Paralegal Salary by State (May 2025 BLS Data)
By The College Match Editorial Team · Data: May 2025 · Updated October 2026
Paralegals and legal assistants earn a median of $62,890 a year nationally, but pay depends heavily on location: from $46,180 in Mississippi to $89,750 in District of Columbia.
Paralegals and legal assistants support lawyers by researching cases, drafting documents and organizing files. The table below covers all 50 states and Washington, DC, using the latest wage survey from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
U.S. median
$62,890
Highest: District of Columbia
$89,750
Lowest: Mississippi
$46,180
Employed in the U.S.
392,880
Paralegal pay in every state
Sorted by median annual wage. "Typical range" is the 10th to 90th percentile: 80% of paralegals and legal assistants in the state earn within it.
| Rank | State | Median | Average | Typical range | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | $89,750 | $95,400 | $59,770 – $131,650 | 6,400 |
| 2 | Washington | $79,400 | $83,740 | $50,470 – $116,750 | 9,460 |
| 3 | Colorado | $78,190 | $80,760 | $56,930 – $106,160 | 5,620 |
| 4 | Massachusetts | $77,640 | $81,160 | $49,770 – $117,480 | 7,800 |
| 5 | California | $77,390 | $81,320 | $50,460 – $119,580 | 47,130 |
| 6 | Minnesota | $75,570 | $73,960 | $47,730 – $102,920 | 7,400 |
| 7 | New Jersey | $71,500 | $72,550 | $47,070 – $99,900 | 12,010 |
| 8 | Alaska | $68,700 | $73,440 | $53,830 – $99,320 | 570 |
| 9 | New York | $68,410 | $76,890 | $48,330 – $115,720 | 34,220 |
| 10 | Vermont | $67,160 | $69,020 | $48,650 – $87,390 | 660 |
| 11 | Maryland | $65,640 | $73,060 | $48,260 – $108,380 | 6,460 |
| 12 | Nevada | $64,680 | $66,350 | $47,640 – $82,160 | 3,620 |
| 13 | Virginia | $63,990 | $70,740 | $47,860 – $100,550 | 10,250 |
| 14 | Connecticut | $63,820 | $69,040 | $46,440 – $100,040 | 5,210 |
| 15 | Illinois | $63,670 | $72,310 | $46,860 – $104,580 | 14,130 |
| 16 | Pennsylvania | $63,370 | $68,510 | $45,710 – $96,080 | 14,670 |
| 17 | Nebraska | $63,250 | $63,480 | $44,230 – $86,990 | 1,630 |
| 18 | Utah | $63,220 | $67,810 | $43,930 – $100,510 | 3,250 |
| 19 | Delaware | $63,110 | $69,860 | $48,880 – $99,390 | 2,480 |
| 20 | Hawaii | $62,840 | $65,400 | $47,010 – $85,440 | 1,170 |
| 21 | Maine | $62,420 | $64,260 | $48,260 – $80,550 | 1,210 |
| 22 | Georgia | $62,400 | $71,210 | $39,530 – $101,210 | 14,160 |
| 23 | Texas | $62,310 | $65,480 | $39,190 – $98,440 | 29,540 |
| 24 | Michigan | $62,170 | $67,240 | $46,590 – $96,610 | 7,730 |
| 25 | New Hampshire | $62,040 | $66,940 | $46,870 – $86,190 | 1,430 |
| 26 | Arizona | $61,630 | $67,850 | $45,700 – $96,340 | 7,890 |
| 27 | Oregon | $61,490 | $69,830 | $48,250 – $98,640 | 4,870 |
| 28 | Missouri | $61,410 | $64,380 | $42,150 – $96,820 | 7,130 |
| 29 | Florida | $61,000 | $63,250 | $38,830 – $83,410 | 40,950 |
| 30 | Ohio | $60,420 | $64,180 | $41,720 – $94,660 | 9,270 |
| 31 | Louisiana | $60,250 | $59,360 | $36,960 – $78,230 | 4,890 |
| 32 | New Mexico | $59,840 | $61,530 | $43,660 – $80,490 | 1,740 |
| 33 | Kentucky | $59,830 | $59,240 | $36,560 – $78,730 | 3,540 |
| 34 | North Dakota | $59,430 | $58,880 | $45,300 – $78,430 | 730 |
| 35 | West Virginia | $59,000 | $63,590 | $35,770 – $107,310 | 1,660 |
| 36 | Tennessee | $58,820 | $60,790 | $43,570 – $83,100 | 6,080 |
| 37 | Wisconsin | $58,500 | $61,270 | $45,220 – $86,210 | 4,780 |
| 38 | South Dakota | $58,320 | $62,260 | $48,890 – $84,090 | 600 |
| 39 | North Carolina | $57,500 | $60,770 | $38,570 – $84,410 | 13,650 |
| 40 | Montana | $57,290 | $58,930 | $46,140 – $76,660 | 1,010 |
| 41 | Indiana | $57,030 | $61,830 | $40,650 – $92,160 | 5,910 |
| 42 | Rhode Island | $56,250 | $58,630 | $43,370 – $79,650 | 2,070 |
| 43 | Kansas | $55,000 | $57,680 | $38,860 – $79,090 | 2,210 |
| 44 | Iowa | $54,550 | $58,780 | $37,900 – $83,520 | 2,980 |
| 45 | South Carolina | $53,880 | $55,790 | $38,020 – $75,640 | 7,420 |
| 46 | Oklahoma | $53,170 | $55,510 | $36,020 – $82,060 | 3,110 |
| 47 | Idaho | $49,690 | $54,640 | $36,930 – $75,420 | 2,030 |
| 48 | Wyoming | $49,490 | $52,540 | $35,890 – $64,780 | 600 |
| 49 | Arkansas | $47,420 | $60,110 | $36,290 – $81,700 | 1,610 |
| 50 | Alabama | $47,260 | $52,730 | $30,750 – $77,100 | 5,700 |
| 51 | Mississippi | $46,180 | $49,500 | $35,660 – $67,960 | 2,270 |
| United States | $62,890 | $69,700 | $44,740 – $101,500 | 392,880 |
Common questions
How much do paralegals and legal assistants make in the U.S.?
The national median annual wage for paralegals and legal assistants was $62,890 in May 2025, with an average of $69,700. The middle 80% earned between $44,740 and $101,500.
Which state pays paralegals and legal assistants the most?
District of Columbia has the highest median wage at $89,750 a year. Of the 51 areas (states plus DC) with published figures, 19 pay above the national median.
Which state pays paralegals and legal assistants the least?
Mississippi has the lowest median wage at $46,180 a year. Lower pay often comes with a lower cost of living, so compare against local living costs.
Which state employs the most paralegals and legal assistants?
California employs the most, about 47,130.
Find a criminal justice and legal program that fits
Compare accredited programs matched to your goals and schedule.
Find My MatchAbout this data
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025, occupation code 23-2011. Figures are annual wages for employed paralegals and legal assistants and exclude the self-employed. Some states' figures are not published by BLS and show as n/a. See our editorial standards for how we build these pages.