Paralegals Salary 2025: $64,170 Median Pay (BLS OEWS)
$64,170 per year is the national median annual wage for paralegals (BLS OEWS, May 2025 reference period). That works out to about $31/hour, with a 10th–90th percentile range of $60,030 to $157,450. The Bureau of Labor Statistics classifies this role under SOC code 23-2011.
Key Facts (BLS OEWS, May 2025)
- Median annual wage
- $64,170
- Median hourly wage
- $31/hr
- Mean annual wage
- $73,336
- Total US employment
- 286,300
- Top-paying metro
- San Jose, CA, CA ($99,250)
- BLS SOC code
- 23-2011
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 release.
Paralegal (SOC 23-2011) is a mid-paying occupation, with a national median wage of $64,170. BLS OEWS reports 286,300 workers in this role nationally.
Geographic wage spread is wide: across the 70 cities reporting data, median Paralegal wages range from $47,690 to $99,250 — roughly 108% above the floor. The spread reflects cost-of-living, regional supply-and-demand, and industry-mix differences. Paralegal is in the {{category}} category. BLS OEWS captures base wage but not bonuses, equity compensation, or commissions; total compensation for many roles runs meaningfully above the reported wage.
Salary Range (BLS Percentiles)
Paralegals salaries range from $47,690 to $99,250 median across cities, depending on location, experience, and industry.
Paralegals Salary by City (BLS OEWS)
| City | 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | COL-Adjusted | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose, CA | $60,030 | $75,718 | $99,250 | $128,350 | $157,450 | $50,689 | 2,030 |
| Seattle, WA | $59,320 | $72,752 | $92,900 | $106,360 | $119,820 | $62,182 | 6,310 |
| San Francisco, CA | $58,590 | $68,766 | $84,030 | $107,925 | $131,820 | $46,787 | 7,630 |
| Washington, DC | $57,160 | $66,932 | $81,590 | $103,805 | $126,020 | $53,397 | 12,990 |
| Denver, CO | $60,590 | $68,554 | $80,500 | $96,030 | $111,560 | $71,365 | 3,740 |
| Boston, MA | $50,340 | $62,144 | $79,850 | $103,160 | $126,470 | $52,498 | 6,300 |
| Sacramento, CA | $51,980 | $62,608 | $78,550 | $95,920 | $113,290 | $62,991 | 2,590 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $51,200 | $61,728 | $77,520 | $94,840 | $112,160 | $46,699 | 22,240 |
| San Diego, CA | $48,210 | $59,446 | $76,300 | $91,840 | $107,380 | $47,628 | 4,440 |
| Minneapolis, MN | $49,230 | $60,026 | $76,220 | $90,720 | $105,220 | $71,770 | 5,990 |
| Portland, OR | $48,970 | $59,554 | $75,430 | $87,890 | $100,350 | $57,978 | 3,510 |
| New York, NY | $49,180 | $59,640 | $75,330 | $98,250 | $121,170 | $40,240 | 33,850 |
| Chicago, IL | $50,160 | $58,316 | $70,550 | $88,295 | $106,040 | $65,750 | 11,590 |
| Philadelphia, PA | $48,970 | $57,554 | $70,430 | $84,190 | $97,950 | $59,485 | 11,150 |
| Hartford, CT | $46,370 | $54,822 | $67,500 | $85,265 | $103,030 | $59,947 | 1,930 |
| Las Vegas, NV | $47,640 | $55,272 | $66,720 | $74,440 | $82,160 | $61,211 | 2,660 |
| Anchorage, AK | $50,590 | $56,838 | $66,210 | $81,800 | $97,390 | $52,134 | 390 |
| Baltimore, MD | $49,930 | $56,214 | $65,640 | $81,575 | $97,510 | $57,478 | 3,880 |
| Colorado Springs, CO | $49,830 | $55,830 | $64,830 | $87,995 | $111,160 | $62,038 | 560 |
| New Orleans, LA | $41,040 | $50,536 | $64,780 | $72,330 | $79,880 | $67,550 | 2,120 |
| Salt Lake City, UT | $48,130 | $54,746 | $64,670 | $83,345 | $102,020 | $63,777 | 2,140 |
| Cincinnati, OH | $47,680 | $54,340 | $64,330 | $79,650 | $94,970 | $70,537 | 1,700 |
| Omaha, NE | $45,330 | $52,890 | $64,230 | $78,355 | $92,480 | $69,967 | 1,010 |
| Austin, TX | $44,200 | $52,176 | $64,140 | $82,300 | $100,460 | $62,272 | 4,390 |
| Atlanta, GA | $45,500 | $52,932 | $64,080 | $84,695 | $105,310 | $64,597 | 10,290 |
| Kansas City, MO | $47,230 | $53,890 | $63,880 | $80,885 | $97,890 | $66,960 | 2,900 |
| Lexington, KY | $43,260 | $51,412 | $63,640 | $71,695 | $79,750 | $69,704 | 640 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $45,710 | $52,874 | $63,620 | $79,150 | $94,680 | $68,927 | 2,620 |
| Bakersfield, CA | $45,950 | $52,938 | $63,420 | $80,300 | $97,180 | $63,042 | 300 |
| Detroit, MI | $49,500 | $55,060 | $63,400 | $80,555 | $97,710 | $66,667 | 4,550 |
| Dallas, TX | $38,730 | $48,526 | $63,220 | $82,070 | $100,920 | $60,730 | 8,320 |
| Richmond, VA | $48,400 | $54,216 | $62,940 | $77,450 | $91,960 | $61,645 | 1,930 |
| Houston, TX | $42,160 | $50,388 | $62,730 | $82,050 | $101,370 | $65,005 | 7,320 |
| Phoenix, AZ | $47,720 | $53,680 | $62,620 | $80,145 | $97,670 | $62,185 | 6,280 |
| Jacksonville, FL | $40,610 | $49,358 | $62,480 | $77,305 | $92,130 | $65,699 | 2,170 |
| Fresno, CA | $45,460 | $52,256 | $62,450 | $79,115 | $95,780 | $59,194 | 920 |
| Indianapolis, IN | $44,630 | $51,630 | $62,130 | $80,930 | $99,730 | $68,957 | 2,770 |
| Miami, FL | $38,500 | $47,936 | $62,090 | $77,040 | $91,990 | $50,439 | 17,820 |
| St. Louis, MO | $45,950 | $52,358 | $61,970 | $79,900 | $97,830 | $68,856 | 4,030 |
| Raleigh, NC | $38,690 | $47,966 | $61,880 | $73,720 | $85,560 | $62,004 | 2,540 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino, CA | $49,640 | $54,368 | $61,460 | $77,595 | $93,730 | $50,212 | 2,460 |
| Louisville, KY | $38,890 | $47,842 | $61,270 | $71,135 | $81,000 | $67,927 | 1,460 |
| Nashville, TN | $45,780 | $51,788 | $60,800 | $77,540 | $94,280 | $60,618 | 2,660 |
| Madison, WI | $47,520 | $52,832 | $60,800 | $71,785 | $82,770 | $58,574 | 850 |
| Albany, NY | $47,250 | $52,622 | $60,680 | $71,000 | $81,320 | $60,258 | 1,340 |
| Columbus, OH | $47,090 | $52,426 | $60,430 | $79,230 | $98,030 | $64,909 | 2,260 |
| Milwaukee, WI | $47,130 | $52,414 | $60,340 | $73,815 | $87,290 | $61,951 | 1,880 |
| Tampa, FL | $43,260 | $50,016 | $60,150 | $70,515 | $80,880 | $60,392 | 6,630 |
| Des Moines, IA | $37,490 | $46,526 | $60,080 | $75,000 | $89,920 | $64,394 | 1,190 |
| Bridgeport, CT | $47,350 | $52,390 | $59,950 | $79,880 | $99,810 | $43,600 | 1,600 |
| Charlotte, NC | $43,160 | $49,844 | $59,870 | $79,700 | $99,530 | $61,913 | 4,140 |
| Spokane, WA | $49,280 | $53,384 | $59,540 | $69,995 | $80,450 | $61,129 | 610 |
| Orlando, FL | $39,400 | $47,428 | $59,470 | $68,870 | $78,270 | $57,682 | 5,480 |
| Albuquerque, NM | $41,050 | $48,378 | $59,370 | $69,550 | $79,730 | $63,160 | 1,070 |
| Greensboro, NC | $38,180 | $46,368 | $58,650 | $67,950 | $77,250 | $64,239 | 860 |
| Buffalo, NY | $45,730 | $50,746 | $58,270 | $69,660 | $81,050 | $62,995 | 2,060 |
| Greenville, SC | $39,060 | $46,548 | $57,780 | $66,980 | $76,180 | $64,129 | 1,600 |
| Oklahoma City, OK | $37,340 | $45,424 | $57,550 | $70,570 | $83,590 | $66,532 | 1,650 |
| Rochester, NY | $43,100 | $48,760 | $57,250 | $69,540 | $81,830 | $61,625 | 1,300 |
| Providence, RI | $43,370 | $48,862 | $57,100 | $68,975 | $80,850 | $47,822 | 2,420 |
| Memphis, TN | $42,950 | $48,510 | $56,850 | $70,665 | $84,480 | $67,679 | 1,120 |
| Reno, NV | $36,840 | $44,268 | $55,410 | $66,610 | $77,810 | $52,028 | 770 |
| Boise, ID | $36,930 | $43,546 | $53,470 | $64,690 | $75,910 | $52,370 | 1,140 |
| San Antonio, TX | $39,810 | $45,206 | $53,300 | $70,415 | $87,530 | $58,251 | 2,900 |
| Birmingham, AL | $34,130 | $41,742 | $53,160 | $67,360 | $81,560 | $58,805 | 2,420 |
| Tucson, AZ | $39,060 | $44,408 | $52,430 | $71,685 | $90,940 | $54,958 | 980 |
| Tulsa, OK | $36,020 | $41,908 | $50,740 | $65,090 | $79,440 | $58,456 | 980 |
| Wichita, KS | $37,800 | $42,776 | $50,240 | $62,505 | $74,770 | $59,810 | 480 |
| Knoxville, TN | $38,990 | $43,306 | $49,780 | $62,720 | $75,660 | $55,127 | 770 |
| Little Rock, AR | $37,740 | $41,720 | $47,690 | $64,510 | $81,330 | $54,070 | 680 |
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Frequently Asked Questions
The national median salary for Paralegal is $64,170 as of 2025. The national mean (average) is $73,336. Salaries range from $47,690 to $99,250 depending on city and cost of living.
Paralegal salaries vary significantly by metro area. The highest-paying cities offer median salaries well above the national average of $64,170, though cost of living should be factored in. Check the city breakdown table above for COL-adjusted figures.
There are approximately 286,300 Paralegal positions in the US across 70 metropolitan areas tracked by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Paralegal positions at the 90th percentile earn significantly more than the median, suggesting strong income growth potential with experience and specialization. The gap between the 10th and 90th percentile indicates the impact that skills, location, and seniority have on compensation.
Salary data from BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics. COL adjustments use BEA Regional Price Parities.
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2026.