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Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics

Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2022

23-2011 Paralegals and Legal Assistants

Assist lawyers by investigating facts, preparing legal documents, or researching legal precedent. Conduct research to support a legal proceeding, to formulate a defense, or to initiate legal action. Excludes “Legal Secretaries and Administrative Assistants” (43-6012).

National estimates for Paralegals and Legal Assistants
Industry profile for Paralegals and Legal Assistants
Geographic profile for Paralegals and Legal Assistants

National estimates for Paralegals and Legal Assistants:

Employment estimate and mean wage estimates for Paralegals and Legal Assistants:

Employment (1) Employment
RSE (3) 		Mean hourly
wage		 Mean annual
wage (2) 		Wage RSE (3)
345,240 1.8 % $ 30.21 $ 62,840 2.1 %

Percentile wage estimates for Paralegals and Legal Assistants:

Percentile 10% 25% 50%
(Median) 		75% 90%
Hourly Wage $ 18.12 $ 22.52 $ 28.46 $ 36.33 $ 45.66
Annual Wage (2) $ 37,690 $ 46,850 $ 59,200 $ 75,560 $ 94,960

Industry profile for Paralegals and Legal Assistants:

Industries with the highest published employment and wages for Paralegals and Legal Assistants are provided. For a list of all industries with employment in Paralegals and Legal Assistants, see the Create Customized Tables function.

Industries with the highest levels of employment in Paralegals and Legal Assistants:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Legal Services 263,170 22.30 $ 29.12 $ 60,570
Local Government, excluding schools and hospitals (OEWS Designation) 16,420 0.31 $ 29.42 $ 61,190
Federal Executive Branch (OEWS Designation) 15,080 0.72 $ 36.69 $ 76,310
State Government, excluding schools and hospitals (OEWS Designation) 10,850 0.51 $ 25.43 $ 52,900
Management of Companies and Enterprises 6,890 0.26 $ 40.51 $ 84,260

Industries with the highest concentration of employment in Paralegals and Legal Assistants:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Legal Services 263,170 22.30 $ 29.12 $ 60,570
Other Investment Pools and Funds 160 0.90 $ 32.95 $ 68,530
Lessors of Nonfinancial Intangible Assets (except Copyrighted Works) 160 0.78 $ 46.82 $ 97,380
Federal Executive Branch (OEWS Designation) 15,080 0.72 $ 36.69 $ 76,310
State Government, excluding schools and hospitals (OEWS Designation) 10,850 0.51 $ 25.43 $ 52,900

Top paying industries for Paralegals and Legal Assistants:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Scientific Research and Development Services 760 0.09 $ 52.09 $ 108,350
Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing 30 0.03 $ 51.34 $ 106,780
Web Search Portals, Libraries, Archives, and Other Information Services 50 0.03 $ 50.41 $ 104,840
Computer and Peripheral Equipment Manufacturing 90 0.06 $ 49.43 $ 102,810
Motor Vehicle Manufacturing 100 0.04 $ 49.24 $ 102,420

Geographic profile for Paralegals and Legal Assistants:

States and areas with the highest published employment, location quotients, and wages for Paralegals and Legal Assistants are provided. For a list of all areas with employment in Paralegals and Legal Assistants, see the Create Customized Tables function.



Map of employment of paralegals and legal assistants by state, May 2022


States with the highest employment level in Paralegals and Legal Assistants:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
California 37,270 2.11 0.91 $ 36.58 $ 76,080
Florida 36,060 3.92 1.68 $ 27.24 $ 56,650
New York 30,020 3.30 1.41 $ 33.59 $ 69,860
Texas 24,600 1.89 0.81 $ 28.83 $ 59,970
Georgia 12,510 2.71 1.16 $ 27.83 $ 57,890


Map of location quotient of paralegals and legal assistants by state, May 2022


States with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in Paralegals and Legal Assistants:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
District of Columbia 5,580 8.09 3.47 $ 44.17 $ 91,880
Florida 36,060 3.92 1.68 $ 27.24 $ 56,650
Delaware 1,760 3.86 1.65 $ 32.86 $ 68,340
New York 30,020 3.30 1.41 $ 33.59 $ 69,860
Connecticut 4,860 2.98 1.28 $ 32.36 $ 67,310


Map of annual mean wages of paralegals and legal assistants by state, May 2022


Top paying states for Paralegals and Legal Assistants:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
District of Columbia 5,580 8.09 3.47 $ 44.17 $ 91,880
California 37,270 2.11 0.91 $ 36.58 $ 76,080
Washington 8,020 2.36 1.01 $ 34.90 $ 72,590
Massachusetts 7,490 2.10 0.90 $ 34.46 $ 71,670
New York 30,020 3.30 1.41 $ 33.59 $ 69,860



Map of employment of paralegals and legal assistants by area, May 2022


Metropolitan areas with the highest employment level in Paralegals and Legal Assistants:

Metropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA 29,080 3.17 1.36 $ 34.77 $ 72,320
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 16,530 2.71 1.16 $ 36.46 $ 75,850
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL 13,240 5.05 2.16 $ 28.54 $ 59,360
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV 12,190 4.03 1.72 $ 38.37 $ 79,810
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI 10,520 2.38 1.02 $ 31.47 $ 65,450
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA 8,900 3.26 1.40 $ 29.96 $ 62,310
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD 8,830 3.19 1.36 $ 33.34 $ 69,350
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX 6,610 1.74 0.74 $ 31.89 $ 66,330
San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA 6,330 2.65 1.13 $ 42.44 $ 88,270
Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX 6,160 2.02 0.86 $ 31.67 $ 65,880


Map of location quotient of paralegals and legal assistants by area, May 2022


Metropolitan areas with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in Paralegals and Legal Assistants:

Metropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Parkersburg-Vienna, WV 240 6.70 2.87 $ 29.67 $ 61,710
Tallahassee, FL 1,050 5.93 2.54 $ 24.06 $ 50,050
Charleston, WV 520 5.14 2.20 $ 24.68 $ 51,330
Columbia, SC 1,900 5.05 2.16 $ 26.78 $ 55,700
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL 13,240 5.05 2.16 $ 28.54 $ 59,360
Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL 5,990 4.62 1.98 $ 25.75 $ 53,550
Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent, FL 830 4.55 1.95 $ 24.84 $ 51,670
New Orleans-Metairie, LA 2,290 4.42 1.89 $ 27.71 $ 57,630
Missoula, MT 260 4.21 1.80 $ 27.75 $ 57,730
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL 5,550 4.06 1.74 $ 29.15 $ 60,640