Competition is fierce among law firms and corporate employers looking to attract and retain the most talented legal support staff. And it’s not just lawyers that are in high demand. Paralegals with specialized talent and at least a handful of years in the profession are on their radar.
According to the Robert Half 2021 Salary Guide, while paralegal salaries are not expected to change significantly, in-demand roles may see a modest increase in the year ahead.
The role of paralegals also continues to expand in areas like real estate and litigation, where seasoned paralegals that perform legal services for less than what it costs to hire an attorney are a valuable commodity. Many companies are searching for paralegals with expertise in areas like product development, mergers and acquisitions, and joint ventures.
With such high demand, many young professionals are seeking paralegal careers. But how much do paralegals make? Do paralegals make good money? And what is the average paralegal salary?
Several factors determine paralegal salaries, including years of experience, size of the firm, and where the firm is located. And while the average paralegal salary is always changing, the information below provides a general overview.
The role of paralegals also continues to expand in areas like real estate and litigation, where seasoned paralegals that perform legal services for less than what it costs to hire an attorney are a valuable commodity. Business has largely be responsible for driving the demand—and pushing up the pay—for paralegals with expertise in areas like product development, mergers and acquisitions, and joint ventures.
Several factors determine paralegal salaries, including years of experience, size of the firm, and where the firm is located. And while the average paralegal salary is always changing, the information below provides a general overview.
What Is the Average Salary for a Paralegal?
How Much Do Corporate Paralegals Make?
Are Paralegals Paid Hourly or on a Salary?
Other Factors Affecting Paralegal Salaries
What Is the Average Salary for a Paralegal?
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average salary for a paralegal as of May 2020 is $52,920 per year or $25.44 per hour with the lowest 10% earning an average of $32,900, and the highest 10% earning more than $85,160.
The job outlook for paralegals shows a growth rate of 10%, which is much faster than the national average for other careers.
Senior-Level Paralegal Salary (7+ Years of Experience)
Not surprisingly, senior-level and supervising paralegals in large law firms with 75 or more attorneys earn the highest salaries among all paralegal groups.
According to the Robert Half 2021 Salary Guide, the average senior-level paralegal salary ranges between $62,000 and $105,000. However, previous salary guides note salary varies by law-firm size:
- Average paralegal salary for paralegals at large law firms (75+ attorneys): $67,500-$83,250 (2016) $72,250-$101,500 (2017)
- Average paralegal salary for paralegals at midsize law firms (35-75 attorneys): $67,500-$83,250 (2016) $70,500-$86,750 (2017)
- Average paralegal salary for paralegals with small law firms (up to 10 attorneys): $51,500-$68,250 (2016) $53,000-$71,500 (2017)
Mid-Level Paralegal Salary (4-6 Years of Experience)
According to the Robert Half 2021 Salary Guide, the average senior-level paralegal salary ranges between $54,500 and $78,750.
As mentioned, the winners of the largest salary increase between 2016 and 2017 were mid-level paralegals at small/midsize law firms. These legal professionals earned between $54,500-$65,000 in 2016. By 2017, their salary range jumped to $55,750-$70,000—a 5.2 percent increase.
- Paralegal salary for paralegals at large law firms (75+ attorneys): $61,750-$74,500 (2016) $63,000-$78,750 (2017)
- Paralegal salary for paralegals with midsize law firms (35-75 attorneys): $58,500-$73,750 (2016) $61,750-$76,500 (2017)
- Paralegal salary for paralegals with small law firms (up to 10 attorneys): $44,750-$60,250 (2016) $46,75.0-$63,250 (2017)
Entry-Level Paralegal Salary (2-3 Years of Experience)
What is the average starting salary for a paralegal? As of 2021, the average starting salary for a paralegal is $41,500 to $67,500. It’s no surprise that entry-level paralegals in Robert Half’s compensation survey saw the smallest salary increases during this time, as paralegals with more experience are always in demand.
However, that’s not to say entry-level paralegals didn’t enjoy a bump in salary between 2016 and 2017:
- Average salary for paralegals with large law firms (75+ attorneys): $44,250-$59,500 (2016) $46,250-$61,000 (2017)
- Average salary for paralegals with midsize law firms (35-75 attorneys): $43,750-$57,500 (2016) $44,500-$59,250 (2017)
- Average salary for paralegals with small/midsize law firms (10-35 attorneys): $40,250-$52,250 (2016) $41,750-$54,000 (2017)
Paralegal Salaries by State
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- District of Columbia
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
How Much Do Corporate Paralegals Make?
Corporate paralegals couldn’t compete with law firm paralegals during the 2016-17 period in terms of increases, with these legal professionals experiencing a salary bump of between 2 and 3.5 percent.
However, there is a long-held precedent for paralegals working for corporations to be the best paid in the profession, and this went unchallenged. In 2017, corporate paralegals out-earned other types of paralegals in every category:
Senior-Level Corporate Paralegal Salary (7+ Years of Experience)
- Large company (More than $250 million in revenue): $74,500-$98,000 (2016) $76,250-$102,500 (2017)
- Midsize company ($25 million-$250 million in revenue): $67,250-$88,250 (2016) $68,000-$93,750 (2017)
- Small company (Up to $25 million in revenue): $62,750-$77,500 (2016) $65,250-$79,500 (2017)
Mid-Level Corporate Paralegal Salary (4-6 Years of Experience)
- Large company (More than $250 million in revenue): $60,000-$77,500 (2016) $62,000-$78,750 (2017)
- Midsize company ($25 million-$250 million in revenue): $55,750-$68,250 (2016) $58,750-$69,500 (2017)
- Small company (Up to $25 million in revenue): $52,000-$62,250 (2016) $53,750-$64,500 (2017)
Entry-Level Corporate Paralegal Salary (2-3 Years of Experience)
- Large company (More than $250 million in revenue): $50,000-$61,250 (2016) $52,000-$63,250 (2017)
- Midsize company ($25 million-$250 million in revenue): $46,500-$57,000 (2016) $47,250-$59,500 (2017)
- Small company (Up to $25 million in revenue): $41,750-$52,500 (2016) $42,500-$53,750 (2017)
Are Paralegals Paid Hourly or on a Salary?
Most paralegals are paid a salary, but this can depend on where you live and your firm’s payroll processes.
As with all professions, paralegal salaries are largely determined by the job market and demand in the state or region in which they work. For example, it comes as no surprise that paralegals in states like California ($56,950) earn far more than their colleagues in North Dakota ($43,380).
A 2016 NALA National Utilization & Compensation Survey Report highlighted the differences in average paralegal salaries according to region:
- New England/Mid-East: $59,830
- Great Lakes: $58,090
- Plains States: $56,949
- Southeast: $59,110
- Southwest: $64,990
- Rocky Mountains: $60,212
- Far West: $71,244
According to 2020 statistics from the U.S. Department of Labor, the national average salary for paralegals was $52,920, with the top 10% earning more than $85,160.
The highest-earning paralegals were located in Washington D.C. These legal professionals earned an average, annual salary of $83,330. In California, the demand for legal support is reaching new peaks every year as is reflected in the fact that paralegals here are the second-highest paid in the country, earning an average annual salary of $66,250.
Find your state’s average paralegal salary below:
2020 US Bureau of Labor Statistics salary figures for Paralegals represent state and national data, not school-specific information. Conditions in your area may vary. Data accessed August 2021.
Other Factors Affecting Paralegal Salaries
The 2016 NALA report highlighted the many factors that affect paralegal salaries.
Bonuses: In 2016, the average bonus among paralegals was $4,598, which was about the same as bonuses paid in 2014, which averaged $4,581.
Benefits: Benefits are also often part of the total compensation package for paralegals. According to the NALA survey, the top benefits paralegals enjoyed in 2016 included:
- Paid conference/seminar fees
- Paid professional dues
- Parking
- Health insurance
- Life insurance
Since 2014, NALA reported that about 80 percent of all paralegals reported that their employer provided and contributed to a retirement or pension plan, while another 35 percent reported their employer offered profit-sharing plans. Another 25-30 percent of paralegal employers offered health, dental, and vision insurance.
Some of the other benefits employers offered included tuition reimbursement, health club membership, leased car, childcare, disability insurance, maternity benefits, and mileage.
Learn More About Becoming a Paralegal
A lot of factors go into determining a paralegal’s salary, including years of experience, firm size, where your firm is located, and the benefits your employer offers. Learn more about becoming a paralegal with ParalegalEDU.org