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Paralegal Salary & Career Insights
What is the average salary for a paralegal in the United States?
Our salary data comes from BLS.gov. The salaries presented here are the 2023 median pay.
Job Outlook & Work Environment
Job Outlook
🚀 366,200; estimated number of paralegal jobs in 2023. By 2033, the market is expected to add 4,300 new paralegal jobs.
☀️ The projected job outlook for paralegals is only at 1%, which is slower than average.
Work Environment
💼 Most paralegals work in office environments alongside attorneys and other legal support staff. In addition, they may travel to courtrooms.
🏢 75% of paralegals work in legal services.
Paralegal Salary in Comparison to Patent Law Salaries
How Does a Paralegal Salary Stack Up?
The average paralegal salary is $60,970 annually, while the average patent paralegal salary is estimated to be much higher, at $96,682 annually.
This is an earnings increase of over $30K. It is well worth it to start learning about patent law and transition to a career as a patent paralegal.
Top Paralegal Salaries by Industry
Industry | Average Salary |
---|---|
Software Publishers | $123,720 |
Motor Vehicle Manufacturing | $119,340 |
Scientific Research and Development Services | $109,840 |
Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing | $109,650 |
Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing | $109,050 |
Salary by Paralegal Industry
In the U.S., the average paralegal salary is $60,970.
Top paralegal salaries by industry show that Software Publishers lead with an average salary of $123,720. This is followed by Motor Vehicle Manufacturing at $119,340, and Scientific Research and Development Services at $109,840.
Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing and Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing offer average salaries of $109,650 and $109,050, respectively.
Experience & Education
Here are some typical daily activities of a paralegal:
- Documenting/Recording Information — Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written, electronic, or magnetic formats.
- Working with Computers — Utilizing computers and computer systems, including hardware and software, to program, develop software, set up functions, input data, or process information.
- External Communication — Interacting with individuals outside the organization, representing it to customers, the public, government, and other external entities. This communication can occur in person, in writing, or via phone or email.
- Internal Communication — Sharing information with supervisors, colleagues, and subordinates through phone, written documents, email, or face-to-face discussions.
- Gathering Information — Observing, receiving, and acquiring information from all relevant sources.
Here are the typical skills you need to work as a paralegal:
- Writing — Effectively conveying ideas in writing tailored to the audience’s needs.
- Active Listening — Fully focusing on others’ speech, comprehending their points, asking relevant questions, and avoiding inappropriate interruptions.
- Reading Comprehension — Grasping the meaning of sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
- Speaking — Effectively communicating information by speaking with others.
- Critical Thinking — Applying logic and reasoning to assess the strengths and weaknesses of various solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
- Active Learning — Recognizing the implications of new information for current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
Knowledge required to work as a paralegal:
- Law and Government — Understanding legal systems, including laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, agency rules, and the democratic political process.
- English Language — Familiarity with the structure and content of the English language, including word meanings, spelling, composition rules, and grammar.
- Administrative — Familiarity with office procedures and systems, such as word processing, file and record management, stenography, transcription, form design, and workplace terminology.
- Computers and Electronics — Understanding circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
- Customer and Personal Service — Understanding principles and methods for delivering customer and personal services, including assessing customer needs, maintaining quality standards, and evaluating customer satisfaction.
Top Paralegal Salaries by Location
Factors that Impact Pay
Top paralegal salaries by location reveal that San Jose, CA offers the highest average salary at $103,850. San Francisco, CA follows with an average salary of $92,860, while Washington DC offers $84,530. Seattle, WA and New York, NY provide average salaries of $83,210 and $80,240, respectively.
Top paralegal salaries by state show that the District of Columbia offers the highest average salary at $94,290. California follows with an average salary of $79,210, and New York offers $78,850. Washington and Massachusetts provide average salaries of $75,560 and $74,710, respectively.
Take a look at the average paralegal salaries from top-paying cities according to Bls.gov data.
City | Average Salary |
---|---|
San Jose, CA | $103,850 |
San Francisco, CA | $92,860 |
Washington DC | $84,530 |
Seattle, WA | $83,210 |
New York, NY | $80,240 |
Look at the average paralegal salaries from top-paying states according to Bls.gov data.
State | Average Salary |
---|---|
District of Columbia | $94,290 |
California | $79,210 |
New York | $78,850 |
Washington | $75,560 |
Massachusetts | $74,710 |
Related Careers
Patent Agent
Patent agents practice patent law before the USPTO.
Average of $130,168/year
Patent Paralegal
Patent paralegals help patent agents and attorneys conduct research for patents.
Average of $96,682/year