The average salary for a paralegal in the United States is around $56,230 per year.
Avg Salary
Paralegals earn an average yearly salary of $56,230.
Wages typically start from $36,410 and go up to $88,640.
14% below national average Updated in 2021
Paralegal earnings by seniority
Approximate values based on highest and lowest earning segments.
Paralegal salary by state
| State Name | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $77,840 |
| Washington | $64,160 |
| California | $63,370 |
| Alaska | $61,680 |
| Massachusetts | $61,410 |
| New Jersey | $60,880 |
| Oregon | $60,640 |
| Colorado | $60,360 |
| New York | $60,030 |
| Minnesota | $60,000 |
| Connecticut | $59,700 |
| Maryland | $59,650 |
| Pennsylvania | $59,610 |
| Nevada | $59,590 |
| New Hampshire | $58,800 |
| Illinois | $58,510 |
| Delaware | $58,500 |
| Rhode Island | $58,490 |
| Utah | $50,070 |
| Hawaii | $49,870 |
| Arizona | $49,390 |
| Michigan | $49,260 |
| Vermont | $49,260 |
| Texas | $49,050 |
| Florida | $48,820 |
| Missouri | $48,730 |
| Virgin Islands, U.S. | $48,520 |
| Virginia | $48,370 |
| Nebraska | $48,340 |
| South Dakota | $47,510 |
| Wisconsin | $47,510 |
| Iowa | $47,430 |
| Georgia | $47,360 |
| North Dakota | $47,290 |
| Maine | $47,280 |
| Idaho | $47,040 |
| Alabama | $46,990 |
| North Carolina | $46,990 |
| Montana | $46,980 |
| Oklahoma | $46,980 |
| Ohio | $46,940 |
| Indiana | $46,910 |
| New Mexico | $46,770 |
| Tennessee | $46,770 |
| Louisiana | $46,720 |
| Kansas | $46,400 |
| Kentucky | $46,390 |
| Wyoming | $46,340 |
| West Virginia | $46,280 |
| South Carolina | $43,200 |
| Guam | $38,480 |
| Mississippi | $37,530 |
| Arkansas | $36,820 |
| Puerto Rico | $36,550 |
How do paralegal salaries compare to similar careers?
Paralegals earn about the same as related careers in the United States. On average, they make less than forensic science technicians but more than legal secretaries.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Forensic science technician salary | $62K |
| Probation officer salary | $60K |
| Judicial law clerk salary | $51K |
| Arbitrator salary | $49K |
| Private detective salary | $59K |
| Paralegal salary | $56K |
| Fish and game warden salary | $61K |
| Legislator salary | $37K |
| Correctional officer salary | $48K |
| Legal secretary salary | $48K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)