Paralegal Salary
BLS reports this occupation as "Paralegals and Legal Assistants" (23-2011); every figure on this page is for that BLS occupation.
Paralegals assist lawyers by conducting legal research, drafting documents, and managing case files. They perform substantive legal work under attorney supervision across practice areas.
National Salary Distribution
Top Paying Cities for Paralegal
| # | City | Median |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seattle, WA | $92,900 |
| 2 | San Francisco, CA | $84,030 |
| 3 | Washington, DC | $81,590 |
| 4 | Denver, CO | $80,500 |
| 5 | Boston, MA | $79,850 |
| 6 | Los Angeles, CA | $77,520 |
| 7 | San Diego, CA | $76,300 |
| 8 | Minneapolis, MN | $76,220 |
| 9 | Portland, OR | $75,430 |
| 10 | New York, NY | $75,330 |
Highest After Local Prices
| # | City | Price Level | At National Prices |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seattle, WA | 111.1 | $83,594 |
| 2 | Denver, CO | 105.8 | $76,100 |
| 3 | Washington, DC | 108.9 | $74,933 |
| 4 | Boston, MA | 108.3 | $73,754 |
| 5 | Minneapolis, MN | 104.8 | $72,714 |
| 6 | San Francisco, CA | 115.6 | $72,682 |
| 7 | Portland, OR | 105.4 | $71,551 |
| 8 | Los Angeles, CA | 113.6 | $68,260 |
| 9 | San Diego, CA | 111.9 | $68,194 |
| 10 | Chicago, IL | 103.6 | $68,102 |
Paralegal Salary — All Cities
| City | P25 | Median | P75 | P90 | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seattle, WA | $74,470 | $92,900 | $108,160 | $119,820 | 6,310 |
| San Francisco, CA | $74,050 | $84,030 | $103,060 | $131,820 | 7,630 |
| Washington, DC | $64,180 | $81,590 | $106,990 | $126,020 | 12,990 |
| Denver, CO | $68,120 | $80,500 | $97,800 | $111,560 | 3,740 |
| Boston, MA | $63,850 | $79,850 | $98,470 | $126,470 | 6,300 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $59,690 | $77,520 | $98,440 | $112,160 | 22,240 |
| San Diego, CA | $59,410 | $76,300 | $98,260 | $107,380 | 4,440 |
| Minneapolis, MN | $60,310 | $76,220 | $86,950 | $105,220 | 5,990 |
| Portland, OR | $59,360 | $75,430 | $82,800 | $100,350 | 3,510 |
| New York, NY | $61,040 | $75,330 | $97,720 | $121,170 | 33,850 |
| Chicago, IL | $58,740 | $70,550 | $85,040 | $106,040 | 11,590 |
| Salt Lake City, UT | $49,730 | $64,670 | $84,650 | $102,020 | 2,140 |
| Austin, TX | $46,800 | $64,140 | $79,100 | $100,460 | 4,390 |
| Atlanta, GA | $50,700 | $64,080 | $83,250 | $105,310 | 10,290 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $50,400 | $63,620 | $79,060 | $94,680 | 2,620 |
| Detroit, MI | $59,040 | $63,400 | $78,620 | $97,710 | 4,550 |
| Dallas, TX | $48,760 | $63,220 | $80,700 | $100,920 | 8,320 |
| Richmond, VA | $53,080 | $62,940 | $77,090 | $91,960 | 1,930 |
| Houston, TX | $49,840 | $62,730 | $80,230 | $101,370 | 7,320 |
| Phoenix, AZ | $49,980 | $62,620 | $80,120 | $97,670 | 6,280 |
| Indianapolis, IN | $48,520 | $62,130 | $78,700 | $99,730 | 2,770 |
| Miami, FL | $50,330 | $62,090 | $77,730 | $91,990 | 17,820 |
| Raleigh, NC | $48,910 | $61,880 | $75,530 | $85,560 | 2,540 |
| Louisville, KY | $49,840 | $61,270 | $74,980 | $81,000 | 1,460 |
| Nashville, TN | $47,530 | $60,800 | $75,550 | $94,280 | 2,660 |
| Columbus, OH | $59,450 | $60,430 | $78,200 | $98,030 | 2,260 |
| Charlotte, NC | $49,110 | $59,870 | $76,110 | $99,530 | 4,140 |
| Oklahoma City, OK | $46,760 | $57,550 | $61,720 | $83,590 | 1,650 |
| Memphis, TN | $47,750 | $56,850 | $70,580 | $84,480 | 1,120 |
| El Paso, TX | $42,950 | $55,830 | $63,560 | $83,780 | 490 |
5About the Paralegal Role
Paralegals assist lawyers by conducting legal research, drafting documents, and managing case files. They perform substantive legal work under attorney supervision across practice areas.
Compensation for Paralegals varies by metro — from $55,830 at the low end in El Paso, TX to $92,900 in Seattle, WA. The $37,070 gap is a gap in dollars. The second table above lists the 10 highest medians after each is restated at national-average prices using BEA regional price parities, which can change the order.
For side-by-side comparisons between specific metros, use the compare links above or the salary calculator. For state-level figures, see paralegal salary by state, or browse all occupations.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average Paralegal salary in the US?
The national median Paralegal salary is $62,890 per year, per the BLS OEWS May 2025 national estimate. The 25th percentile is $50,340 and the 90th percentile reaches $101,500.
Which city pays Paralegals the most?
Among the 30 metro areas covered here, Seattle, WA has the highest median wage for Paralegals at $92,900 per year (BLS OEWS May 2025). San Francisco, CA ($84,030) and Washington, DC ($81,590) are next.