Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2011

23-2011 Paralegals and Legal Assistants*

* This occupation has the same title, but not necessarily the same content, as the 2010 SOC occupation

Assist lawyers by investigating facts, preparing legal documents, or researching legal precedent. Conduct research to support a legal proceeding, to formulate a defense, or to initiate legal action. Excludes "Legal Secretaries" (43-6012).

National estimates for this occupation
Industry profile for this occupation
Geographic profile for this occupation

National estimates for this occupation: Top

Employment estimate and mean wage estimates for this occupation:

Employment (1) Employment
RSE (3) 		Mean hourly
wage		 Mean annual
wage (2) 		Wage RSE (3)
252,250 1.4 % $24.02 $49,960 0.5 %

Percentile wage estimates for this occupation:

Percentile 10% 25% 50%
(Median) 		75% 90%
Hourly Wage $14.13 $17.42 $22.47 $28.83 $36.25
Annual Wage (2) $29,390 $36,230 $46,730 $59,970 $75,400

Industry profile for this occupation: Top

Industries with the highest published employment and wages for this occupation are provided. For a list of all industries with employment in this occupation, see the Create Customized Tables function.

Industries with the highest levels of employment in this occupation:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Legal Services 183,240 16.42 $22.98 $47,790
Federal Executive Branch (OES Designation) 14,410 0.70 $31.13 $64,750
Local Government (OES Designation) 13,120 0.24 $24.51 $50,980
State Government (OES Designation) 10,390 0.46 $21.56 $44,850
Management of Companies and Enterprises 5,910 0.31 $28.55 $59,390

Industries with the highest concentration of employment in this occupation:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Legal Services 183,240 16.42 $22.98 $47,790
Lessors of Nonfinancial Intangible Assets (except Copyrighted Works) 250 1.04 $26.59 $55,300
Other Investment Pools and Funds 290 0.74 $26.33 $54,760
Federal Executive Branch (OES Designation) 14,410 0.70 $31.13 $64,750
State Government (OES Designation) 10,390 0.46 $21.56 $44,850

Top paying industries for this occupation:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing 30 0.03 $39.18 $81,480
Software Publishers 360 0.14 $37.27 $77,520
Electronic Shopping and Mail-Order Houses 60 0.03 $35.26 $73,330
Oil and Gas Extraction 230 0.14 $34.19 $71,110
Computer and Peripheral Equipment Manufacturing 80 0.05 $33.40 $69,470

Geographic profile for this occupation: Top

States and areas with the highest published employment, location quotients, and wages for this occupation are provided. For a list of all areas with employment in this occupation, see the Create Customized Tables function.





States with the highest employment level in this occupation:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
California 26,030 1.85 0.94 $28.38 $59,030
New York 22,340 2.65 1.35 $26.36 $54,840
Florida 21,330 2.98 1.52 $22.50 $46,810
Texas 16,730 1.62 0.83 $23.88 $49,670
North Carolina 9,970 2.61 1.33 $19.93 $41,450




States with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in this occupation:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
District of Columbia 6,950 10.78 5.48 $32.75 $68,120
Delaware 1,240 3.06 1.56 $24.46 $50,870
West Virginia 2,120 3.03 1.54 $18.56 $38,610
Florida 21,330 2.98 1.52 $22.50 $46,810
New York 22,340 2.65 1.35 $26.36 $54,840




Top paying States for this occupation:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
District of Columbia 6,950 10.78 5.48 $32.75 $68,120
California 26,030 1.85 0.94 $28.38 $59,030
New Jersey 6,790 1.80 0.92 $27.10 $56,370
New York 22,340 2.65 1.35 $26.36 $54,840
Illinois 9,820 1.76 0.90 $25.79 $53,640





Metropolitan areas with the highest employment level in this occupation:

Metropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
New York-White Plains-Wayne, NY-NJ Metropolitan Division 17,260 3.41 1.73 $27.86 $57,940
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV Metropolitan Division 11,140 4.82 2.45 $31.17 $64,830
Chicago-Joliet-Naperville, IL Metropolitan Division 8,290 2.31 1.18 $26.56 $55,250
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale, CA Metropolitan Division 7,310 1.91 0.97 $28.62 $59,540
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Marietta, GA 5,410 2.43 1.24 $24.20 $50,340
Houston-Sugar Land-Baytown, TX 5,150 2.02 1.03 $25.23 $52,470
Philadelphia, PA Metropolitan Division 4,970 2.74 1.39 $27.44 $57,070
Boston-Cambridge-Quincy, MA NECTA Division 4,660 2.78 1.42 $24.41 $50,770
Denver-Aurora-Broomfield, CO 4,080 3.40 1.73 $24.12 $50,170
Phoenix-Mesa-Glendale, AZ 4,010 2.36 1.20 $24.24 $50,410




Metropolitan areas with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in this occupation:

Metropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Charleston, WV 720 4.99 2.54 $19.34 $40,220
Fort Lauderdale-Pompano Beach-Deerfield Beach, FL Metropolitan Division 3,370 4.84 2.46 $22.43 $46,650
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV Metropolitan Division 11,140 4.82 2.45 $31.17 $64,830
Winston-Salem, NC 950 4.75 2.41 $18.55 $38,580
Tallahassee, FL 720 4.55 2.32 $19.96 $41,520
Jackson, MS 1,050 4.26 2.17 $19.74 $41,050
Columbia, SC 1,400 4.17 2.12 $22.61 $47,030
West Palm Beach-Boca Raton-Boynton Beach, FL Metropolitan Division 2,040 4.11 2.09 $25.48 $53,000
New Orleans-Metairie-Kenner, LA 2,080 4.09 2.08 $23.04 $47,930
Raleigh-Cary, NC 2,030 4.06 2.07 $24.93 $51,850