Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2012

23-2011 Paralegals and Legal Assistants

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)
267,030 1.3 % $24.15 $50,220 0.5 %

Percentile wage estimates for this occupation:

Percentile 10% 25% 50%
(Median) 		75% 90%
Hourly Wage $14.15 $17.53 $22.59 $29.01 $36.26
Annual Wage (2) $29,420 $36,460 $46,990 $60,340 $75,410

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 197,750 17.69 $23.16 $48,170
Local Government (OES Designation) 14,310 0.26 $24.30 $50,540
Federal Executive Branch (OES Designation) 13,970 0.68 $31.57 $65,660
State Government (OES Designation) 9,970 0.45 $21.43 $44,570
Management of Companies and Enterprises 6,390 0.32 $29.10 $60,520

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 197,750 17.69 $23.16 $48,170
Other Investment Pools and Funds 360 0.88 $26.68 $55,500
Lessors of Nonfinancial Intangible Assets (except Copyrighted Works) 180 0.75 $24.96 $51,920
Federal Executive Branch (OES Designation) 13,970 0.68 $31.57 $65,660
Other Information Services 1,160 0.68 $32.80 $68,230

Top paying industries for this occupation:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Software Publishers 290 0.10 $39.47 $82,090
Electronic Shopping and Mail-Order Houses 70 0.03 $37.56 $78,130
Semiconductor and Other Electronic Component Manufacturing 120 0.03 $34.24 $71,220
Securities and Commodity Contracts Intermediation and Brokerage 810 0.18 $33.53 $69,740
Grantmaking and Giving Services 50 0.04 $33.52 $69,720

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 28,500 1.99 0.97 $28.16 $58,570
New York 23,890 2.80 1.36 $25.76 $53,570
Florida 23,240 3.19 1.56 $22.36 $46,500
Texas 19,340 1.83 0.89 $24.34 $50,630
Illinois 11,360 2.01 0.98 $24.82 $51,630




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 6,520 9.97 4.86 $33.10 $68,850
Delaware 1,340 3.31 1.61 $24.96 $51,910
Florida 23,240 3.19 1.56 $22.36 $46,500
New York 23,890 2.80 1.36 $25.76 $53,570
West Virginia 1,920 2.70 1.32 $19.22 $39,990




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 6,520 9.97 4.86 $33.10 $68,850
California 28,500 1.99 0.97 $28.16 $58,570
New Jersey 7,010 1.85 0.90 $27.91 $58,050
Alaska 470 1.48 0.72 $27.27 $56,720
Hawaii 590 1.00 0.49 $26.37 $54,850





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 18,470 3.58 1.75 $27.14 $56,450
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV Metropolitan Division 10,850 4.63 2.26 $31.76 $66,050
Chicago-Joliet-Naperville, IL Metropolitan Division 9,700 2.66 1.30 $25.47 $52,970
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale, CA Metropolitan Division 8,000 2.07 1.01 $28.66 $59,610
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Marietta, GA 7,010 3.10 1.51 $24.82 $51,620
Houston-Sugar Land-Baytown, TX 5,630 2.13 1.04 $26.84 $55,830
Philadelphia, PA Metropolitan Division 4,780 2.62 1.28 $28.43 $59,130
Dallas-Plano-Irving, TX Metropolitan Division 4,680 2.23 1.09 $27.12 $56,410
Boston-Cambridge-Quincy, MA NECTA Division 4,440 2.60 1.27 $25.76 $53,570
Denver-Aurora-Broomfield, CO 4,110 3.34 1.63 $25.18 $52,380