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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 and Administrative Assistants" (43-6012).
Employment estimate and mean wage estimates for Paralegals and Legal Assistants:
Employment (1) | Employment RSE (3) |
Mean hourly wage |
Mean annual wage (2) |
Wage RSE (3) |
---|---|---|---|---|
332,720 | 1.1 % | $ 27.22 | $ 56,610 | 0.6 % |
Percentile wage estimates for Paralegals and Legal Assistants:
Percentile | 10% | 25% | 50% (Median) |
75% | 90% |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Hourly Wage | $ 15.82 | $ 19.54 | $ 25.44 | $ 32.25 | $ 40.94 |
Annual Wage (2) | $ 32,900 | $ 40,640 | $ 52,920 | $ 67,080 | $ 85,160 |
Industries with the highest published employment and wages for Paralegals and Legal Assistants are provided. For a list of all industries with employment in Paralegals and Legal Assistants, see the Create Customized Tables function.
Industries with the highest levels of employment in Paralegals and Legal Assistants:
Industry | Employment (1) | Percent of industry employment | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
---|---|---|---|---|
Legal Services | 256,840 | 22.58 | $ 26.06 | $ 54,200 |
Federal Executive Branch (OEWS Designation) | 14,670 | 0.71 | $ 35.06 | $ 72,930 |
Local Government, excluding schools and hospitals (OEWS Designation) | 14,430 | 0.27 | $ 27.47 | $ 57,130 |
State Government, excluding schools and hospitals (OEWS Designation) | 10,100 | 0.46 | $ 24.71 | $ 51,390 |
Management of Companies and Enterprises | 7,070 | 0.29 | $ 35.76 | $ 74,390 |
Industries with the highest concentration of employment in Paralegals and Legal Assistants:
Industry | Employment (1) | Percent of industry employment | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
---|---|---|---|---|
Legal Services | 256,840 | 22.58 | $ 26.06 | $ 54,200 |
Other Investment Pools and Funds | 80 | 0.73 | $ 36.81 | $ 76,560 |
Federal Executive Branch (OEWS Designation) | 14,670 | 0.71 | $ 35.06 | $ 72,930 |
Lessors of Nonfinancial Intangible Assets (except Copyrighted Works) | 140 | 0.64 | $ 30.50 | $ 63,440 |
State Government, excluding schools and hospitals (OEWS Designation) | 10,100 | 0.46 | $ 24.71 | $ 51,390 |
Top paying industries for Paralegals and Legal Assistants:
Industry | Employment (1) | Percent of industry employment | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
---|---|---|---|---|
Merchant Wholesalers, Nondurable Goods (4244 and 4248 only) | 50 | (7) | $ 64.52 | $ 134,210 |
Land Subdivision | 30 | 0.10 | $ 43.44 | $ 90,360 |
Semiconductor and Other Electronic Component Manufacturing | 150 | 0.04 | $ 41.08 | $ 85,440 |
Grantmaking and Giving Services | 120 | 0.08 | $ 41.03 | $ 85,350 |
Natural Gas Distribution | 70 | 0.06 | $ 40.53 | $ 84,300 |
States and areas with the highest published employment, location quotients, and wages for Paralegals and Legal Assistants are provided. For a list of all areas with employment in Paralegals and Legal Assistants, see the Create Customized Tables function.
States with the highest employment level in Paralegals and Legal Assistants:
State | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Florida | 33,760 | 4.00 | 1.67 | $ 25.05 | $ 52,100 |
California | 33,490 | 2.04 | 0.85 | $ 31.85 | $ 66,250 |
Texas | 27,630 | 2.28 | 0.95 | $ 27.41 | $ 57,020 |
New York | 27,540 | 3.17 | 1.32 | $ 30.06 | $ 62,530 |
Illinois | 13,320 | 2.37 | 0.99 | $ 29.03 | $ 60,390 |
States with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in Paralegals and Legal Assistants:
State | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
District of Columbia | 5,870 | 8.55 | 3.57 | $ 40.06 | $ 83,330 |
Florida | 33,760 | 4.00 | 1.67 | $ 25.05 | $ 52,100 |
Delaware | 1,620 | 3.80 | 1.59 | $ 24.94 | $ 51,870 |
New York | 27,540 | 3.17 | 1.32 | $ 30.06 | $ 62,530 |
Connecticut | 4,860 | 3.16 | 1.32 | $ 29.36 | $ 61,070 |
Top paying states for Paralegals and Legal Assistants:
State | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
District of Columbia | 5,870 | 8.55 | 3.57 | $ 40.06 | $ 83,330 |
California | 33,490 | 2.04 | 0.85 | $ 31.85 | $ 66,250 |
Washington | 6,620 | 2.07 | 0.87 | $ 30.31 | $ 63,050 |
Colorado | 5,520 | 2.14 | 0.89 | $ 30.26 | $ 62,950 |
New York | 27,540 | 3.17 | 1.32 | $ 30.06 | $ 62,530 |
Metropolitan areas with the highest employment level in Paralegals and Legal Assistants:
Metropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA | 27,600 | 3.12 | 1.31 | $ 31.18 | $ 64,850 |
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 15,250 | 2.62 | 1.09 | $ 30.48 | $ 63,390 |
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | 13,280 | 5.30 | 2.21 | $ 27.13 | $ 56,420 |
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 12,760 | 4.22 | 1.77 | $ 33.99 | $ 70,700 |
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI | 11,480 | 2.63 | 1.10 | $ 29.39 | $ 61,140 |
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | 9,160 | 3.48 | 1.45 | $ 27.10 | $ 56,370 |
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 8,860 | 3.29 | 1.37 | $ 28.78 | $ 59,860 |
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 7,690 | 2.14 | 0.90 | $ 32.18 | $ 66,940 |
San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA | 6,390 | 2.74 | 1.15 | $ 36.45 | $ 75,820 |
Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ | 5,920 | 2.81 | 1.17 | $ 25.98 | $ 54,040 |
Metropolitan areas with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in Paralegals and Legal Assistants:
Metropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Tallahassee, FL | 950 | 5.62 | 2.35 | $ 22.66 | $ 47,120 |
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | 13,280 | 5.30 | 2.21 | $ 27.13 | $ 56,420 |
New Bern, NC | 220 | 5.29 | 2.21 | $ 21.11 | $ 43,910 |
Charleston, WV | 510 | 4.98 | 2.08 | $ 28.56 | $ 59,410 |
Columbia, SC | 1,800 | 4.82 | 2.02 | $ 22.76 | $ 47,330 |
New Orleans-Metairie, LA | 2,250 | 4.37 | 1.83 | $ 25.20 | $ 52,410 |
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | 5,670 | 4.35 | 1.82 | $ 23.16 | $ 48,180 |
Port St. Lucie, FL | 620 | 4.24 | 1.77 | $ 23.47 | $ 48,820 |
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 12,760 | 4.22 | 1.77 | $ 33.99 | $ 70,700 |
Roanoke, VA | 590 | 4.08 | 1.70 | $ 19.49 | $ 40,550 |