Paralegals and Legal Assistants Salary by State (2024)
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · 50 states compared · Updated: 2026-03-31
Paralegals and Legal Assistants Salary in All 50 States
Compare Paralegals and Legal Assistants pay across the country. Click any state for the full salary breakdown including percentiles, employment numbers, and related jobs.
| State | Median Salary | Mean Salary | Entry Level | Top Earners | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | $78,010 | $83,930 | $50,500 | $115,120 | 9,070 |
| Massachusetts | $74,990 | $78,540 | $49,850 | $107,650 | 7,520 |
| Colorado | $73,380 | $76,570 | $48,840 | $106,080 | 5,430 |
| California | $72,960 | $76,920 | $48,000 | $105,350 | 45,740 |
| Minnesota | $67,320 | $71,560 | $44,800 | $98,480 | 6,640 |
| New York | $66,390 | $74,580 | $47,880 | $105,910 | 28,510 |
| Oregon | $63,970 | $70,210 | $47,840 | $99,780 | 4,910 |
| Maryland | $63,560 | $69,520 | $45,820 | $99,520 | 5,770 |
| Connecticut | $63,260 | $67,230 | $44,990 | $95,220 | 4,920 |
| Vermont | $63,000 | $62,360 | $47,490 | $79,440 | 730 |
| New Jersey | $62,790 | $69,010 | $44,540 | $98,360 | 11,720 |
| Illinois | $62,290 | $68,960 | $44,180 | $102,270 | 12,430 |
| Nevada | $62,090 | $59,740 | $27,040 | $78,760 | 3,490 |
| Michigan | $61,490 | $65,430 | $44,110 | $88,000 | 7,240 |
| Nebraska | $61,410 | $62,850 | $40,200 | $88,540 | 1,570 |
| Arizona | $61,220 | $66,150 | $43,480 | $97,070 | 6,780 |
| Virginia | $61,200 | $66,570 | $44,100 | $97,520 | 8,570 |
| Alaska | $61,120 | $66,560 | $45,840 | $95,410 | 690 |
| Pennsylvania | $60,950 | $65,920 | $40,620 | $94,990 | 14,130 |
| Hawaii | $60,890 | $64,210 | $48,690 | $83,890 | 1,170 |
| New Hampshire | $60,640 | $63,910 | $35,870 | $87,260 | 1,580 |
| Florida | $60,280 | $61,150 | $37,440 | $82,450 | 37,410 |
| Delaware | $60,000 | $66,460 | $47,490 | $97,800 | 2,220 |
| North Dakota | $59,910 | $59,800 | $41,870 | $77,160 | 610 |
| Texas | $59,700 | $62,650 | $37,850 | $96,530 | 28,770 |
| Ohio | $58,870 | $61,000 | $37,930 | $83,530 | 8,160 |
| Missouri | $58,730 | $60,260 | $37,400 | $84,610 | 6,410 |
| Maine | $58,510 | $58,450 | $38,130 | $78,000 | 1,260 |
| South Dakota | $57,300 | $59,790 | $47,020 | $84,150 | 660 |
| New Mexico | $56,620 | $58,620 | $44,050 | $77,570 | 1,660 |
| Wisconsin | $56,520 | $60,450 | $43,810 | $81,910 | 4,930 |
| Utah | $55,630 | $60,240 | $41,060 | $87,900 | 2,890 |
| Tennessee | $55,270 | $57,360 | $37,810 | $76,510 | 5,890 |
| Georgia | $55,120 | $62,400 | $36,770 | $92,500 | 14,480 |
| Rhode Island | $54,540 | $57,330 | $39,190 | $81,880 | 1,830 |
| Montana | $54,230 | $56,870 | $45,080 | $76,700 | 1,060 |
| Idaho | $54,020 | $54,380 | $29,000 | $74,610 | 2,250 |
| Iowa | $53,280 | $56,060 | $37,480 | $78,640 | 2,530 |
| Indiana | $50,690 | $60,220 | $40,070 | $93,930 | 5,970 |
| Oklahoma | $50,200 | $54,950 | $36,420 | $78,950 | 2,500 |
| Wyoming | $49,980 | $54,320 | $39,950 | $72,800 | 530 |
| West Virginia | $49,620 | $56,540 | $31,640 | $87,050 | 1,680 |
| North Carolina | $49,390 | $56,810 | $37,150 | $82,380 | 12,270 |
| Kentucky | $49,000 | $54,460 | $37,650 | $77,800 | 3,080 |
| Kansas | $48,910 | $54,310 | $37,110 | $80,240 | 2,330 |
| South Carolina | $48,640 | $51,550 | $35,570 | $67,950 | 7,260 |
| Louisiana | $47,580 | $52,380 | $31,460 | $77,200 | 4,960 |
| Arkansas | $46,940 | $62,540 | $34,740 | $77,330 | 1,400 |
| Alabama | $46,060 | $49,800 | $30,300 | $73,300 | 5,480 |
| Mississippi | $39,120 | $46,310 | $34,320 | $67,620 | 2,080 |
Data from BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), 2024. Sorted by median salary (highest to lowest). Entry Level = 10th percentile, Top Earners = 90th percentile.
Paralegals and Legal Assistants Salary FAQs
Which state pays Paralegals and Legal Assistantss the most?
Washington pays the highest median salary for Paralegals and Legal Assistantss at $78,010 per year, according to 2024 BLS data. The top 5 highest paying states are: Washington ($78,010), Massachusetts ($74,990), Colorado ($73,380), California ($72,960), Minnesota ($67,320).
What is the average Paralegals and Legal Assistants salary nationally?
The average median Paralegals and Legal Assistants salary across all 50 states is $58,151 per year. The salary ranges from $39,120 in Mississippi to $78,010 in Washington — a difference of $38,890.
Which state pays Paralegals and Legal Assistantss the least?
Mississippi has the lowest median Paralegals and Legal Assistants salary at $39,120 per year. However, cost of living in Mississippi may be lower, so purchasing power could be comparable.