Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2010

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)
247,940 1.3 % $23.87 $49,640 0.5 %

Percentile wage estimates for this occupation:

Percentile 10% 25% 50%
(Median) 		75% 90%
Hourly Wage $14.16 $17.42 $22.44 $28.80 $36.00
Annual Wage (2) $29,460 $36,230 $46,680 $59,910 $74,870

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 179,850 16.09 $22.93 $47,690
Federal Executive Branch (OES Designation) 14,450 0.71 $30.87 $64,210
Local Government (OES Designation) 13,300 0.24 $24.34 $50,630
State Government (OES Designation) 10,230 0.45 $21.14 $43,970
Management of Companies and Enterprises 5,960 0.31 $28.10 $58,440

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 179,850 16.09 $22.93 $47,690
Lessors of Nonfinancial Intangible Assets (except Copyrighted Works) 360 1.47 $27.05 $56,270
Other Investment Pools and Funds 340 0.88 $23.44 $48,750
Federal Executive Branch (OES Designation) 14,450 0.71 $30.87 $64,210
State Government (OES Designation) 10,230 0.45 $21.14 $43,970

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 40 0.03 $37.91 $78,840
Software Publishers 370 0.15 $36.04 $74,960
Oil and Gas Extraction 110 0.07 $33.59 $69,870
Computer and Peripheral Equipment Manufacturing 70 0.04 $33.03 $68,700
Educational Support Services 40 0.03 $31.70 $65,930

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 27,260 1.95 1.00 $28.74 $59,790
New York 23,350 2.80 1.43 $27.36 $56,920
Florida 19,690 2.77 1.42 $22.20 $46,180
Texas 17,610 1.75 0.90 $23.07 $47,980
North Carolina 9,280 2.46 1.26 $20.03 $41,650




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 6,350 9.94 5.09 $31.60 $65,740
West Virginia 2,280 3.32 1.70 $17.42 $36,230
Delaware 1,190 3.00 1.54 $24.62 $51,210
Connecticut 4,560 2.85 1.46 $24.59 $51,150
New York 23,350 2.80 1.43 $27.36 $56,920




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 6,350 9.94 5.09 $31.60 $65,740
California 27,260 1.95 1.00 $28.74 $59,790
New York 23,350 2.80 1.43 $27.36 $56,920
New Jersey 6,530 1.73 0.89 $25.42 $52,870
Illinois 9,010 1.63 0.84 $25.34 $52,700

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 17,370 3.49 1.79 $29.11 $60,540
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV Metropolitan Division 9,840 4.30 2.20 $30.72 $63,890
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale, CA Metropolitan Division 7,790 2.04 1.05 $29.26 $60,860
Chicago-Naperville-Joliet, IL Metropolitan Division 7,510 2.12 1.09 $25.84 $53,740
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Marietta, GA 6,130 2.78 1.43 $23.80 $49,510
Houston-Sugar Land-Baytown, TX 5,720 2.29 1.17 $23.79 $49,480
Boston-Cambridge-Quincy, MA NECTA Division 4,700 2.83 1.45 $24.60 $51,170
Philadelphia, PA Metropolitan Division 4,530 2.51 1.29 $26.39 $54,900
Dallas-Plano-Irving, TX Metropolitan Division 4,200 2.10 1.07 $25.66 $53,380
Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ 4,020 2.39 1.22 $23.53 $48,950




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 5.10 2.61 $18.64 $38,760
Winston-Salem, NC 960 4.82 2.47 $18.05 $37,550
Jackson, MS 1,140 4.68 2.40 $19.25 $40,030
Fort Lauderdale-Pompano Beach-Deerfield Beach, FL Metropolitan Division 3,080 4.47 2.29 $21.87 $45,480
Cheyenne, WY 180 4.40 2.26 $19.22 $39,970
New Orleans-Metairie-Kenner, LA 2,210 4.39 2.25 $22.69 $47,190
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV Metropolitan Division 9,840 4.30 2.20 $30.72 $63,890
Tallahassee, FL 660 4.15 2.13 $19.36 $40,270
Miami-Miami Beach-Kendall, FL Metropolitan Division 3,640 3.80 1.95 $24.87 $51,730
West Palm Beach-Boca Raton-Boynton Beach, FL Metropolitan Division 1,850 3.72 1.91 $24.49 $50,940