Paralegals and legal assistants support lawyers by conducting research, drafting documents, and assisting with case preparation.
This article will explore the best states for paralegals and legal assistants, based on the average annual salary for the occupation.
- 1. District of Columbia ($91,880)
- 2. California ($76,080)
- 3. Washington ($72,590)
- 4. Massachusetts ($71,670)
- 5. New York ($69,860)
- 6. Colorado ($68,920)
- 7. Delaware ($68,340)
- 8. Connecticut ($67,310)
- 9. Oregon ($66,250)
- 10. New Jersey ($65,570)
- Conclusion
Key Takeaways
- The highest-paid paralegals and legal assistants are in District of Columbia, where they earn an average of $91,880 per year.
- The lowest-paid paralegals and legal assistants are in Rhode Island, where they earn an average of $-1 per year.
- The U.S. average salary for paralegals and legal assistants is $56,661 per year.
1. District of Columbia ($91,880)
Paralegals and Legal Assistants in District of Columbia earn the highest average salary in the U.S. The median annual salary for
paralegals and legal assistants in District of Columbia is
$91,880, which is +62% from the national average.
| Type | Annual Salary |
|---|
| Median Wage | $91,880 |
| 10th Percentile | $56,780 |
| 25th Percentile | $69,940 |
| 75th Percentile | $106,690 |
| 90th Percentile | $124,650 |
2. California ($76,080)
Paralegals and Legal Assistants in California earn the 2nd highest average salary in the U.S. The median annual salary for
paralegals and legal assistants in California is
$76,080, which is +34% from the national average.
| Type | Annual Salary |
|---|
| Median Wage | $76,080 |
| 10th Percentile | $46,730 |
| 25th Percentile | $58,620 |
| 75th Percentile | $91,630 |
| 90th Percentile | $109,340 |
3. Washington ($72,590)
Paralegals and Legal Assistants in Washington earn the 3rd highest average salary in the U.S. The median annual salary for
paralegals and legal assistants in Washington is
$72,590, which is +28% from the national average.
| Type | Annual Salary |
|---|
| Median Wage | $72,590 |
| 10th Percentile | $47,960 |
| 25th Percentile | $52,910 |
| 75th Percentile | $84,460 |
| 90th Percentile | $106,510 |
4. Massachusetts ($71,670)
Paralegals and Legal Assistants in Massachusetts earn the 4th highest average salary in the U.S. The median annual salary for
paralegals and legal assistants in Massachusetts is
$71,670, which is +26% from the national average.
| Type | Annual Salary |
|---|
| Median Wage | $71,670 |
| 10th Percentile | $40,760 |
| 25th Percentile | $49,810 |
| 75th Percentile | $84,610 |
| 90th Percentile | $103,000 |
5. New York ($69,860)
Paralegals and Legal Assistants in New York earn the 5th highest average salary in the U.S. The median annual salary for
paralegals and legal assistants in New York is
$69,860, which is +23% from the national average.
| Type | Annual Salary |
|---|
| Median Wage | $69,860 |
| 10th Percentile | $45,720 |
| 25th Percentile | $50,910 |
| 75th Percentile | $81,470 |
| 90th Percentile | $103,890 |
6. Colorado ($68,920)
Paralegals and Legal Assistants in Colorado earn the 6th highest average salary in the U.S. The median annual salary for
paralegals and legal assistants in Colorado is
$68,920, which is +22% from the national average.
| Type | Annual Salary |
|---|
| Median Wage | $68,920 |
| 10th Percentile | $45,510 |
| 25th Percentile | $51,520 |
| 75th Percentile | $79,550 |
| 90th Percentile | $99,060 |
7. Delaware ($68,340)
Paralegals and Legal Assistants in Delaware earn the 7th highest average salary in the U.S. The median annual salary for
paralegals and legal assistants in Delaware is
$68,340, which is +21% from the national average.
| Type | Annual Salary |
|---|
| Median Wage | $68,340 |
| 10th Percentile | $41,350 |
| 25th Percentile | $48,580 |
| 75th Percentile | $81,970 |
| 90th Percentile | $99,100 |
8. Connecticut ($67,310)
Paralegals and Legal Assistants in Connecticut earn the 8th highest average salary in the U.S. The median annual salary for
paralegals and legal assistants in Connecticut is
$67,310, which is +19% from the national average.
| Type | Annual Salary |
|---|
| Median Wage | $67,310 |
| 10th Percentile | $46,350 |
| 25th Percentile | $50,200 |
| 75th Percentile | $78,230 |
| 90th Percentile | $91,590 |
9. Oregon ($66,250)
Paralegals and Legal Assistants in Oregon earn the 9th highest average salary in the U.S. The median annual salary for
paralegals and legal assistants in Oregon is
$66,250, which is +17% from the national average.
| Type | Annual Salary |
|---|
| Median Wage | $66,250 |
| 10th Percentile | $46,090 |
| 25th Percentile | $51,270 |
| 75th Percentile | $76,580 |
| 90th Percentile | $86,420 |
10. New Jersey ($65,570)
Paralegals and Legal Assistants in New Jersey earn the 10th highest average salary in the U.S. The median annual salary for
paralegals and legal assistants in New Jersey is
$65,570, which is +16% from the national average.
| Type | Annual Salary |
|---|
| Median Wage | $65,570 |
| 10th Percentile | $38,650 |
| 25th Percentile | $49,300 |
| 75th Percentile | $77,150 |
| 90th Percentile | $96,480 |
Conclusion
The highest-paid paralegals and legal assistants are in District of Columbia, where they earn an average of $91,880 per year. The lowest-paid paralegals and legal assistants are in Rhode Island, where they earn an average of $-1 per year. The U.S. average salary for paralegals and legal assistants is $56,661 per year and there are 346,100 jobs in the field.
