Pay, demand and where to work, from BLS data with the year on every table.
low → high: location quotient
Click a state. States: Alabama · Alaska · Arizona · Arkansas · California · Colorado · Connecticut · Delaware · District of Columbia · Florida · Georgia · Hawaii · Idaho · Illinois · Indiana · Iowa · Kansas · Kentucky · Louisiana · Maine · Maryland · Massachusetts · Michigan · Minnesota · Mississippi · Missouri · Montana · Nebraska · Nevada · New Hampshire · New Jersey · New Mexico · New York · North Carolina · North Dakota · Ohio · Oklahoma · Oregon · Pennsylvania · Rhode Island · South Carolina · South Dakota · Tennessee · Texas · Utah · Vermont · Virginia · Washington · West Virginia · Wisconsin · Wyoming.
By AtiveSite · Published 07/11/2026 · Updated 07/11/2026 · Every figure is linked to its source below.
Paralegals and legal assistants (SOC 23-2011) employed 392,880 people in May 2025. The median pay is $62,890 a year ($30.24 an hour); the lowest-paid 10% earn under $44,740 and the highest-paid 10% more than $101,500. BLS projects its employment to change by -0.3% between 2025 and 2035 (about 40,800 openings a year including replacements). The typical way in: Associate's degree.
Highest median pay: District of Columbia ($89,750), Washington ($79,400), Colorado ($78,190). Most jobs: California (47,130), Florida (40,950), New York (34,220).
| Measure ⇅ | Annual ⇅ | Hourly equivalent ⇅ |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $44,740 | $21.51 |
| 25th percentile | $50,340 | $24.20 |
| Median | $62,890 | $30.24 |
| Mean | $69,700 | $33.51 |
| 75th percentile | $80,080 | $38.50 |
| 90th percentile (experienced) | $101,500 | $48.80 |
Estimate for a wage earner: 2026 federal brackets and standard deduction (IRS), Social Security 6.2% up to $184,500, Medicare 1.45% (+0.9% above $200,000 single / $250,000 married), and a state rate you set. It ignores credits, pre-tax deductions, local taxes and benefits. Sources: IRS: tax year 2026 inflation adjustments · SSA wage base per Federal Register notice 2025-19763.
Hourly equivalents divide by 2,080 hours. Pay above $239,200 is shown as "≥ $239,200" (BLS top code).
| Measure ⇅ | Value ⇅ |
|---|---|
| Jobs 2025 | 404,900 |
| Jobs 2035 (projected) | 403,800 |
| Change in jobs | -1,100 |
| Percent change | -0.3% |
| Openings a year (growth + replacements) | 40,800 |
| Self-employed share | 2.1% |
| Typical entry education | Associate's degree |
| Work experience in a related occupation | None |
| Typical on-the-job training | None |
Licences and certifications are set by states and employers; the education shown is the usual entry requirement, not a legal one.
| State ⇅ | Jobs ⇅ | Location quotient ⇅ | Median pay ⇅ | Entry (10th pct.) ⇅ | Top (90th pct.) ⇅ | Median vs US ⇅ | Yearly rent as % of median pay ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 5,700 | 1.07 | $47,260 | $30,750 | $77,100 | -25% | 27% |
| Alaska | 570 | 0.69 | $68,700 | $53,830 | $99,320 | +9% | 25% |
| Arizona | 7,890 | 0.96 | $61,630 | $45,700 | $96,340 | -2% | 33% |
| Arkansas | 1,610 | 0.49 | $47,420 | $36,290 | $81,700 | -25% | 25% |
| California | 47,130 | 1.02 | $77,390 | $50,460 | $119,580 | +23% | 33% |
| Colorado | 5,620 | 0.77 | $78,190 | $56,930 | $106,160 | +24% | 28% |
| Connecticut | 5,210 | 1.21 | $63,820 | $46,440 | $100,040 | +1% | 29% |
| Delaware | 2,480 | 2.03 | $63,110 | $48,880 | $99,390 | +0% | 29% |
| District of Columbia | 6,400 | 3.61 | $89,750 | $59,770 | $131,650 | +43% | 26% |
| Florida | 40,950 | 1.63 | $61,000 | $38,830 | $83,410 | -3% | 36% |
| Georgia | 14,160 | 1.15 | $62,400 | $39,530 | $101,210 | -1% | 29% |
| Hawaii | 1,170 | 0.74 | $62,840 | $47,010 | $85,440 | -0% | 37% |
| Idaho | 2,030 | 0.94 | $49,690 | $36,930 | $75,420 | -21% | 33% |
| Illinois | 14,130 | 0.92 | $63,670 | $46,860 | $104,580 | +1% | 25% |
| Indiana | 5,910 | 0.73 | $57,030 | $40,650 | $92,160 | -9% | 23% |
| Iowa | 2,980 | 0.76 | $54,550 | $37,900 | $83,520 | -13% | 22% |
| Kansas | 2,210 | 0.61 | $55,000 | $38,860 | $79,090 | -13% | 24% |
| Kentucky | 3,540 | 0.70 | $59,830 | $36,560 | $78,730 | -5% | 20% |
| Louisiana | 4,890 | 1.00 | $60,250 | $36,960 | $78,230 | -4% | 21% |
| Maine | 1,210 | 0.75 | $62,420 | $48,260 | $80,550 | -1% | 23% |
| Maryland | 6,460 | 0.93 | $65,640 | $48,260 | $108,380 | +4% | 31% |
| Massachusetts | 7,800 | 0.85 | $77,640 | $49,770 | $117,480 | +23% | 29% |
| Michigan | 7,730 | 0.69 | $62,170 | $46,590 | $96,610 | -1% | 23% |
| Minnesota | 7,400 | 0.99 | $75,570 | $47,730 | $102,920 | +20% | 21% |
| Mississippi | 2,270 | 0.77 | $46,180 | $35,660 | $67,960 | -27% | 26% |
| Missouri | 7,130 | 0.96 | $61,410 | $42,150 | $96,820 | -2% | 21% |
| Montana | 1,010 | 0.78 | $57,290 | $46,140 | $76,660 | -9% | 25% |
| Nebraska | 1,630 | 0.63 | $63,250 | $44,230 | $86,990 | +1% | 21% |
| Nevada | 3,620 | 0.92 | $64,680 | $47,640 | $82,160 | +3% | 32% |
| New Hampshire | 1,430 | 0.83 | $62,040 | $46,870 | $86,190 | -1% | 30% |
| New Jersey | 12,010 | 1.11 | $71,500 | $47,070 | $99,900 | +14% | 30% |
| New Mexico | 1,740 | 0.79 | $59,840 | $43,660 | $80,490 | -5% | 22% |
| New York | 34,220 | 1.40 | $68,410 | $48,330 | $115,720 | +9% | 29% |
| North Carolina | 13,650 | 1.09 | $57,500 | $38,570 | $84,410 | -9% | 28% |
| North Dakota | 730 | 0.67 | $59,430 | $45,300 | $78,430 | -6% | 20% |
| Ohio | 9,270 | 0.66 | $60,420 | $41,720 | $94,660 | -4% | 22% |
| Oklahoma | 3,110 | 0.72 | $53,170 | $36,020 | $82,060 | -15% | 24% |
| Oregon | 4,870 | 0.98 | $61,490 | $48,250 | $98,640 | -2% | 31% |
| Pennsylvania | 14,670 | 0.96 | $63,370 | $45,710 | $96,080 | +1% | 24% |
| Rhode Island | 2,070 | 1.63 | $56,250 | $43,370 | $79,650 | -11% | 30% |
| South Carolina | 7,420 | 1.27 | $53,880 | $38,020 | $75,640 | -14% | 28% |
| South Dakota | 600 | 0.52 | $58,320 | $48,890 | $84,090 | -7% | 21% |
| Tennessee | 6,080 | 0.73 | $58,820 | $43,570 | $83,100 | -6% | 26% |
| Texas | 29,540 | 0.83 | $62,310 | $39,190 | $98,440 | -1% | 28% |
| Utah | 3,250 | 0.74 | $63,220 | $43,930 | $100,510 | +1% | 30% |
| Vermont | 660 | 0.86 | $67,160 | $48,650 | $87,390 | +7% | 24% |
| Virginia | 10,250 | 0.99 | $63,990 | $47,860 | $100,550 | +2% | 31% |
| Washington | 9,460 | 1.05 | $79,400 | $50,470 | $116,750 | +26% | 28% |
| West Virginia | 1,660 | 0.93 | $59,000 | $35,770 | $107,310 | -6% | 18% |
| Wisconsin | 4,780 | 0.64 | $58,500 | $45,220 | $86,210 | -7% | 23% |
| Wyoming | 600 | 0.84 | $49,490 | $35,890 | $64,780 | -21% | 24% |
Location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in the state than in the nation. "n/a" means BLS suppressed the figure. Rent uses the state median gross rent (ACS).
The 60 highest-paying metropolitan areas among those with at least 300 jobs in this occupation.
| Metropolitan area ⇅ | Jobs ⇅ | Median pay ⇅ | Entry (10th pct.) ⇅ | Top (90th pct.) ⇅ | Location quotient ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | 2,030 | $99,250 | $60,030 | $157,450 | 0.71 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | 6,310 | $92,900 | $59,320 | $119,820 | 1.20 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | 7,630 | $84,030 | $58,590 | $131,820 | 1.27 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 12,990 | $81,590 | $57,160 | $126,020 | 1.64 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | 360 | $80,930 | $57,930 | $97,500 | 0.70 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | 3,740 | $80,500 | $60,590 | $111,560 | 0.92 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 6,300 | $79,850 | $50,340 | $126,470 | 0.92 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | 2,590 | $78,550 | $51,980 | $113,290 | 0.95 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 22,240 | $77,520 | $51,200 | $112,160 | 1.40 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | 4,440 | $76,300 | $48,210 | $107,380 | 1.14 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | 5,990 | $76,220 | $49,230 | $105,220 | 1.22 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | 3,510 | $75,430 | $48,970 | $100,350 | 1.15 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 33,850 | $75,330 | $49,180 | $121,170 | 1.41 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | 520 | $74,780 | $47,050 | $102,880 | 0.64 |
| Trenton-Princeton, NJ | 790 | $73,250 | $48,050 | $104,650 | 1.30 |
| Burlington-South Burlington, VT | 300 | $71,160 | $51,310 | $85,490 | 1.00 |
| Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA | 570 | $71,140 | $51,100 | $80,700 | 1.73 |
| Worcester, MA | 480 | $70,990 | $35,140 | $97,310 | 0.54 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 11,590 | $70,550 | $50,160 | $106,040 | 1.02 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 11,150 | $70,430 | $48,970 | $97,950 | 1.52 |
| Fort Collins-Loveland, CO | 350 | $69,440 | $49,380 | $81,890 | 0.81 |
| Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT | 1,930 | $67,500 | $46,370 | $103,030 | 1.27 |
| Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV | 2,660 | $66,720 | $47,640 | $82,160 | 0.93 |
| Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ | 330 | $66,540 | $46,950 | $78,560 | 0.77 |
| Iowa City, IA | 330 | $66,400 | $48,680 | $105,010 | 1.40 |
| Anchorage, AK | 390 | $66,210 | $50,590 | $97,390 | 0.88 |
| Boulder, CO | 400 | $66,090 | $53,880 | $98,760 | 0.82 |
| Springfield, MA | 430 | $65,820 | $35,460 | $93,940 | 0.84 |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | 3,880 | $65,640 | $49,930 | $97,510 | 1.13 |
| Colorado Springs, CO | 560 | $64,830 | $49,830 | $111,160 | 0.70 |
| New Orleans-Metairie, LA | 2,120 | $64,780 | $41,040 | $79,880 | 1.88 |
| Salt Lake City-Murray, UT | 2,140 | $64,670 | $48,130 | $102,020 | 1.02 |
| Naples-Marco Island, FL | 520 | $64,660 | $38,370 | $82,920 | 1.17 |
| Waterbury-Shelton, CT | 420 | $64,570 | $46,410 | $99,640 | 1.03 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | 1,700 | $64,330 | $47,680 | $94,970 | 0.61 |
| Portland-South Portland, ME | 700 | $64,280 | $57,160 | $80,580 | 0.97 |
| Omaha, NE-IA | 1,010 | $64,230 | $45,330 | $92,480 | 0.80 |
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | 4,390 | $64,140 | $44,200 | $100,460 | 1.34 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | 10,290 | $64,080 | $45,500 | $105,310 | 1.41 |
| Kansas City, MO-KS | 2,900 | $63,880 | $47,230 | $97,890 | 1.05 |
| Lexington-Fayette, KY | 640 | $63,640 | $43,260 | $79,750 | 0.88 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | 2,620 | $63,620 | $45,710 | $94,680 | 0.93 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | 300 | $63,420 | $45,950 | $97,180 | 0.36 |
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | 4,550 | $63,400 | $49,500 | $97,710 | 0.95 |
| New Haven, CT | 780 | $63,390 | $39,310 | $98,350 | 1.10 |
| Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV | 330 | $63,290 | $39,860 | $111,530 | 1.21 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 8,320 | $63,220 | $38,730 | $100,920 | 0.81 |
| Richmond, VA | 1,930 | $62,940 | $48,400 | $91,960 | 1.15 |
| Urban Honolulu, HI | 880 | $62,840 | $46,990 | $86,250 | 0.78 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | 7,320 | $62,730 | $42,160 | $101,370 | 0.88 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | 6,280 | $62,620 | $47,720 | $97,670 | 1.05 |
| Jacksonville, FL | 2,170 | $62,480 | $40,610 | $92,130 | 1.12 |
| Fresno, CA | 920 | $62,450 | $45,460 | $95,780 | 0.76 |
| Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI | 870 | $62,370 | $46,800 | $94,570 | 0.57 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | 2,770 | $62,130 | $44,630 | $99,730 | 0.99 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | 17,820 | $62,090 | $38,500 | $91,990 | 2.50 |
| Manchester-Nashua, NH | 500 | $62,040 | $37,750 | $85,340 | 0.99 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | 4,030 | $61,970 | $45,950 | $97,830 | 1.19 |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | 2,540 | $61,880 | $38,690 | $85,560 | 1.35 |
| Lancaster, PA | 330 | $61,780 | $47,420 | $88,230 | 0.51 |
The median is $62,890 a year ($30.24 an hour); the lowest-paid tenth earn under $44,740 and the highest-paid tenth over $101,500 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
392,880 in May 2025, and BLS projects -0.3% growth to 2035.
The typical entry education is: Associate's degree (BLS).
District of Columbia, with a median of $89,750 (among states with published figures).