Paralegals and Legal Assistants Salary by State
The national median pay for paralegals and legal assistants is $62,890 a year. By state, it ranges from $46,180 in Mississippi to $89,750 in District of Columbia.
Updated October 2026 · Data: BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
U.S. pay range
- Lowest 10%
- $44,740
- 25th percentile
- $50,340
- Median
- $62,890
- 75th percentile
- $80,080
- Top 10%
- $101,500
Annual pay, all U.S. workers in this job. About 392,880 jobs.
Median pay in 50 states and DC
| # | State | Median | vs. U.S. | Lowest 10% | Top 10% | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | $89,750 | +43% | $59,770 | $131,650 | 6,400 |
| 2 | Washington | $79,400 | +26% | $50,470 | $116,750 | 9,460 |
| 3 | Colorado | $78,190 | +24% | $56,930 | $106,160 | 5,620 |
| 4 | Massachusetts | $77,640 | +23% | $49,770 | $117,480 | 7,800 |
| 5 | California | $77,390 | +23% | $50,460 | $119,580 | 47,130 |
| 6 | Minnesota | $75,570 | +20% | $47,730 | $102,920 | 7,400 |
| 7 | New Jersey | $71,500 | +14% | $47,070 | $99,900 | 12,010 |
| 8 | Alaska | $68,700 | +9% | $53,830 | $99,320 | 570 |
| 9 | New York | $68,410 | +9% | $48,330 | $115,720 | 34,220 |
| 10 | Vermont | $67,160 | +7% | $48,650 | $87,390 | 660 |
| 11 | Maryland | $65,640 | +4% | $48,260 | $108,380 | 6,460 |
| 12 | Nevada | $64,680 | +3% | $47,640 | $82,160 | 3,620 |
| 13 | Virginia | $63,990 | +2% | $47,860 | $100,550 | 10,250 |
| 14 | Connecticut | $63,820 | +1% | $46,440 | $100,040 | 5,210 |
| 15 | Illinois | $63,670 | +1% | $46,860 | $104,580 | 14,130 |
| 16 | Pennsylvania | $63,370 | +1% | $45,710 | $96,080 | 14,670 |
| 17 | Nebraska | $63,250 | +1% | $44,230 | $86,990 | 1,630 |
| 18 | Utah | $63,220 | +1% | $43,930 | $100,510 | 3,250 |
| 19 | Delaware | $63,110 | 0% | $48,880 | $99,390 | 2,480 |
| 20 | Hawaii | $62,840 | 0% | $47,010 | $85,440 | 1,170 |
| 21 | Maine | $62,420 | −1% | $48,260 | $80,550 | 1,210 |
| 22 | Georgia | $62,400 | −1% | $39,530 | $101,210 | 14,160 |
| 23 | Texas | $62,310 | −1% | $39,190 | $98,440 | 29,540 |
| 24 | Michigan | $62,170 | −1% | $46,590 | $96,610 | 7,730 |
| 25 | New Hampshire | $62,040 | −1% | $46,870 | $86,190 | 1,430 |
| 26 | Arizona | $61,630 | −2% | $45,700 | $96,340 | 7,890 |
| 27 | Oregon | $61,490 | −2% | $48,250 | $98,640 | 4,870 |
| 28 | Missouri | $61,410 | −2% | $42,150 | $96,820 | 7,130 |
| 29 | Florida | $61,000 | −3% | $38,830 | $83,410 | 40,950 |
| 30 | Ohio | $60,420 | −4% | $41,720 | $94,660 | 9,270 |
| 31 | Louisiana | $60,250 | −4% | $36,960 | $78,230 | 4,890 |
| 32 | New Mexico | $59,840 | −5% | $43,660 | $80,490 | 1,740 |
| 33 | Kentucky | $59,830 | −5% | $36,560 | $78,730 | 3,540 |
| 34 | North Dakota | $59,430 | −6% | $45,300 | $78,430 | 730 |
| 35 | West Virginia | $59,000 | −6% | $35,770 | $107,310 | 1,660 |
| 36 | Tennessee | $58,820 | −6% | $43,570 | $83,100 | 6,080 |
| 37 | Wisconsin | $58,500 | −7% | $45,220 | $86,210 | 4,780 |
| 38 | South Dakota | $58,320 | −7% | $48,890 | $84,090 | 600 |
| 39 | North Carolina | $57,500 | −9% | $38,570 | $84,410 | 13,650 |
| 40 | Montana | $57,290 | −9% | $46,140 | $76,660 | 1,010 |
| 41 | Indiana | $57,030 | −9% | $40,650 | $92,160 | 5,910 |
| 42 | Rhode Island | $56,250 | −11% | $43,370 | $79,650 | 2,070 |
| 43 | Kansas | $55,000 | −13% | $38,860 | $79,090 | 2,210 |
| 44 | Iowa | $54,550 | −13% | $37,900 | $83,520 | 2,980 |
| 45 | South Carolina | $53,880 | −14% | $38,020 | $75,640 | 7,420 |
| 46 | Oklahoma | $53,170 | −15% | $36,020 | $82,060 | 3,110 |
| 47 | Idaho | $49,690 | −21% | $36,930 | $75,420 | 2,030 |
| 48 | Wyoming | $49,490 | −21% | $35,890 | $64,780 | 600 |
| 49 | Arkansas | $47,420 | −25% | $36,290 | $81,700 | 1,610 |
| 50 | Alabama | $47,260 | −25% | $30,750 | $77,100 | 5,700 |
| 51 | Mississippi | $46,180 | −27% | $35,660 | $67,960 | 2,270 |
BLS OEWS May 2025 state estimates. States without published data are not listed. “Not published”: BLS withheld the value or it is above the highest amount BLS publishes. Pay is not adjusted for living costs.
Paralegals and Legal Assistants salary questions
Which state pays paralegals and legal assistants the most?
District of Columbia, with a median of $89,750 a year (+43% vs. the national median of $62,890). BLS May 2025.
Which state pays paralegals and legal assistants the least?
Mississippi, with a median of $46,180 a year (−27% vs. national).
Where do most paralegals and legal assistants work?
California has the most jobs, about 47,130, with a median of $77,390.
Does a higher salary mean more money left over?
Not always. These are pay figures only. Living costs, taxes and housing differ a lot between states, and this page does not adjust for them.