People are flocking to North Carolina in droves. And why not? It boasts the smallest union workforce in the U.S., which equates to low labor costs and a lower cost of doing business. Translation: For companies, North Carolina’s economic climate equates to more bang for their buck. For workers, it means more opportunities than ever before. And that goes for the paralegals who lend their talents to the Tar Heel State’s legal services industry.
Paralegal Job Market Trends in North Carolina
To understand the strength of the legal services in North Carolina, you needn’t look any further than the growth among the state’s lawyers. According to the American Bar Association, the number of active lawyers here has increased by a whopping 17.1% between 2011 and 2021. This, of course, means nothing but great news for the paralegals who call North Carolina home.
As of May 2020, the Piedmont region of the state ranked second in the nation for its employment level of paralegals, while the Northeast Coastal nonmetropolitan area ranked third in the nation for its concentration of paralegal jobs.
As of May 2020, the average paralegal salary in North Carolina was $49,540, or $23.82 per hour. But with extensive experience, particularly in a specific area law like commercial litigation, corporate law, immigration law, or family law, paralegals here can enjoy a big increase in both opportunities and pay. During this same period, the top earners in the paralegal profession (top 10%) earned about $73,470, or $35.32 per hour – that’s about $24,000 more than the state average.
Average Paralegal Salary in North Carolina by City
Raleigh, Durham-Chapel Hill, and Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia all reported average salaries for paralegals that easily beat out the state averages as of May 2020. Paralegals in these metro areas enjoy average salaries in the $50,000s and top salaries (top 10%) inching toward $80,000.
Asheville:
Average – $49,710 ($23.90 hourly)
Top 10% – $66,040 ($31.75 hourly)
Burlington:
Average – $48,410 ($23.27 hourly)
Top 10% – $70,340 ($33.82 hourly)
Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia:
Average – $52,750 ($25.36 hourly)
Top 10% – $79,370 ($38.16 hourly)
Durham-Chapel Hill:
Average – $51,800 ($24.90 hourly)
Top 10% – $78,440 ($37.71 hourly)
Fayetteville:
Average – $ 46,290($22.25 hourly)
Top 10% – $65,980 ($31.72 hourly)
Greensboro-High Point:
Average – $43,750 ($21.03 hourly)
Top 10% – $62,270 ($29.94 hourly)
Greenville:
Average – $39,600 ($19.04 hourly)
Top 10% – $51,090 ($24.56 hourly)
Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton:
Average – $39,070 ($18.78 hourly)
Top 10% – $50,380 ($24.22 hourly)
Jacksonville:
Average – $41,770 ($20.08 hourly)
Top 10% – $61,710 ($29.67 hourly)
Raleigh:
Average – $56,830 ($27.32 hourly)
Top 10% – $78,930 ($37.95 hourly)
Rocky Mount:
Average – $39,110 ($18.81 hourly)
Top 10% – $50,700 ($24.38 hourly)
Wilmington:
Average – $41,860 ($20.13 hourly)
Top 10% – $66,750 ($32.09 hourly)
Winston-Salem:
Average – $45,820 ($22.03 hourly)
Top 10% – $65,080 ($31.29 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.