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Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics
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Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2016

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)
277,310 1.2 % $25.57 $53,180 0.5 %

Percentile wage estimates for this occupation:

Percentile 10% 25% 50%
(Median) 		75% 90%
Hourly Wage $14.94 $18.38 $23.80 $30.60 $38.59
Annual Wage (2) $31,070 $38,230 $49,500 $63,650 $80,260

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 210,070 18.71 $24.59 $51,140
Federal Executive Branch (OES Designation) 13,170 0.65 $32.46 $67,530
Local Government (OES Designation) 12,800 0.24 $24.99 $51,980
State Government (OES Designation) 8,740 0.40 $23.46 $48,790
Management of Companies and Enterprises 6,610 0.29 $31.90 $66,350

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 210,070 18.71 $24.59 $51,140
Other Investment Pools and Funds 100 1.81 $25.48 $52,990
Federal Executive Branch (OES Designation) 13,170 0.65 $32.46 $67,530
Lessors of Nonfinancial Intangible Assets (except Copyrighted Works) 120 0.51 $29.92 $62,230
State Government (OES Designation) 8,740 0.40 $23.46 $48,790

Top paying industries for this occupation:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Semiconductor and Other Electronic Component Manufacturing 120 0.03 $40.50 $84,240
Software Publishers 260 0.08 $39.16 $81,450
Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing 160 0.06 $36.60 $76,120
Computer and Peripheral Equipment Manufacturing 150 0.09 $36.51 $75,940
Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing 110 0.02 $35.86 $74,590

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 29,190 1.83 0.93 $28.43 $59,130
Florida 24,430 2.97 1.50 $23.41 $48,680
New York 22,210 2.44 1.24 $28.51 $59,300
Texas 22,120 1.88 0.95 $26.19 $54,480
Pennsylvania 10,800 1.88 0.95 $25.66 $53,380




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 5,400 7.69 3.89 $36.84 $76,620
West Virginia 2,150 3.08 1.56 $21.17 $44,040
Florida 24,430 2.97 1.50 $23.41 $48,680
Connecticut 4,920 2.95 1.49 $27.33 $56,840
Delaware 1,210 2.75 1.39 $26.65 $55,420




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 5,400 7.69 3.89 $36.84 $76,620
Alaska 730 2.27 1.15 $32.19 $66,950
Washington 5,270 1.72 0.87 $28.65 $59,590
New York 22,210 2.44 1.24 $28.51 $59,300
California 29,190 1.83 0.93 $28.43 $59,130





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-Jersey City-White Plains, NY-NJ Metropolitan Division 16,830 2.55 1.29 $30.14 $62,680
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV Metropolitan Division 9,330 3.75 1.90 $33.94 $70,590
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale, CA Metropolitan Division 8,690 2.06 1.04 $26.72 $55,590
Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights, IL Metropolitan Division 8,220 2.26 1.14 $27.00 $56,160
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA 6,390 2.50 1.27 $26.52 $55,170
Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX 5,810 1.98 1.00 $29.54 $61,440
Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA NECTA Division 5,510 3.05 1.55 $27.05 $56,270
Miami-Miami Beach-Kendall, FL Metropolitan Division 5,380 4.78 2.42 $25.11 $52,230
Dallas-Plano-Irving, TX Metropolitan Division 4,630 1.90 0.96 $31.44 $65,390
Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ 4,450 2.30 1.17 $24.72 $51,410