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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) |
---|---|---|---|---|
354,890 | 1.6 % | $ 31.95 | $ 66,460 | 1.4 % |
Percentile wage estimates for Paralegals and Legal Assistants:
Percentile | 10% | 25% | 50% (Median) |
75% | 90% |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Hourly Wage | $ 19.09 | $ 23.16 | $ 29.31 | $ 37.31 | $ 47.51 |
Annual Wage (2) | $ 39,710 | $ 48,180 | $ 60,970 | $ 77,600 | $ 98,830 |
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 | 273,590 | 23.04 | $ 30.90 | $ 64,270 |
Federal, State, and Local Government, excluding State and Local Government Schools and Hospitals and the U.S. Postal Service (OEWS Designation) | 16,390 | 0.77 | $ 37.56 | $ 78,130 |
Local Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) | 16,090 | 0.29 | $ 31.02 | $ 64,520 |
State Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) | 10,920 | 0.51 | $ 25.97 | $ 54,020 |
Management of Companies and Enterprises | 6,760 | 0.24 | $ 43.58 | $ 90,650 |
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 | 273,590 | 23.04 | $ 30.90 | $ 64,270 |
Lessors of Nonfinancial Intangible Assets (except Copyrighted Works) | 220 | 1.00 | $ 46.66 | $ 97,050 |
Federal, State, and Local Government, excluding State and Local Government Schools and Hospitals and the U.S. Postal Service (OEWS Designation) | 16,390 | 0.77 | $ 37.56 | $ 78,130 |
Insurance and Employee Benefit Funds | 80 | 0.66 | $ 20.36 | $ 42,340 |
Other Investment Pools and Funds | 90 | 0.51 | $ 39.50 | $ 82,150 |
Top paying industries for Paralegals and Legal Assistants:
Industry | Employment (1) | Percent of industry employment | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
---|---|---|---|---|
Software Publishers | 550 | 0.08 | $ 59.48 | $ 123,720 |
Motor Vehicle Manufacturing | 110 | 0.04 | $ 57.37 | $ 119,340 |
Scientific Research and Development Services | 720 | 0.08 | $ 52.81 | $ 109,840 |
Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing | 70 | 0.01 | $ 52.72 | $ 109,650 |
Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing | (8) | (8) | $ 52.43 | $ 109,050 |
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) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
California | 39,220 | 2.19 | 0.94 | $ 38.08 | $ 79,210 |
Florida | 35,020 | 3.66 | 1.57 | $ 29.72 | $ 61,830 |
New York | 30,930 | 3.29 | 1.41 | $ 37.91 | $ 78,850 |
Texas | 28,140 | 2.08 | 0.89 | $ 30.64 | $ 63,720 |
Illinois | 15,780 | 2.62 | 1.12 | $ 30.45 | $ 63,340 |
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 | 5,340 | 7.61 | 3.26 | $ 45.33 | $ 94,290 |
Florida | 35,020 | 3.66 | 1.57 | $ 29.72 | $ 61,830 |
Delaware | 1,590 | 3.38 | 1.45 | $ 34.31 | $ 71,360 |
New York | 30,930 | 3.29 | 1.41 | $ 37.91 | $ 78,850 |
South Carolina | 7,050 | 3.17 | 1.36 | $ 24.43 | $ 50,820 |
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 | 5,340 | 7.61 | 3.26 | $ 45.33 | $ 94,290 |
California | 39,220 | 2.19 | 0.94 | $ 38.08 | $ 79,210 |
New York | 30,930 | 3.29 | 1.41 | $ 37.91 | $ 78,850 |
Washington | 7,960 | 2.28 | 0.97 | $ 36.33 | $ 75,560 |
Massachusetts | 7,520 | 2.06 | 0.88 | $ 35.92 | $ 74,710 |
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 | 32,460 | 3.42 | 1.46 | $ 38.58 | $ 80,240 |
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 16,560 | 2.68 | 1.15 | $ 37.84 | $ 78,720 |
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI | 13,520 | 3.00 | 1.28 | $ 31.16 | $ 64,820 |
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | 12,420 | 4.56 | 1.95 | $ 31.80 | $ 66,140 |
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 10,820 | 3.50 | 1.50 | $ 40.64 | $ 84,530 |
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 9,320 | 3.29 | 1.41 | $ 34.19 | $ 71,110 |
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | 8,950 | 3.18 | 1.36 | $ 31.53 | $ 65,570 |
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 8,160 | 2.06 | 0.88 | $ 32.01 | $ 66,580 |
Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX | 7,770 | 2.45 | 1.05 | $ 30.60 | $ 63,640 |
San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA | 6,720 | 2.77 | 1.19 | $ 44.64 | $ 92,860 |
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) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Parkersburg-Vienna, WV | 200 | 5.48 | 2.34 | $ 32.40 | $ 67,380 |
Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent, FL | 900 | 4.86 | 2.08 | $ 24.76 | $ 51,500 |
Missoula, MT | 310 | 4.81 | 2.06 | $ 28.56 | $ 59,400 |
Columbia, SC | 1,770 | 4.63 | 1.98 | $ 26.52 | $ 55,170 |
New Orleans-Metairie, LA | 2,370 | 4.60 | 1.97 | $ 27.76 | $ 57,730 |
Tallahassee, FL | 830 | 4.60 | 1.97 | $ 25.51 | $ 53,060 |
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | 12,420 | 4.56 | 1.95 | $ 31.80 | $ 66,140 |
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | 6,260 | 4.43 | 1.90 | $ 31.46 | $ 65,440 |
Charleston-North Charleston, SC | 1,550 | 4.15 | 1.77 | $ 24.61 | $ 51,190 |
Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | 5,640 | 4.13 | 1.77 | $ 27.53 | $ 57,270 |