Home to the third largest number of paralegals in the nation — 27,630, as of May 2020, Texas has always been a force to be reckoned with when it comes to opportunities for paralegals. Texas also boasts the second largest economy in the U.S. (behind only California) and more than 100 of the nation’s largest companies.
From AT&T to Exxon Mobile to Dell, Texas abounds in economic strength and vitality. As a result, the state’s legal services industry has seen significant growth in recent years. According to the American Bar Association, the number of active lawyers in the state has increased by a truly amazing 19.1 percent between 2011 and 2021. This growth in active attorneys will naturally translate into increased opportunities for the paralegals who call Texas home.
Paralegal Job Market Trends in Texas
As of May 2020, the average paralegal salary in Texas was $57,020, or $27.41 per hour, which is slightly higher than the national average of $56,610 for the profession. Once you’ve gained considerable experience, particularly in one or more legal specialties like corporate law, litigation, bankruptcy law, or estate law, you’ll enjoy a salary that better reflects the top 10%, which was $84,690, or $40.72 per hour, during this time.
The average salary for paralegals in Texas was higher than the neighboring states of New Mexico ($49,110), Oklahoma ($47,490), and Louisiana ($47,580) during this time.
Average Paralegal Salary in Texas by City
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington was ranked eighth in the nation among metro areas for its employment of paralegals as of May 2020 and ranked among the state’s top metro areas for its pay of paralegals. This major metro area is home to big corporations like Texas Instruments, Dean Foods, and Southwest Airlines.
Amarillo:
Average – $51,220 ($24.63 hourly)
Top 10% – $70,100 ($33.70 hourly)
Austin-Round Rock:
Average – $61,090 ($29.37 hourly)
Top 10% – $84,830 ($40.78 hourly)
Brownsville-Harlingen:
Average – $43,800 ($21.06 hourly)
Top 10% – $63,840 ($30.69 hourly)
Corpus Christi:
Average – $46,720 ($22.46 hourly)
Top 10% – $65,110 ($31.30 hourly)
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington:
Average – $66,940 ($32.18 hourly)
Top 10% – $103,840 ($49.92 hourly)
Dallas-Plano-Irving:
Average – $66,940 ($32.18 hourly)
Top 10% – $103,840 ($49.92 hourly)
El Paso:
Average – $49,490 ($23.79 hourly)
Top 10% – $75,220 ($36.17 hourly)
Killeen-Temple:
Average – $50,420 ($24.24 hourly)
Top 10% – $78,010 ($37.51 hourly)
Laredo:
Average – $50,010 ($24.04 hourly)
Top 10% – $78,770 ($37.87 hourly)
McAllen-Edinburg-Mission:
Average – $41,350 ($19.88 hourly)
Top 10% – $71,410 ($34.33 hourly)
San Antonio-New Braunfels:
Average – $55,590 ($26.73 hourly)
Top 10% – $79,520 ($38.23 hourly)
Tyler:
Average – $51,970 ($24.98 hourly)
Top 10% – $65,520 ($31.50 hourly)
Waco:
Average – $48,440 ($23.29 hourly)
Top 10% – $68,140 ($32.76 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.