Paralegal Salary: Memphis, TN vs Boston, MA
BLS reports this occupation as "Paralegals and Legal Assistants" (23-2011); every figure on this page is for that BLS occupation.
Side-by-side comparison of wages and local price levels for Paralegals in Memphis, TN and Boston, MA, based on BLS OEWS May 2025 wage data and BEA regional price parities for 2024.
1Which City Pays More?
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Memphis, TN | Boston, MA | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Annual Salary | $56,850 | $79,850▲ | -$23,000 |
| 25th Percentile | $47,750 | $63,850▲ | -$16,100 |
| 75th Percentile | $70,580 | $98,470▲ | -$27,890 |
| 90th Percentile | $84,480 | $126,470▲ | -$41,990 |
| Price Level (BEA 2024, US = 100) | 92.2 | 108.3 | -16.1 |
| Median at National-Average Prices | $61,673 | $73,754▲ | -$12,081 |
| Total Employment | 1,120 | 6,300 | -5,180 |
3Summary Analysis
On paper, Boston, MA pays $23,000 more (median: $56,850 vs $79,850). BEA's regional price parity is 92.2 in Memphis, TN and 108.3 in Boston, MA (United States = 100). At national-average prices the medians are $61,673 and $73,754, so Boston, MA comes out ahead once local prices are counted.
5Reading This Comparison
The $23,000 gap between the two medians is a gap in dollars, not in what those dollars buy. Dividing each median by its area's regional price parity restates it at national-average prices: $61,673 for Memphis and $73,754 for Boston, a difference of $12,081.
The price levels come from the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, which describes them this way: “Regional price parities (RPPs) measure the differences in price levels across states and metropolitan areas for a given year and are expressed as a percentage of the overall national price level.” The figures used here are the all-items index for each whole metropolitan area (Memphis, TN-MS-AR; Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH) and cover prices only, not taxes.
BLS estimates 1,120 Paralegal jobs in the Memphis area and 6,300 in the Boston area. For broader context, see our Tennessee overview and the full Paralegal city ranking.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Paralegal salary higher in Memphis, TN or Boston, MA?
Boston, MA has the higher median wage for Paralegals ($79,850 per year, against $56,850 in Memphis, TN; BLS OEWS May 2025). Restated at national-average prices using BEA regional price parities, the medians are $61,673 in Memphis, TN and $73,754 in Boston, MA.
How do prices compare between Memphis, TN and Boston, MA?
The U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis puts the 2024 regional price parity at 92.2 for the Memphis, TN-MS-AR metropolitan area and 108.3 for the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metropolitan area, where the United States is 100. That is 7.8% below the national level for Memphis, TN and 8.3% above the national level for Boston, MA.
Which city pays Paralegals more once local prices are counted?
Boston, MA: at national-average prices its median Paralegal wage is $73,754, against $61,673 for Memphis, TN. The adjustment divides each median by the area's BEA regional price parity and covers prices only, not taxes.