Indiana has long been heralded for its business-friendly climate and has been consistently ranked among the top states in the nation by Forbes for its low cost of doing business and its minimal regulatory environment.
The pharmaceutical, transportation, energy, and agricultural industries are all part of this dynamic economy, where leaders like Indianapolis’ Eli Lily and WellPoint and Fort Wayne’s Steel Dynamics have resulted in a strong legal services environment and exciting opportunities for paralegals in a variety of fields.
Paralegal Job Market Trends in Indiana
The legal services industry in Indiana continues to grow, as is evidenced by a report by the American Bar Association that revealed that the number of active lawyers in Indiana has increased by a truly impressive 12.7% in the last decade (2011-2021). This, of course, will likely translate to new and more varied opportunities in the coming years for the paralegals who call the Hoosier State home.
As of May 2020, the average salary for paralegals in Indiana was $48,550, or $23.34 per hour. While this falls below the national average of $56,610 for paralegals, Indiana’s cost of living is about 5% below the national average, which keeps its average salary on par with the salaries of paralegals across the country.
Indiana’s paralegals who have climbed the professional ladder, gaining experience, particularly in one or more areas of law such as commercial litigation, family law, consumer law, and immigration law, enjoy salaries that soar far above the state average. In fact, the top 10% of paralegals in Indiana earned about $73,480, or $35.33 as of May 2020 – that’s nearly $25,000 above the state average.
Average Paralegal Salary in Indiana by City
Indiana’s paralegals in the Indianapolis metro region earned salaries that exceeded their colleagues in other areas of the state, sometimes by as much as $12,000 at the average point. This isn’t a surprise, given that according to the Indiana Business Review, the Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson MSA accounts for 29% of the state’s population but 33.5% of the state’s employment and 34% of the state’s income.
Bloomington:
Average – $40,250 ($19.35 hourly)
Top 10% – $50,260 ($24.16 hourly)
Elkhart-Goshen:
Average – $41,970 ($20.18 hourly)
Top 10% – $51,590 ($24.80 hourly)
Evansville:
Average – $43,470 ($20.90 hourly)
Top 10% – $64,830 ($31.17 hourly)
Fort Wayne:
Average – $49,490 ($23.79 hourly)
Top 10% – $76,180 ($36.62 hourly)
Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson:
Average – $52,880 ($25.42 hourly)
Top 10% – $78,480 ($37.73 hourly)
Lafayette-West Lafayette:
Average – $45,310 ($21.79 hourly)
Top 10% – $66,300 ($31.88 hourly)
Muncie:
Average – $49,090 ($23.58 hourly)
Top 10% – $76,530 ($36.80 hourly)
South Bend-Mishawaka:
Average – $45,120 ($21.69 hourly)
Top 10% – $75,060 ($36.09 hourly)
Terre Haute:
Average – $35,140 ($16.89 hourly)
Top 10% – $48,880 ($23.50 hourly)
May 2020 Bureau of Labor Statistics salary, growth, and job market trends for paralegals and legal assistants. Figures represent state data, not school specific information. Conditions in your area may vary. Data accessed December 2021.