Paralegal Salary & Career Insights

What is the average salary for a paralegal in the United States?

$60,970 per year

According to the BLS.gov, the average salary for a paralegal in the United States is $60,970 annually. The lowest salary is $39,710 annually, and the highest is $98,830 annually.

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

IndustryAverage 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
Annual mean wages.

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.

Average Education

According to BLS.gov, 37% of paralegals have a Bachelor’s degree, 20% have an Associate’s degree, and 19% have a High school diploma or equivalent.

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.

CityAverage Salary
San Jose, CA$103,850
San Francisco, CA$92,860
Washington DC$84,530
Seattle, WA$83,210
New York, NY$80,240
Annual mean wages.

Look at the average paralegal salaries from top-paying states according to Bls.gov data.

StateAverage Salary
District of Columbia$94,290
California$79,210
New York$78,850
Washington$75,560
Massachusetts$74,710
Annual mean wages.

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

Job Openings in the United States


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