
| Dentons US LLP | IL | 1 | $70,350 |
| Illinois Institute of Technology | IL | 1 | $66,373 |
| CLOUDIYAN LLC | TX | 1 | $66,228 |
| AMAZON.COM SERVICES LLC | CA | 1 | $153,825 |
| Fish & Richardson P.C. | CA | 1 | $105,000 |
| PR Law Center, Inc | CA | 1 | $52,000 |
| YAO LEGAL GROUP LLC | NY | 1 | $60,320 |
| Womble Bond Dickinson (US) LLP | TX | 1 | $185,040 |
| DEMIDCHIK LAW FIRM, LLC | IL | 1 | $42,765 |
| NEW LAND CAPITAL LLC | CA | 1 | $64,480 |
| Atash Law PC | NY | 1 | $60,000 |
Source: DOL Office of Foreign Labor Certification, H-1B LCA data.
Related Occupations in Legal
Other occupations in the same SOC major group, ranked by national median wage.